Page 144 of The Tribes of Magic
I remembered how effortlessly she’d done my makeup and hair.
I frowned. “But why? Why wouldn’t the spirits choose you?”
“The spirits choose thirty Apprentices—andonlythirty, Savannah. Thirty-one of us went to the Spirit Trees. Only thirty got magic. I was the odd one out.”
Silence fell as guilt filled the growing void between us.
“You think this is my fault,” I said quietly. “You blame me that you didn’t get magic.”
“Yes, and no. The spirits didn’t give me magic, but the General told everyone they had. There was, of course, a price attached to that lie.”
“That you act as the General’s spy in the Castle.”
Bronte nodded. “The General is worried more Knights will defect and join the Rebellion. That’s why he needed me. He told me to make friends with anyone and everyone I could. I’m good at making friends. I’m good at everything.” A despairing smile touched her lips.
“With you spying on the Knights from the inside, the General could keep track of any signs, any plans of rebellion.”
“And stop those plans before they even get off the ground,” said Bronte.
“Bronte…” I stopped. I wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence.
She sighed. “You must think I’m a terrible villain.”
I didn’t. Bronte wasn’t a villain. In fact, in some ways, she was more of a victim than anyone else. Winning was who she was. Her parents had raised her to believe that the only life worth living is one where she’s on top of the world.
“I understand why you did it,” I told her. “I get how you were desperate enough to spy on your friends in exchange for the life you felt you deserved. Bronte Vance, Queen of the Scoreboard. Everyone always knew you would be a Knight, didn’t they?”
Tears poured down her cheeks. “It wasn’t even a question.”
“I know it hurt to have all that ripped away from you. I might even be able to forgive you for spying on me, for betraying me to the General. But how could you betray Kylie?” My throat felt so tight, I could barely get the words out. “How could you stand by and help a man who was selling Apprentices to the Order? Youcould have been one of those Apprentices, Bronte. Our friend Kylie was one of those Apprentices!”
Confusion replaced despair on Bronte’s face. “What are you talking about? What is the Order of Kings?”
“A secret society of supernaturals. They’re the ones who sent the Techno Knights to abduct the Apprentices.”
“And the General is helping them?” Bronte looked like she was going to be sick.
“You didn’t know?” I asked her.
“No. Or I never would have helped him.” Her shaky hands grabbed mine. “You’re going to save them, aren’t you, Savannah? You’re going to save Kylie?”
“I’m certainly going to try.”
“You have to let me help.” She gripped me tightly, like she’d drown if she let go.
Honestly, I did feel sorry for her. She’d worked so hard. It wasn’t fair that she didn’t get magic. But that didn’t excuse spying on her friends. I didn’t agree with Rhett’s methods—or his philosophy on life—but he wasn’t wrong about Bronte. She’d lied to me, betrayed me, and spied on me. Whatever her reasons, I couldn’t allow this to continue.
Bronte looked at me, her lips quivering. “What are you going to do? Turn me in?”
I really didn’t want to be that person, the one who ruined Bronte’s life. But I couldn’t let her keep spying on me either.
“Savannah doesn’t have to do anything.” Dante entered the library. He must have been waiting just outside. “Iam turning you in.”
Bronte ignored him. She kept her eyes on me. “I can help you.”
“You can’t trust her, Savannah,” Dante told me. “She’s already betrayed you before. You can’t risk trusting her now, not when so much is on the line.”
“I WOULD NEVER LET ANYONE HURT KYLIE!” Bronte bellowed like her heart was being ripped out of her chest.
