Page 59 of In Darkness We Claim

His response seems almost practiced, as if he’s reading from a pre-prepared prompt sheet, and it’s very clear they’re not my father’s own words. He’s relaying whatever the Council has told him to say on the subject, and no matter how much I prod him for more, this is the most I’ll get from him.

But that doesn’t stop me from having one last dig. “So, because the Council is incompetent and can’t do their job and kill Bob, I now have to punish his daughter for something she didn’t do. Is that what you’re saying?”

He slams his fist down on the desk again, his voice booming while his face turns a dangerous shade of purple. “Never call the Council incompetent again, or you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of one of our punishments. As a Pledge, you should show nothing but respect for the elders you hope to answer to after graduation. But if you don’t think you’re capable of showing the Obsidian Council the respect it deserves, we can always kick you out of the Crows.”

His threat is like a stab to the gut, and his sadistic smile suggests he knows exactly the impact it’s had on me. I’ve spent my whole life working towards becoming the youngest ever Obsidian Council member, so for him to imply I don’t respect the institution is a devastating blow, and I have to set it right immediately.

“I’m sorry, Father. I spoke out of turn without thinking. Of course, I have the highest level of respect for the Obsidian Council, and hope to one day be a member. I will do whatever it takes to get there,” I tell him, meaning every word.

His sadistic smile grows, and I can’t help but think I just walked straight into the trap he set for me. “Good. Then you’ll have no problem making an example of the Westmore whore.”

I let out a sigh before saying through gritted teeth, “No problem at all.”

“Good. Now, you had better go as your Head of House is waiting for you back at Crowhurst House. He has a new assignment for you,” he tells me, which quickly snaps me out of the darkness I could feel descending over me at the thought of what I have to put Harper through.

“I didn’t get a message,” I tell him as I pull my phone out of my pocket to check.

My father waves me off. “I told him I’d send you straight over after I finished speaking to you. I didn’t want you to be given the assignment until after we’d had this discussion.”

My father’s manipulative nature is once again made clear to me. Everything has to be on his timeline, to his specifications. I fucking hate that he’s interfering with my role as a Crow, despite not even being on campus. Stupidly, I hoped that moving to Shadowmere would get me away from him. I should have known I was wrong, that I’ll never be free from his shadow.

“I better get going then,” I tell him as I get up.

He doesn’t bother to stand, since he’s not going to see me out, or show me any kind of affection. Instead, he waves his hand at me, dismissing me, before picking up some papers from his desk. He doesn’t offer me a goodbye, and I don’t bother waiting for one, as it’ll never come.

I turn on my heel and quickly make my way out of the office, heading straight for the front door. I don’t even bother looking for my mother to say goodbye, as I’m not in the mood for her dramatics either. This meeting went as fucking badly as I expected it to, and now I need to work out what the hell I’m going to do about Harper.

My desire to have her as my own has got me into a massive fucking mess. My father expects me to punish her in front of the Crows, making it clear I’m taking justice into my own hands. While Harper expects me to help her clear her father’s name, since she’s still absolutely fucking certain he’s innocent. And all I want is to be able to fuck Harper any time I want, however I want, until she’s as desperate for me as I am for her.

I rush back to Crowhurst House, knowing I desperately need this new assignment to distract me from the fucking mess I’ve gotten myself into.

As soon as I step foot into Crowhurst House, Xander is standing in the entrance hall, waiting for me. Each impatient tap of his foot makes it clear he’s bored and irritated, no doubt from having to wait for me.

“My office, now,” he snaps, before turning on his heel and marching towards his office, not even bothering to check that I’m following behind him.

He doesn’t bother taking a seat behind his desk, and chooses instead to lean against the front of it, facing the chair he motions for me to sit in. I do as I’m told, not wanting to agitate him any more than he already is.

“I have a new assignment for you, if you’re not too busy reporting to Daddy,” he spits, glaring at me with disgust.

“I had no idea you wanted to see me until after my meeting with my father. Had I known, you would have been my first stop, not him.”

I mean every word. My loyalty is to the Crows before anyone else. The only time a meeting with my father would take precedence is if he was addressing me as a member of the Obsidian Council, rather than as family.

Despite Xander’s continued glare, a subtle shift in his stance signals that he believes me. A huff escapes him, and a wave of relief washes over me, glad he won’t be inflicting some tedious fucking punishment.

“This is a top-secret assignment, one I hate having to assign to anyone,” he tells me, looking sombre, which only piques my interest further.

“I won’t tell anyone about it.” This isn’t something I need to say aloud, as I’ve more than proved my loyalty over the past two years, but I put it out there all the same.

“I have reason to believe one of our first-year Pledges has been bragging about his induction, and spilling Obsidian Order secrets whenever he’s at Vulture’s Den.”

Xander’s face contorts, a crimson flush creeping up his neck with each biting word. His eyes, dark pools of fury, glint dangerously with the threat I feel radiating from him.

“That’s fucking unacceptable,” I growl, the words a low rumble in my chest. A fiery surge courses through my veins, hot and intense like molten lava, as the thought of a Crow disrespecting this incredible, hard-won opportunity flashes in my mind.

Xander nods in agreement. “I need you to get proof that this is definitely happening, and when you have it, you’ll present it to the Council for us to take care of the rat for good. We informed him of the rules before inducting him into the Crows, so his punishment should not come as a great surprise.”

I mean, I don’t think he’s going to like the idea of me torturing him before brutally killing him, but Xander is correct in saying he should see it coming. We all know the rules, and the consequences we face if we break them.