Page 64 of Reluctant Rebel

Jinx looked surprised before relief chased the expression away. “Really? Oh, thank goodness. After last night, I was worried you’d sideline me.”

Mikhail frowned. “It’s not my place to tell you what you can and can’t do. Besides, why would I sideline one of our greatest assets?”

Jinx shook her head, mumbling, “Damnit, Mikhail. I’m going to need you to stop being so wonderful.”

He felt like he’d just been crowned King all over again. Standing tall, he said, “You think I’m wonderful?”

Jinx met his eyes steadily. “Yeah. I do.” She cleared her throat before he could comment further and asked briskly, “What do you need help with?”

“Going through Zagan’s quarters. Sabre thought he might have hidden information there.” He matched her tone, not wanting to appear emotional over the mission.

Jinx touched his forearm briefly. “Of course. Do you want to go now?”

He nodded, stepping back when Jinx immediately crossed the threshold and closed the door. “Which way?”

“This way,” he said gratefully.

Marius and Shiloh trailed behind them at a distance as they made their way down two corridors. Z’s rooms weren’t far from his own. Mikhail used a key to unlock the door and hoped Jinx didn’t see the way his hand trembled when he released the knob.

When he didn’t move or speak, Jinx cleared her throat. “Should we split up and search this place from top to bottom?” she offered quietly. “We’ll be quicker that way.”

Mikhail looked down at Jinx, blinking twice before he nodded. “Yes. Of course. That makes the most sense.” Then he strode through the door.

Dust motes danced in the pale sunlight filtering through the windows as he looked around Z's abandoned living space. Dark marble floors gleamed beneath rugs worth more than most cars. A massive, black, L-shaped leather sectional, its soft surface well-worn, faced a wall dominated by a massive flatscreen. It was flanked by built-in shelves showcasing first-edition novels, sculptures, and weapons.

Crystal decanters filled with amber liquors adorned the bar area next to the gas fireplace, which had an intricately carved mantle. Above it hung an original artwork of their mother’s, its vibrant chaos a stark contrast to the room's otherwise meticulous order. Painting had been their mother’s only hobby. Although she wasn’t the best artist in the realm, her paintings still sold for thousands of dollars because she had been Queen. Mikhail still had many of her works in his private quarters and wondered if he was going to have to set them on fire now, given what he was discovering about her.

Forgetting his task for a moment, he moved as if in a trance, fingers trailing over familiar objects—a worn leather baseball mitt, a collection of rare coins, a battered copy of ‘The Illustrated Atlas of Mythical Beasts’.The book had been Z's favourite as a boy. Now it sat wedged between ominous grimoires withtitles like‘Necromancy for the Modern Age’and‘101 Uses for Dragon's Blood’.

His chest tightened as memories flooded back—teaching his little brother to whistle, hunting for treasure in the forbidden forest, and reading adventure stories by flashlight long past bedtime. The memories were real and filled with warmth. Yet, here he was, searching for the list of people Z wanted dead.

“Make it make sense,” he pleaded hollowly.

“What’s that?” Jinx responded, looking over from where she was going through the kitchen cabinets.

“Nothing,” Mikhail muttered, glancing away. He didn't want her to see the conflict in his eyes, the guilt gnawing at his conscience like a relentless parasite.

Jinx paused, a can of soup in one hand, and studied him with a piercing gaze. “You can talk to me about anything,” she said, her tone softening in a way that made his heart ache.

“I appreciate that.” He made an effort to pick things up and move them around, opening drawers before moving into the bedroom. After thirty minutes, he concluded there was nothing to find. “No luck?” he asked Jinx, re-entering the living room.

“Nothing,” Jinx confirmed, looking around. “He’s a real neat freak, huh?”

Mikhail snorted. “Always was. He likes order.”

“Control,” Jinx corrected firmly. “Zagan likes control.”

Mikhail nodded slowly. “Yes. You’re right. And now he has it. Thanks to our mother.”

Jinx joined him in the centre of the room, studying him closely. “How are you handling that revelation?”

“I don’t think I am,” he answered truthfully. “She was always a bit cold. She made no secret of the fact that Zagan was her favourite. But she must have hated Father—hatedus—for her to put these ideas in Zagan’s head.”

“She sounds like she was mentally unwell, Mikhail,” Jinx offered, radiating compassion. “And Z clearly is, too.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I just wish I would have known. Discovering all this feels like another betrayal. First Z and now my mother.” He paused, realisation smacking him in the chest. “And Brax had to deal withmybetrayal, too. I let him think I was dead. Who does that?” He laughed harshly. “Perhaps I’m crazy, too.”

Jinx stepped closer, placing her palm over his furiously thundering heart. “You did that because you’re the King and have hundreds of thousands of souls to protect. You did that because you believed it was the best option to keep Purgatory safe—and to keep your family safe. You did itforBrax. NottoBrax.”

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