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Dr. Gabriel Martin has led Saint Frederic University for the past twenty years. He’s a former Kingmaker, and connected to one of France’s premier crime families.
Yet, even by my standards he’s slimy.
Under Dr. Martin’s leadership Saint Frederic University has expanded from housing just a few hundred students, to thousands. Our school’s repertoire has moved from just another private university totheprivate university of choice for people like us.
But that sort of thing comes at a cost, and Dr. Martin’s price gets higher every year.
He’s a tall, thin man with graying black hair and a full beard that’s white at the roots. Today he wears a tailored three-piece suit and cognac-colored Italian leather shoes. His face is set in a hard line as the guards disperse the mob gathered outside Hemlock House.
I don’t budge.
I need to protect Alize. I know the truth of her situation—she did break the treaty, and as far as I know she doesn’t know enough about her father to prove fealty. I need to think of something, and quickly.
A few of the more aggressive students don’t leave. Their faces aren’t familiar, so they must be from Hell House. Out of everyone on campus, they have the most to gain from killing Alize. Her death would change one of their lives overnight.
“Get out of here,” Dr. Martin shouts. “This won’t be a repeat of the last situation. Miss Moreau is entitled to a fair investigation, and she will meet with me before any of the Treaty’s rules come into effect.”
Following his words, the guards with him start forcefully removing the rest of the students. A small weight lifts off my chest. This is good. This gives me time to think about what to do. It’s a small flicker of hope.
Dr. Martin’s eyes land on me as he approaches the gates.
“Ah, Mr. Duke. What a surprise to see you here.” Dr. Martin’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Little happens at this school without this man knowing, I’m sure he expected to see me here. “Have you come for your pound of flesh?”
I clench my fists behind my back, taking a deep breath to steady myself. It’s even harder to keep my composure than usual—my nerves are frayed, as if anything else will tip me over the edge. I’m one mishap away from losing my mind.
“No, sir,” I say through gritted teeth. “Miss Moreau is my Courtesan. This is all a misunderstanding, and I would like the chance to explain.”
It’s quiet enough for me to hear my own breathing.
The seconds it takes the Chancellor to respond to me feels like hours. Alize’s life depends on his answer, on this very moment. If I can’t save her, she’ll die.
I can’t lose another woman I love because of my inaction.
I don’t want to live in a world without Alize. If they take her from me, I’ll burn this whole place down to the ground. I’ll devote my life to getting my revenge on every single person here—even the Chancellor. There’s no line I won’t cross for her.
I can’t lose her.
Dr. Martin’s face tightens into a sly smile. “How interesting,” he says, turning to one of his guards. The man’s face is stoic. “Come along with us, then. I want you to tell me what we got wrong about her situation.”
On the surface it seems like a well-intentioned invitation, but I hear the implication in his words. By involving myself in this situation, it’s become my problem now. He’s trying to insinuate that whatever happens to her will happen to me too.
It’s too bad he doesn’t know that it has always been like that for me—Alize’s safety will always be my responsibility. I will always face the consequences of keeping her safe. I’ll be damned if I allow him to offer her up like a sacrifice.
Now that the Chancellor has arrived and the crowds are gone, Victoria steps forward to open the gate. She casts a nervous glance between Dr. Martin and I as she fumbles with the lock. Inside, I’m just as edgy as she seems to feel.
My bluff may have gotten me an audience with the Chancellor, but how the fuck am I going to talk my way out of this one?
FOUR
ALIZE
It’s almostan hour later when I’m escorted to the Chancellor’s office.
And by escorted, I mean pseudo-kidnapped. Everything unfolds like a scene out of a movie, as if I’m some hated, notorious criminal. The Chancellor shows up with nearly a dozen guards dressed like they’re Navy SEALs. They strap me into a bulletproof vest, tactical armor and a helmet, thencover my faceand escort me out of the building.
Though I wasn’t able to see much, I could still feel the tension. There were whispers in the Hemlock House halls—one girl even said she wished they would kill me somewhere they all could watch—and once we got outside, the air felt different.
It was as if the entire school was on edge.
