Page 324 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“I’ve found a loophole that basically states you can use either the paternal or maternal bloodline to claim a seat. So Kalen can take the Davis seat.”
“But, Maggie was adopted. She doesn’t have Davis blood.”
“And girls were never allowed in The Order before. Are you going to let a thing like rules stop you?” I retort.
“But they’ll never allow it…will they?”
“I don’t know. Will the head of the most powerful organisation in the world, a girl who answers to no one and who does everything to the beat of her own drum, allow herself to stack the board in her favour?”
Realisation slowly dawns on her.
“I can do anything I want?”
“Within reason. Some parts of The Order we have to respect, but it’s definitely ready to be dragged into the twenty-first century. And while you’ll have a board that will always have yourback, we’ll also keep you grounded so you don’t get too power hungry and turn into my grandfather.”
She snorts at that.
“Okay, so that’ll mean Onyx can take the Knox seat, even though he’s adopted, yeah?”
“Correct.”
“So that leaves me in…damn, which seat do I take?”
I hesitate and decide not to tell her theentiretruth right now.
“The Rossi seat. I’ve sorted the Kessler seat.”
“Oh?”
“I have to tell you, you have family. A half-sister in fact. And she’s agreed to take her seat on the board. She’ll be a ghost member and unable to vote until she’s initiated, but you’ll get to meet her at your inauguration.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah. It’s a lot to take in, I know.”
“I mean, finding out that Debbie was alive was huge. And I know she hasn’t been lying in a coffin for the last eighteen years, so she must have made a life for herself somewhere, but all of the questions I had for her were about her past, before me. Now I find out I could have a whole other family I never knew?” She shakes her head. “When will the revelations stop coming?”
I push off from the desk and cross the room in three easy strides, wrapping her in my arms.
“I think it’s time to get answers once and for all.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” she whispers. “I want to talk to my dad, but face to face. Can I invite him to my official event?”
“It’s called an inauguration.”
“I prefer coronation. I feel like the queen of the world sometimes.” She laughs.
“You’re our queen. Call it what you like. Invite who you like. But yes, I think having your dad there would be a very good idea.”
“Thank you,” she says, gazing up at me with a soft smile. “And sorry about earlier.”
“Hmm? About what?”
“My rant at the pool. I know you’ve always got my back. You’re my rock, Sawyer.”
“Always.”
I kiss the top of her head and she snuggles into my arms.
