My eyes wandered to my mate, searching her features and mind for any kind of distress and finding her perfectly at ease.
So I continued.
“In case it’s not obvious by now—as I know some of you may need these things spelled out for you—Ryan hired me to fuck Ella and dump her in front of the school. Sort of like what happened a few years ago at the Holiday Ball, only worse since my task was to capture her heart. Which I believe I’ve done.” I cocked a brow at my mate.
She merely smiled, the look coy and secretive.
Devious minx,I accused playfully.
Delectable fairy, she replied.
I nearly sighed out loud.That whole punishment thing lingers in your future, El.
Bring it on, Nacht.
I smirked. “Yes, for those wondering, Ella’s been aware of her stepsister’s intentions for a while now,” I said, holding her gaze and ignoring all the whispers coming from the room, as well as Ryan’s resulting growl.
But movement across the stage had me sending a sliver of magic to ground the administrators, who had begun to shuffle toward me. They’d attribute the sensation to having their limbs locked in shock.
In reality, I’d frozen them.
Because I wasn’t done.
“Ah, here it is.” I made a show of looking at my phone and pulled up the will Ella and I had uncovered recently. Then I cleared my throat to begin reading. After it became obvious what I held in my palm, I paused and looked at Ryan. “Really, there’s a bunch of legal bullshit that I don’t want to bore the audience with. So let’s jump to the important part where Tremaine Cinder—Ella’s father, for those of you not paying attention—declared Isabella Cinder as his sole heir to his fortune. Clarissa Cinder is listed as the legal guardian of the estate, but only effective until Isabella’s eighteenth birthday. Which was when, darling?”
“Roughly five months ago,” she confirmed.
“Yes, which means you own everything.” I feigned shock as I refocused at a fuming Ryan. “Surely you didn’t know?” Then I smiled, dropping the act. “Except we all know you did. And you’ve been trying to beat Ella into submission all these years since learning the truth—that you’d benothingwithout your gorgeous, intelligent, cunning stepsister.”
I faced the administrators, adding, “It also means all those checks you’ve been cashing from Clarissa Cinder these last few months—the ones that allow her children to terrorize the halls—were never hers to write.”
Ella smiled.Mic drop.
I smirked.Indeed. That was a human phrase I enjoyed. Although, I was tempted to literally release the microphone. It would make for a lovely sound that would startle the room from their stupor.
“So, Ryan, you’re living in a home you have no rights to, driving a car that isn’t yours, and attending an academy that you could never afford without Ella’s permission. How fascinating that you decided to involve me in your little family drama. All for what? The promise of one night with you. Which brings me back to—how the fuck could you ever think I’d choose you over Isabella?” I looked her over in obvious distaste. “Not even if you paid me, babe.”
“I think that’s enough, Mr. Nacht,” Professor Montgomery tried again.
“I don’t agree, Peggy,” I drawled. “Because, you see, the academy is about to fall under new management. When I told Father how poorly this place is run and the shenanigans allowed in these halls, he put some measures in place—and by that, I mean new ownership.” This was the part I hadn’t outwardly discussed with Ella, but she knew about it through our bond. And while she felt it was a waste of resources, she agreed with my thought process.
Because owning the academy ensured that nothing like this could ever happen again.
It also allowed us to secure her early graduation, something her mother’s inheritance required. Not that Ella really needed the funds after the hefty amount her father had left for her, but it was the principle of the matter at this point. Besides, she deserved her degree after all the shit she’d put up with over the last three and a half years. And I would ensure that she received it without having to set another foot inside that awful place.
Of course, it was about to change drastically.
“I believe the majority of you will be dismissed on Monday,” I added, grinning. “I suggest you work on those resumes tomorrow.” With a contented sigh, I smiled at my mate. “Have I missed anything, darling?”
“No, I think that about wraps it up. Can we go—”
Ryan’s palm nearly connected with Ella’s face, but my mate caught her stepsister’s wrist before she could finish the movement.
And sent the bitch backward several feet with a shock I felt through the bond.
The scream splitting Ryan’s lips made even me cringe.
Ella had zapped her hard.
