“Numbers we’ll have, if you agree to help us,” Mara insisted.
“What is it you’re asking of me?”
“Ethan, you’ve become a beacon for the revolution, a symbol due to your actions as the Phantom. If you join us, many others will follow,” Mara said.
“I have no desire to lead a revolution. I don’t even have an inkling to participate,” I said. This was a waste of my time. My priority was getting the stones, and protecting Emma. Everything else was unimportant. I’d promised my mate I was done with vigilante work, and becoming involved in a revolution was even worse.
“Ethan, please,” Mara said with a sigh. “This revolution won’t get off the ground without you. You’re a good leader. You can inspire the people to fight back.”
“I apologize, but I’m going to have to refuse. You’ll have to find another symbol for your revolution.”
“I see,” Professor Mara said, and she frowned. “Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us. We could use someone like you.”
I laughed darkly. “Don’t count on it.”
I went to leave, but as I abandoned Professor Mara’s presence, I heard footsteps behind me. Finlay grabbed my arm and turned me around. “Hey.”
I nearly exploded into my wolf skin and tore him apart. Instead, I reeled in my baser instincts and said, “What the hell was that? I just got off an execution sentence for being a vigilante, and now you’re asking me to risk my neckagain, for a cause I don’t believe in?”
“Stop lying to yourself. Youdobelieve in it,” Finlay said firmly. “I know you, Ethan. You want Elijah off that throne.”
“And who do you plan to replace him with?” I crossed my arms and took a wide stance. “Haven’t gotten that far, have you? Do you understand that to unseat a king, you’ll have to destroy the Circle as well, and find members to fill all those seats? They’re not going to vote in whoever you choose to nominate. You’ll never earn the support of the people, or the government, without a ruler who hasn’t won the King’s Contest. Their rule wouldn’t be sanctified by the gods.”
“We still need to work out the details,” Finlay ground out. “But look at the facts! Elijah and Gabby have to go.”
“You’ll send Malovia spiraling into turmoil if we don’t have someone ready to replace him,” I hissed. “Our country has never been without a king.”
“Malovia is already in turmoil,” Finlay said firmly. “It’s only going to get worse if we don’t do something. I don’t know you well, but I’m certain you’re not a man who turns his back on a cause for his country.”
“And what will happen when the revolution comes out of secrecy and starts gaining momentum? Who do you think my cousin will blame?” I asked.
“That’s the point. The king will suspect you anyway. Might as well make it worth your while.”
“You’re asking me to join a revolution of students to fight Gabby and Elijah. A king and queen who, if I remind you, have copious amounts of money and power on their side. They have armies. What do you have? Textbooks and a dream that can’t get off the ground?”
“The revolution has to start somewhere. You’re a hero to the people of Dolinska. You could be the deciding factor.”
The temptation was great, but I thought of Emma, and everything we’d gone through last semester. I was no longer a liar. I couldn’t break another promise to her, for any reason.
Even for a cause I’d previously fought for.
“My answer is no.”
I ripped my arm away from Finlay and stormed off. As my back was turned to him, he called out, “You can’t run away from this forever! Sooner or later, you’re going to want to fight back. We’ll be waiting here when you do.”
Finlay’s words haunted me. They ate away at me like the memorable temptation of putting on a mask. For the rest of the day, I couldn’t get them out of my head. They combined with Stefan’s words a few weeks prior.
“Of course you promised. But I know you. You’ll get bored.”
There was that old, familiar itch. And no matter what I did to scratch it, it wouldn’t go away.
It festered. Like an infected wound. I wondered if Finlay was right and if I’d do something to relieve it, because the itch was gnawing away at me, and I knew there would be only one way to satisfy it.
Anarchy.
Chapter Eight
Emma
