Page 42 of Is It Wrong to Escape My Fate? (Dealing With Fate #1)

“Killing him is nothing to it,” Uriel stated, a voice of reason in this sea of bloodlust. “The effect of that murder is the problem. Like Winston said. Unless …”

His eyes found mine, and I gulped. “Unless I accuse him of kidnapping me. I might only be a baron’s daughter, but a noble nonetheless, and kidnapping a noble is a capital offence.”

Winston nodded. “We’d undergo due process. We have enough evidence and his confession that he orchestrated your kidnapping. We have his henchmen and witnesses. It can be addressed and solved. Eventually, he would die for it. But.”

“Only if I go public with the incident,” I continued for him.

Vincent narrowed his eyes at me. “But you don’t want to.”

“I talked about it the last time.” I glanced at everyone, taking in their mixed reactions to my choice.

“When Winston wanted to make concessions with my family. It would mean a public declaration. I don’t need any disturbance right now.

I want to focus on my education. My family will have a valid reason to pull me out of the academy, and the Kingdom will let them or risk losing public approval even more.

Honestly, I just want to forget it even happened. ”

“I don’t understand. This is your chance to make the world less evil,” Amos groaned in disappointment, slumping against a nearby couch.

He had a point. He made an excellent point. I did want to make the world less evil, not just for me, but for everybody else too. Who was to say that monster would never lose the obsession with me and redirect it to someone else, someone who would have less support than me?

But the thing was — staying in this world wasn’t part of the plan. This world could be heaven, and it still wouldn’t stop me from trying to get out. I had to get out. It’s not my world. I don’t belong here.

I didn’t belong. I wasn’t really Bea. Whoever these men were looking at and talking to and kissing wasn’t really me. Right?

As they argued among themselves on the right course of action, I watched Compton from his side of the room, and my heartbeat spiked when his eyes bore straight through mine.

He knew I was here. Somewhere behind the illusory wall.

It made sense. His Unique involved messing with memories. Did that somewhat enable him to sense people’s consciousness too? It wouldn’t be too farfetched to imagine that he could sense people to some degree.

It was too late now. We had to act fast. There was no more time to decide. He could escape any moment, use his status as a Marquis’s heir to accuse Prince Winston of malicious intent, convince his father to war, anyway.

I had to act fast.

“Can you promise to keep me safe?” I asked no one in particular, halting their entire discussion.

“Of course we will keep you safe, no matter what’s decided here,” Theodore confidently announced. “What are you thinking, wife?”

Shaking my head, I stood up. “I need your cooperation. All of you. I need to talk to Compton alone. Keep me safe.”

I should have expected the various denials from all of them. “What do you mean, alone ?” Reuben demanded as Robin offered, “We’ll go with you.”

“The man is unpredictable. But we know he’s unhealthily obsessed with me for whatever reason. He’ll talk to me, but I don’t know if he will when I’m with another man.” Surely they’d see reason with my explanation.

“Why do you need to talk to him?” Elias mumbled, grabbing my wrist. “Stay here and let the Prince deal with the bastard.”

“He already knows I’m here,” I exclaimed, and as soon as had I said it, they all finally turned to where Compton stood, staring in my direction, still like a statue. I didn’t know what the mechanics of his Unique was, but it might also be possible he knew I wasn’t alone.

Gently, I detached myself from Eli, stepping to the side, and Compton’s eyes followed my movement.

Totally not creepy. “He’ll listen to me,” I insisted, my pulse spiking up again when he smiled.

“Give me a few minutes alone with him. Stay close if you have to, but don’t let him see you. We don’t know how his Unique works.”

Samuel stared from Compton to me before grimacing. “You’re serious.”

“I am. And I trust no harm will come to me since you promised to keep me safe.” I gave them a smile as I fixed my uniform. “So, please trust me back.”

Was it shitty of me to play the “trust” card? Definitely. But it was the only way to get them to listen to me in this tense situation.

“Bea, if this goes to hell fast, we’ll detain him and go with the lawful method,” Claude said, showing me a glimpse of what the leader of the Champions could be. “Promise us you’re okay with that. The publicity and the potential delays with your schooling for your safety.”

“I promise,” with a hand over my heart. I genuinely mean it. But I also genuinely mean that I had to take care of that monster. I wouldn’t let him interfere with my plan to escape.

