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“I don’t understand how this has anything to do with The Circle being slaughtered four nights ago,” someone calls out.
My gaze settles on the asshole across the cathedral, and as I fix him with a heavy glare, he quickly shuts up and allows me to continue. “Zade was instructed on the hour before dawn on the sixtieth sun and sixtieth moon, that this ritual will be performed, and with that, he was given my name—a name which the corrupted members of The Circle had known for many years.”
Whispers and gasps of shock start to sound around the room, but I continue. “Over the course of the following sixty days, Zade discovered that he was not the heir to Empire’s greatest throne and that his father had fraudulently ruled before him. He learned that The Circle knew who I was and that they had planned to use my death as a means to cover their indiscretions. With my father long forgotten in Empire’s prison and Lawson DeVil already dead and gone, their lies and manipulations would have died with me.”
Zade steps out from the shadows, and I watch as people start to notice him, some looking terrified, some already piecing together what had happened. “Zade DeVil is one of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” I tell the world, watching as he slowly walks toward me, holding his head high, proud of his actions in that tomb. “Four nights ago, he gallantly protected me, the true blood heir of Empire, as I was bound to an altar and sentenced to slaughter.”
The words get stuck in my throat, and as Zade nods, I find the strength to continue. “Zade DeVil is my hero,” I say, hating how I have to keep the other’s names out of my mouth right now despite how they deserve the praise for what they did. “He put his life on the line to protect me, and he did so, fearlessly fighting off eleven trained men. Their actions against me, and their dishonesty to you, the people, in knowingly allowing Lawson DeVil to fraudulently rise in power and deceive you all is an act of the greatest treason, punishable to the greatest extent of Empire’s laws.”
Horror tears across the faces of the congregation, unable to believe how easily they’d been led astray. “I am not here to sway you in some kind of direction, to try and manipulate you into allowing me to lead you. It’s not a position I want nor am I prepared for. I’m simply here so that you can have all the facts and know exactly what kind of corruption has overtaken the organization that you all love so dearly,” I say, not even bothering to tell them about the dagger my father launched into my chest. They already have enough proof to convict him.
Zade moves up on the stage beside me, his hand on my lower back as I move away from the dais, allowing Cara to take over, the only person in this room with any true authority right now. She turns to face the people and takes a shaky breath before raising her chin. “I know that I am still new at this and there are many customs I have yet to learn, however, one thing is abundantly clear,” she says, her gaze shifting back to my father. “Matthias Quinn does not have the best interests of our people at heart. A power-hungry leader who so willingly disregards the lives of his people is not a leader at all, and I vote, as your sole remaining member of The Circle, that he be punished to the full extent of Empire’s laws.”
The whole congregation gets to their feet, roaring their approval as my father gapes, looking at them in horror as though he truly believed that his blood alone could save him. And with that, Cara addresses the congregation one last time. “I ask that if there are any children within the cathedral or anyone who does not wish to witness this public execution, that you now be dismissed. Please exit your pew and in an orderly fashion, make your way through the main doors.”
A moment passes and I watch as children are scurried through the exit and then when the congregation settles and everyone goes quiet, Cara glances at me, giving me the go-ahead.
A strange nervousness flutters through my chest as Zade presses a gun into my palm. “Are you sure?” he questions. “I can do it if you need me to.”
“No,” I tell him, moving into position in front of my father. “I shot Aunt Liv right between the eyes and didn’t lose even a wink of sleep. I’m sure as hell not going to lose any over this.” And with that, I raise the gun without a moment of hesitation, and I pull the trigger to truly reclaim my freedom.
