Page 19 of Liar
“So what shall we do with such a conundrum, hmm?” Damion pretends to contemplate the issue by sweeping his hand out to the members. “We’ve never had to banish a member due to an overcrowding issue. It is only when Savannah was considered dead that we added a new recruit. A legacy, yes, but one who was recently discovered through chance, when there happened to be a vacant seat on the Virtues.”
By you, I want to snarl. You set this up and you knew exactly what you were doing, whether Savannah was alive or not.
Yet I keep silent, deciding to choose my battles against this monster. The last time I was too obvious, I almost drowned by his drug-happy hand.
“Banishment is only considered in the most dire of circumstances,” Damion continues over the murmurs and mutterings of the members. Many unfamiliar faces pop out of the crowd, older and more world-weary, with the sharpness of quiet observation.
Damion’s invited alumni, the Nobles and Virtues that are out in the real world. This meeting must be a big deal for him to premeditate their presence.
My stomach lurches at the repercussions of that. What are they here to witness?
“I’d say another challenge is in order, between the two girls.”
The suggestion doesn’t come from Damion. I search the crowd, finding the owner of the voice. A handsome man steps forward, his skin almost as dark as his suit. I blink, and I see the resemblance almost instantly—he’s Jaxon’s father. A viscount of the Nobles, if I remember it right.
Basically, an enforcer. Luke’s dream job.
“What?” Thorne’s head whips toward Mr. Murray. “That’s impossible. Our challenges never involve pitting members against each other in a duel. We encourage solo skills, the ability to take risks and survive.” Thorne scoffs, but I note the stiffness in his spine and the tightness of that sound. “We dominate and control outsiders, not each other.”
“We’ve never had a situation like this before,” Damion muses as if Thorne hasn’t spoken. “Therefore, innovation is needed. I like where your head is at, Thaddeus.”
“Once a member, we do not turn against each other,” Thorne snarls. He throws a hand out in front of me.
I look down at it, my heart squeezing and releasing at the sight. First, he hates me. Then he protects me. Then he tastes me and despises me again.
I can’t keep doing this.
His father blinks slowly, unfazed. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am the current king, not you, therefore I get to make the final decision. Along with the queen, of course.” Damion defers to the silent shape beside him—a woman I hadn’t noticed while dividing my attention among Thorne, Savannah, and Damion. Headmistress Dupris.
“The king is correct, I’m afraid,” Dupris states. “It is in our code, our credence, that there can only be twelve members attending Winthorpe. Our Societies are to be cherished, not given out like Christmas gifts.” She sighs, her fingers knotting together at her stomach. “Our founders never had reason to deviate from the rule they made with purpose. We must abide by it. If that means instigating an additional challenge between two members, I don’t see the harm.”
“If you allow this,” Thorne says, “think of your precious Societies. Any time there’s a conflict between members—”
“I’ll do it.”
Thorne stiffens. He freezes to the point that if it weren’t for his flaring nostrils, I’d consider him one of the statues.
Slowly, painfully, he turns to me. “I’m sorry, are you speaking in tongues?”
“I’ll do it,” I repeat, straightening my shoulders. “I’ve won all the challenges given to me. This won’t be any different.”
Forget that it’ll be against a broken bird of a girl. But I set my jaw and think of my family. Of Malcolm and what he’s willing to risk. What Thorne can’t escape. And how Damion’s using this town as his personal drug lab and wielding power over the smartest, brightest students who could really make a difference in this world if directed properly.
For all these reasons, I hold my head up and pretend my bowels aren’t turning into liquid.
“Ember, think about what you’re agreeing to,” Thorne warns under his breath. “My father is never impulsive. You could be asked to do the worst to Savannah. She could be asked to harm you. I can’t allow it.”
“I can protect myself.” I move to walk around him. “Maybe it’s time you start believing in my ability to stay alive.”
He whispers fiercely in my ear as I pass, “Don’t make me watch you two kill each other. The only winner is him. Why do this to yourself?”
I murmur my response. “For the same reasons you submit to his brutal punishments. Because there’s no other way to show him your strength.”
Thorne rears back as if scalded. Really, he shouldn’t be surprised I’m able to read him so well. He’s not just a gorgeous specimen I want to climb and lick and suck. Thorne Briar is a person I’m getting to know.
And that, I think, is enough to make him recoil and allow me to keep walking forward.
Damion watches my approach as calmly as a snake waiting in the grass to strike. “I always wondered why my boy kept standing up for you.” His lips lift in his version of a smile. “Now I’m beginning to see why. You’re very unlike your father.”