Page 39

I smiled. “Like you said earlier, I may have no proof, but neither do you. Nothing will hold up in a court, and if anything happens to me, you’ll have no hope of getting to them.”

He laughed. “I think you underestimate your dogs’ feelings for you, Miss Auger. I have no doubt they’d tear this world apart if I stole you away. If I left a mark on that pretty face of yours, they’d do anything to save their precious angel from on high.”

Deep down, I knew he was right. Noah would try to talk the others down if only to make a real game plan, but Ace and Kayden?

There’d be no stopping them. And Zane… My heart wilted.

I didn’t know what I was to him anymore.

I’d thought I knew pain, but his betrayal was a whole other world of hurt that had ripped my insides apart.

There was no-gods-damn-winning. If I agreed to Jeremiah’s so-called deal, I’d be trapped forever, and my friends would likely be tortured or worse.

And if I refused him, he’d find a way to hurt us all.

We could run, but what kind of life would that be?

Besides, I could never leave my siblings to rot in my parent’s care.

No, there was only one way this could go.

I clasped my hands together on the table. “I suppose we’re at a stalemate, then. Because I’ll never be my parent’s puppet, Jeremiah. I will never let anyone control me again. And more importantly? I will never forgive you for the things you’ve done.”

His face darkened for a split second, but his lips eased into a smile.

“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.” He rose, then stepped towards me, his hands behind his back.

“But honestly? I was kind of hoping you’d say that.

” He lunged, the flash of silver from his letter opener coming perilously close to my chest.

My heart thumped erratically as adrenaline rushed through my veins and the world seemed to slow. A few more inches were all he needed, but as that small blade drove towards its target, the air rippled, the letter opener coming to a stop.

Jeremiah’s sneer wobbled, his brows drawing together as he tried and failed to thrust his weapon home. I crossed my legs and smiled, truly delighted, as I willed the weapon to turn on its owner. Inch by inch the blade wiggled in his hand until it began to turn towards him.

He gritted his teeth, his forehead wrinkling as he fought against my telekinesis. “Your power… but how?”

I rose, stepping towards Jeremiah with a wolf’s grin on my face. “Did you really think I’d face you while powerless? My boyfriends ripped that chip out of my arm, so I’d be prepared for anything. So, I’d be ready for you.”

His eyes followed me as I circled him, round and round, his eyes bulging as the first trickle of sweat slid down his face.

I tilted my head. “What, no magic to fight back? Come on, Jeremiah, I was expecting better from the House of Ascension’s mighty murderer.”

The light overhead flashed a few times, then a small printer nearby made a few feeble beeps before it popped out a page.

“Really? That’s all you’ve got?” I laughed, relishing in the near-feral glare Jeremiah sent me. “You’re pathetic. The academy’s esteemed Mind Master reduced to a shitty light show and a broken prop. I should have known you were just a coward preying on unsuspecting Potentials.”

The moment his strength failed him, that blade would find its new home. All he could do was fight my power with his pitiful strength and delay the inevitable. And the fear in his eyes? The sheen across his skin and the jerky motion of his hand around that weapon? He knew it, too.

He panted and his skin turned a mottled red as a vein popped on his forehead. “Say what you will, but if you kill me, you’ll only paint a brighter target on your back. Your parents won’t stop until they find you,” he managed.

“Good. Maybe I’ll let them.”

A strained chuckle escaped his lips. “Naive girl. You and your friends would stand against an army? Your father has the world at his fingertips. Good luck surviving the tide of blood that will come your way.”

“Then I will commandeer the seas,” I roared. “I will build my own army, and I will stop at nothing until I win.”

Jeremiah shook his head, his muscles bunching entirely as the letter opener slipped closer and closer towards him.

“You stupid cunt. You’ll never win. You will all fall to House Jupiter, just like Victoria.

I rather enjoyed killing her, you know. That little bitch was more trouble than she was worth.

The other Potentials were all just in my way. ”

I knew it. I fucking knew he’d murdered her. And all those innocent Potentials… he was going to pay.

“When I’m done, there won’t be a House Jupiter. At least not as you know it. Unfortunately for you, you won’t be around to see it.” I stopped walking and stood before Jeremiah. “Say hello to my sister, will you?”

“Wait, st—”

I jerked my chin, sending the letter opener charging into his chest once, twice, three times.

His eyes bulged, his chest shuddering upon impact.

Blood dribbled from his mouth. I flicked my eyes and the letter opener’s hilt zoomed back into my outstretched fist. I’d looked upon many victims before, seeing the way the pupils blew out and the light in their eyes flicked off.

Many of them had deserved it, and some had not.

Every time, I’d always felt a profound sense of wrongness, sometimes even shame.

But as I stared into Jeremiah’s eyes, once so vibrant and alluring, I felt only satisfaction and a sense of justice. It would have been only right to let him die a slow and painful death, drowning in his own blood, but I needed it to end. I needed his existence gone from this world.

So, as his hateful eyes watched me, I leaned in close and whispered, “A new reign of Terrulia is coming, and it won’t be my parents sitting on that throne... Long live the queen.”

With that, I slid the blade over his throat, letting his lifeblood spill. He did say a tide of blood was coming. One hand rose to his throat before slapping uselessly at me, his strength gone, his brain now shutting down. Blood smeared all over me, but I didn’t flinch. I was an Auger, after all.

Minutes passed as I stared at his lifeless form.

I’d thought I’d feel happy once Jeremiah was gone.

No murderer or hooded attacker to stalk us and make our lives a living hell.

No more Potentials turning up dead. But all I felt as I looked at him was a sort of emptiness…

and rage. So much anger towards the people behind all of this.

Slowly, I looked at the hidden camera, with an idea quickly sparking.

Perhaps it was stupid of me, but I couldn’t help it.

I wheeled Jeremiah right in front of the lens and stripped him of his shirt.

Then, with some of the blood still fresh on his neck, painted something I was sure my parents would appreciate.

The symbol for House Jupiter glared back at me from Jeremiah’s naked chest, a few trickles of blood trailing down his stomach.

I wanted them to know that I was here and that I had won. And I wanted them to know, if they dared fuck with me or my friends, this is what would happen.

I stared right down the lens and saluted, then lifted my middle finger. There was no going back now. I’d made my stance on House Jupiter and my parents clear. I just hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite me.