Page 64 of Eternal

I nod, walking over to the table and choosing a knife. The second I spin, Simon starts flailing, but he can’t go anywhere with how he’s bound. His struggle is useless as cries tear from his throat and drool dribbles to his chest. Tears spill from his eyes, and it’s a calming sight if I’ve ever seen one.

“Exactly.” I grab the clamp that holds Simon’s tongue, and he screams. “Let this be your lesson that we mean it when we say that.”

Lifting the knife, I shove it deep into Simon’s mouth and slice his tongue out. Like butter—smooth, quick.

Simon’s screams turn to gurgles as I tug his tongue out with the clamp and toss it to the ground. And I don’t take my eyes off him as he chokes on his blood while the initiates watch.

Kole faintly chuckles. It’s a bit twisted that this is the only type of situation that draws on his amusement, but I understand it. There’s nothing more satisfying than making someone suffer for what they’ve done.

Usually, I’d report Simon’s wrongdoings to the Council and let them deal with it. Even if Paul orchestrated the setup, he was careful in weaving his trap so Simon could never actually tie him to it. The only reason I could put it together was that I pay attention to things they don’t. Teal’s treatments lined up too perfectly with Paul being elected to sit on the board.

Paul needed secrets buried, and he found a way to do it. The Council must have known. They aren’t that incompetent.

I can’t trust the Council to deal with this. I can’t trust them for anything anymore.

When Simon finally stops flinching, I look up at the initiates, deciding who will survive the trials. Passing four of them makes them a member, but they have to pass all seven to become a legacy. And with how pale Shane is watching a man drown in his own blood, I’m not sure he has it in him.

Jase, on the other hand, is stone-cold.

“What do we do now?” Trent asks.

He’s clearly nervous, but at least he doesn’t look like he’s going to vomit.

“Simon stole from Sigma House for his own personal interests,” I say. “So now we leave a message to anyone else considering betraying the House.”

I look at Kole, and he nods, pulling out his phone.

He hates his stepfather, but Captain Evans is an essential legacy to the House. He helps the Council clean up messes in a legal sense. And since the Council won’t want their involvement laced in this mess, they’ll need him.

“Any questions?” I ask the initiates.

They all shake their heads.

“Good.”

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket, ready to be irritated at the interruption. But when I read the name on the screen, I can barely hide my grin.

Teal was pissed at me when she bolted from my room yesterday, so I’ve given her time to cool off. But this morning, I sent her a text just to see what she’d do with it.

I asked how she was doing and reminded her I’m here if she needs to talk. I almost sounded like I was being nice, when really, I need her to understand I’m the only person she’s going to rely on from here on out.

Teal: I’m fine. A little dizzy.

Teal: And easily annoyed.

She could have ignored my question, but she didn’t. Not only that, she listened to what I said when I told her she can open up to me about her symptoms. I’ll reward her for that later.

She hates that I want to learn every little thing there is to know about her, but she’s accepting it, slowly. Because even if she hates me with every bone in her perfect body, the second she let me claim her, she submitted to this hell we both exist in. And she knows I’m the only one who can truly help her survive here.

After all, I’m doing all of this for her now.

My phone buzzes again.

Teal: P.S. You’re an asshole, and I hate you.

Declan: I know.

19

---