Page 30 of Broken Truths

“It’s Vincent’s stupid fucking wedding to that elite princess. It has everyone with kids of that age scheming.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised my father let me wait it out this long. He was married to my mom two years younger than I am now. I don’t think he pushed it because he couldn’t think of anyone that would gain him something, at least not in our immediate circle.”

I think back on Alaric’s earlier words. His father thinks my attitude sucks. Well, that’s exactly why I’ve been acting out almost my entire life. I didn’t want to be seen as a prize—hell, I’d probably be happy as a spinster. But at the same time, there’s a little part of my heart that cracks open to hear that someone doesn’t think I’m good enough for Alaric Barclay.

Stupid insecurities.

“I was thinking if he pushed it, I might be able to talk him into you,” Alaric says.

He waits for my reply. It seems like everyone does.

“I thought it was a better idea than making an arrangement with someone el—”

“Wow…” Oliver suddenly interrupts. “This is the suckiest conversation we’ve ever had together. If Eden’s marrying anyone, she’s marrying me.”

“I’m still under the working idea that I’ll be able to stay unattached right now,” I tell everyone. “Let’s just stall on those fronts.” I clear my throat, peering at Leo and imploring him with my eyes. I’d rather him move the conversation toward my sister’s sexual status than spend another moment talking about the idea of me being married.

Leo relaxes his grip on the back of the couch. “One more thing. Grandfather said something during our meeting about Delilah being a virgin.”

“What?” Oliver snickers. “That’s crazy.”

“I’m pretty sure she was, actually.” I never held onto mine like a souvenir. Not like Dee had. When I was sick of still having it, I decided Oliver would take it because I trusted him more than anyone else.

Oliver’s face drains.

“Wait,” Alaric states. “You’re saying Franklin Jarvis knew this?”

Leo and I both nod.

Alaric’s face turns crimson. He clenches his jaw, and I can almost hear his teeth filing against each other. “If I’m a bastard like Franklin and I know this information, I’m going to see how I can exploit it. How I can use it. How I can—”

My heart squeezes. He has the same look that Leo had when we were talking about it last night—a desperate sort of wanting to deny it with better judgment and realization breaking through the surface. “You think this could be…something?”

“I don’t have any first-hand knowledge,” Alaric starts, “but you know the emphasis Knights put on sexually related activities. If Jarvis knew this, he would use it somehow. It may have nothing to do with why she died, but…”

“She wouldn’t have let herself get raped. Not if she could help it. She kept it that long for a reason, she wouldn’t have just… She would’ve fought.” My words feel like sandpaper. I don’t know why I’m fighting for them to know this. They have to know this, right?

“We need to talk to Keegan,” Oliver points out. “See if she was still a virgin.”

“And we need to find out who was in on her last Trial. We can figure it out from there,” Leo states. “We’ll dig out a weak link and torture them until they talk. If anyone touched her without her consent, we’ll make them pay.”

Fight crazy with crazy.

The more I think about it, the better it sounds.

We can hit these fuckers with what they know. I can get favors. I can threaten their status. I can do it all until someone talks. Sure, it’s a reckless and stupid move, but Dee deserves it.

I’ll be on the Knights’ radar in a bad way, but I knew what I was doing when I decided to pledge.

“I’ve been too nice,” I say. “Let’s start hitting them where it counts. I don’t care if we don’t know who exactly attended her last Trial. All we have to do is suspect. We’ll run through your list, Leo. We’ll pick the weakest link. We’ll come at this like Knights. We’ll shake them until someone rattles.”

And I know who I need to rattle first. Fuck his mental health right now. Dad knew this kind of shit went down in the Knights and he still let Dee pledge. He letmepledge.

He’ll talk to me. No matter what.

“Is it weird that I think she’s sexy when she has that crazy look in her eyes?” Leo asks.

“Yes,” Alaric forces out.

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