Page 77 of Wicked Enemy
“Let’s get one thing straight, Sterling,” he said, his voice hard. “I don’t like you.”
I barely managed to stop myself from replying,the feeling is mutual.
He flicked his gaze up and down my body while a sneer twisted his lips. “I’ve heard about you. I know that you had some kind of relationship with Smith and that he gave you special treatment because of it.”
“That’s a lie,” I growled, fury surging up inside me. “I’ve earned my place here.”
“Have you? You screwed up a nine-month-long mission. You come and go as you please while everyone else works their asses off. You’re often late. You disappear for days when someone hurts your feelings. You’re mouthy and insubordinate.” Disgust blew across his face as he shot another pointed look down at my body. “And you stink of alcohol.”
It felt as if he had punched me in the gut. For a second, all I could do was stare back at him in stunned disbelief. Then my restraint snapped.
“Do you want to know why I stink of alcohol right now?” I leveled furious eyes on him. “You’re right. Ulric and I knew each other. He was my mentor. And he was forced into retirement for something that, despite what you say, was not his fault. And now you’re here.” Throwing out my arm, I stabbed a hand towards the sickeningly tidy desk. “Sitting in his office. At his desk. He has dedicated his life to this department! And you think you can just waltz in here and take his place? You don’t deserve to be here. You don’t deserve to sit where he sat.”
The guilt inside me, the one that kept reminding me that it was my fault that Wright was here instead of Ulric, stirred the flames of fury in my chest until I could barely breathe through the rage.
Anger flashed like lightning in Captain Wright’s eyes as well. “You have just forfeited another month’s worth of salary.”
“Go ahead! It still doesn’t change the fact that you will never be worthy of Ulric’s seat.”
His hands curled into fists, and he took a step closer as if trying to appear threatening. I almost laughed in his face. He was shorter than me, could only access the Great Current just like me, and he wasn’t even carrying a blade. Just a few weeks ago, I had pulled a sword on the most dangerous dark mage in this entire city. I had attacked the King of Metal in his own throne room without hesitation just because he insulted my parents. Did Wright really think that anything he did could be the least bit intimidating after everything I had been through with Levi?
“One more word out of your mouth, and you will be demoted to archives duty,” Captain Wright pressed out between gritted teeth.
I almost did it. I almost snapped something rude back into his face. But I was short-tempered, not stupid. My career would never recover if I was demoted to the archives. So instead of lashing out at the ridiculous man who was now supposed to be my superior, I closed my mouth with great effort and just glared at him in silence instead.
He held my gaze with hard eyes. “I will give you one chance to apologize for your behavior today. I suggest you take it seriously.”
For a second, I couldn’t convince myself to do it. To apologize to this rude, insecure, insufferable man. But deep inside, I knew that I had stepped out of line today. I had been angry not just at him, but also at myself.Mostlyat myself. Because it was my fault that Wright was here and Ulric wasn’t. And that guilt made me want to lash out and destroy everything around me.
So I swallowed my pride and took a small step back, showing Wright that I was not only figuratively but also literally backing down. Bowing my head slightly, I dropped my gaze to his boots.
“I’m sorry, Captain.” Forcing the words out of my mouth was physically painful, but I kept going. “I sincerely apologize for my behavior today. I apologize for being tardy and rude and insubordinate. I was heartbroken over what happened to Ulric and I took it out on you. I’m sorry. It will never happen again.”
“It had better not. I will not be giving you any special treatment the way Smith did. From this day forward, you will be treated just like every otherJuniorConstable.”
I didn’t trust myself to keep my tongue in check after the way he stressed the demotion I had already gotten, so I just jerked my chin down in a nod instead.
“Soon, we will launch an attack on the south side to once and for all deal with Levi Arden the way he should have been dealt with years ago.” A threatening note crept into his voice. “And this time, there will be no mistakes. Is that clear, Sterling?”
Anger and worry and indecision tore through my soul like a raging storm. But in the end, I managed to press out the words that I knew Wright was waiting for.
“Yes, Captain.”
Chapter33
When I had returned to my Court after strengthening some buildings in preparation for the coming white boot invasion, my guards at the front door had handed me a note. A note from Christian White telling me to come to an abandoned building at the edge of the Entertainment District.
Rain poured down from the dark sky above, drumming on the roof tiles above and splashing against the cobblestones around my feet, as I made my way towards the indicated building. It was late evening, which meant that the Entertainment District should be filled with people. But because of the heavy rain, no one wanted to be out in the streets longer than necessary. Two women dashed across the road up ahead, their shoes splashing in the puddles as they hurried out of a yellow door and then into the red one across the street.
Sweeping my gaze around the area, I pushed my wet hair out of my face as I strode towards the next corner and then down another road that would take me to the meeting location.
I didn’t like being summoned. In fact, if it had been anyone else, I would have killed them for the sheer audacity of trying to summon me. But I needed this business with White to be over and done with.
Dread curled around my spine as I thought about the battles looming on the horizon. Why did the other Houses have to form a fucking alliance? If they had just come at me one at a time, I would probably have been able to defeat them now that I had my battle mages back. But all three of them together?
Another pulse of panic shot through me as I stalked down the street.
If all three of them attacked at the same time, the odds of me actually walking away from that fight were very low. And that was before we even added the fucking white boot invasion into the mix.