Page 126 of The Ruler
I rubbed my forehead. “This is Pearl. She’s observant and highly intelligent. Of course she noticed. I’ll bet she could draw all the details of my office.”
Magni kicked at some leaves. “Shit, I didn’t think about that. So you think she realized we were setting her up?”
I rolled my eyes, pissed at him for gambling with my future like this. “I don’t know.”
“Well, don’t tell her anything; just wait and see if she tells you,” Magni insisted.
“Sometimes you’re a real pain in the ass,” I muttered as we headed back the way we’d come.
“Right back at ya,” he replied. “But you’re my brother and it’s my job to save your ass.”
“I know,” I admitted. “And if you’re right I won’t forget it.” No, there wasn’t any chance of me forgetting something that would tear me apart completely.
CHAPTER29
Loyalty
Khan
I had hoped Pearl would tell me what troubled her once we were alone. But flying back in the drone she was still withdrawn.
My mind was worrying about the things Magni had told me. I badly wanted him to be wrong and I kept going back to last night. I had been ready to give up on us, but Pearl had fought for us and brought me back from the abyss. She had been open about her feelings, declaring her love for me, so why was she cold now? I didn’t have much experience with women and felt confused and rejected.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Like what?”
“Like the school and the council.”
Alarm bells chimed in my head. “What about the council?”
She twirled a strand of her long blonde hair. “I’m just still shocked they would treat me like they did. What if Christina and the others hadn’t made that video that made the council agree to finally listen to me? And what if I hadn’t been able to convince the council to let me come back here?” Her frown formed a triangle between her brows. “I’m starting to wonder just how many people are put in places of reflection that don’t belong there.”
“You’re too strong for them to hold down, Pearl,” I said and leaned in to kiss her.
“That’s not true,” she replied and gave me a small peck instead of the heated kiss I’d been hoping for.
Confusion made me sit back in my seat and look out the window, her small rejection ripping open wounds from my past. This time my insecurities scratched at the most infected memory of them all and dark spots appeared in front of my eyes from the hurt connected to this particular memory.
“Nooo…!” The roaring scream came from Mr. Zobel, who stood next to my father on the balcony.
My father reached for his friend as Mr. Zobel fell to his knees, his hand in his hair and his eyes expanded in terror.
I was numb for a second, trying to let the last seconds catch up to me. Just a minute ago, we’d been laughing and cheering for Peter, Mr. Zobel’s son, who fought his first tournament. Peter was strong and fast, a skilled fighter four years my senior whom I had respected and looked up to since I was a boy.
But Peter had made a fatal mistake and his opponent had gotten too close. At first, I thought the man was going for Peter’s neck in an attempt to strangle him, but no. It had been such a quick movement, and then it was over. Without warning the man had snapped Peter’s neck. My friend had been about to attack – coming at his opponent with his arms raised, muscles flexed, and fire in his blue eyes, until his head twisted unnaturally and he dropped dead to the ground.
The winner strutted around the stage now, banging his chest and roaring out his testosterone to the cheering audience, who loved him for it. The man was a ruthless killer and soaked up their admiration.
Next to me, on the balcony, my father was bending down and speaking to Mr. Zobel, muttering things I couldn’t hear, but Magni was closer and the look on his face told me he was furious.
“Don’t you fucking say that.” He pushed at our father, who narrowed his eyes and gave a short command.
“Magni, go fetch your mother. Mr. Zobel needs to lie down.”
Magni pivoted and walked away with me following in his footsteps.
