Page 196 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Hear us out please,” Kalen begs.
“I’m listening.” I fold my arms and glower at all of them, while trying to take some deep calming breaths. They’re not getting off the hook for this one so easily.
“I wish Sawyer was here, he could explain better than us, but this is why we need you to get into The Order and fulfil your birthright.”
I frown at Kalen’s words, watching as he runs his hands through his hair in agitation. “We weren’t aware of this until we knew why you were here. We know our grandfather and father have a different agenda to us, but we were ordered not to tell you.”
“She dies,” is all I say. I’m mad at them, for sure, but all I can think about right now is that bitch. I will deal with my family when I’m more level headed.
“What?” Kalen asks, thrown by my statement.
“I’ll do it – join – as long as she dies. You swore you’d help: those are my terms. Besides, I’ve worked a few things out on my own, and you can’t tell me that The Order is an organisation that is on the right side of the law.”
“Deal,” Onyx says before the others have a chance to reply. “I’ll do it myself, if that’s what it takes.”
“I’m still mad at you. All of you. And I still want answers, but I need to deal with one thing at a time,” I tell them.
If it is all wrapped up with The Order, I need to get in so my father can speak freely to me and explain what the hell is going on. I’m presuming he was in The Order since he knows Monty. I’m also presuming he owed Monty big time if he managed to get me here; I’m sure my father wouldn’t have let me go willingly.
“Well, look at us all adulting and being mature and shit,” Kalen jokes and he is right, usually I would overreact, throw a tantrum and do something stupid, but that is the old me, and the new me needs answers. I know how to get them, I just have to bide my time.
Anyone who has wronged me will pay. I know I’m important to The Order. I just don’t know why, yet. Now I know Laura isn’t my mother, Debbie must have been from an important family. It clicks.
“There has never been a child born from two important families, has there?” I ask, though I’m mostly thinking out loud and don’t expect an answer. “I didn’t see a connection before because I thought that woman was my mother. Holy shit! That old guy from breakfast was Dirk Kessler. He had a tattoo too! Shit. He has to be on the board if your grandfather is…”
They all stare at me and I keep rambling.
“So there must be Kessler, Rossi, Knox, Branson as important families. But I have a feeling Slate, Onyx and Sawyer’s families are important too. They’re Oldham and Montgomery, right? But why would Monty adopt you if you already had ties to The Order?”
“Beautifulandsmart,” Sawyer says entering the room. “There are seven founding families, and a heap of other important ones, which is why we have legacies this year. There is so much you don’t know. All of you in fact. But allwillbe revealed after Amelie initiates. I need all of you to trust me. I’m working behind the scenes to get everything ready for us.”
“Yeah, well, I’m mad at you too, Mr late to the party,” I scold, pointing my finger at him.
“You don’t mean that, love.” He smiles indulgently at me and I almost melt. Almost.
“I do! In fact,allof you can get the hell out!”
“Even me? I just got here!” Sawyer complains.
“Even you. I want time alone. I need to digest.”
I expect them to put up a fight – especially Kalen, but it’s actually him who ushers the others out. He can’t resist planting a wet sloppy kiss on my cheek as he goes. He’s incorrigible, but I really am reeling over all of this. Why would Baxter show me this now? He obviously had my file since I pulled my little leaving stunt, so why didn’t he show it to me at the airstrip?
I’m pulled from my thoughts by my bedroom door reopening.
“Kalen, I said no,” I warn.
“It’s not Kalen,” Onyx says harshly.
I spin round to stare at him, his dark eyes blazing with fire.
“What—” I don’t get any further than that though because Onyx grabs me and presses me against the nearest wall.
“Look, I know you’re mad as hell at us right now, and I don’t blame you, not really. But I have to warn you.”
“Warn me of what?” I frown. He places his hand over my mouth hurriedly.
“Shush! Listen,” he whispers urgently. “Your initiation is going to happen any day now. The Order has a habit of abducting people for their test. You have to make it believable and don’t let on that you knew it was coming. I’m not supposed to tell you, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you panicking...after what you went through.”