These men hated my decision; I knew that with the way they glared and clenched their fists at Compton. But they trusted me despite that, and I really appreciated it. They treated me as an equal even if they weren’t happy with me right now.

I stepped out of the room with no one following me. They would, just out of my way. I easily found the door that led to Compton’s, and when I went in and closed it behind me, the Lord bastard was grinning, standing at the same spot where Winston had left him.

“I knew it was you,” he declared, arms spread open. Was he expecting a hug? No thanks. “Your mind aura has a unique flavor than the rest of the rabble. You’re very easy to sense.”

Two things I learned: he could sense consciousness, and he could tell I was different. Both not good.

“Is that why you’re so obsessed with me?” I confronted him but kept my distance.

He shrugged. “Obsessed? I am not. I’m just claiming what’s rightfully mine. Were you listening to my conversation with the Crown Prince?”

“And how am I yours?” I didn’t answer his question.

He looked at me as if I were the insane one. “Our eyes met. The first day of academy.”

What the fuck.

“I felt the connection and immediately knew you’re mine,” he continued, giggling. “Isn’t that how it works?”

“How what works?” I almost yelled but reined myself in time.

He sighed as if it were so tiring to explain to me.

“A bond. One look and you know. You have men around you thinking the same as me. They won’t voice it, of course, because they’re pathetic and weak, but trust they’re no better than me.

” He smirked, waving an arm around. “I bet they’re listening to this, too, and agreeing with my words. ”

I was sure of it — he was too far gone. Who would ever think that with one look, you had owned a whole person?

It wasn’t obvious, but I was a romantic. I believed in true love, love at first sight, soulmates. The concept was wonderful! It might never happen to me, but I truly believed it did for others. Just not in the way this creep described it.

One step forward, and he copied me, moving closer. He chuckled as he opened his arms wide again. “I knew you’d see the truth, pet. I’m really sorry I kidnapped you. It won’t happen again as long as you don’t try to run away, alright?”

“So you admit you kidnapped me,” I repeated, distracting him. I stepped closer again and he did too, our distance getting shorter.

“That is true,” he confirmed, dropping his arms to his sides when I didn’t reciprocate. “Only for your sake. I have to tame you first. You’ll be perfect. Then we can have some fun.”

I moved closer again, taking my time, as he raised his eyebrows and smiled wider, one step closer. There were about three meters between us now. One more step would bring us into contact if we both reached out at the same time.

“Are you teasing me now, pet?” His voice was low but amused. He tried to hide his confusion about my actions. I learned something new again: he couldn’t use his memory wipe at this distance, or he would’ve done it already.

“You know something funny?” He continued speaking louder.

“I lied to the Prince. I didn’t use my Unique on you.

You got the old-fashioned hit to the back of the head.

Achieved the same thing anyway. Or rather, I couldn’t use my Unique on you.

Isn’t that funny? You’ll get the same treatment when I bring you home. ”

Stop talking, or you’ll bring them here. I could practically feel their looming presence everywhere, ready to maim this creep. No time.

Was it true that he couldn’t use his Unique on me? Time to find out.

I stepped closer once more, and as expected, he copied my movement; what he didn’t expect was that I rushed him instead, almost knocking him with how close I was.

I didn’t give him time to react as I grabbed his wrist — his eyes widened in shock as he stared at mine, years of instinct taking over as the weird sensation of his Unique tried to crawl over my body — he was trying to use it on me. And failing. So, it was through touch.

I forced his hand on the other, and he couldn’t stop me.

“What the fuck — why are you so strong —” He couldn’t finish his sentence as the effect of his own Unique hit him. He’d get disoriented, and by habit, use it again as self-defense, only to use it on himself.

Again.

Over and over.

I didn’t let go. When would he realize this was a losing battle? I’d stop if he stopped.

Shouts of my name echoed around us, but I was focused on this monster. I was winning. My hands clamped on his wrists, holding them together. I didn’t care I was bruising him. It was only fair for the rope burns he gave me.

“Bea, let go,” Derrick’s voice cut through the haze, and I immediately released the man. He fell to the floor, unconscious. Or dead. Did I kill him?

Hands held my shoulders and massaged my palms, uncurling my fingers that seemed to lock back into position, as if I was still gripping something. Another hand soothed my back, and another patted my head.

“What happened?” Winston mumbled, crouching next to Compton’s crumpled form.