Page 182 of The Forsaken Heir
“Why, Bastien?” I asked as he stalked toward me.
“Because,” he spat. “I’mthe best. I’vealwaysbeen the best. Nothing you do will change that.”
I squared my shoulders, ready to fight him to the end. I didn’twantit to end like this, but his mind was set. If killing him was what it took to bring peace, then I’d do it. Reluctantly, yes, but I’d do it all the same.
He swung out at me again, his fist like a brick ready to break my skull open. Rather than dodging the fist, I remembered a move Delphine had showed me and moved in even closer. Instead of punching me, Bastien’s arm swung wide and wrapped around my neck. He took the opportunity to try and put me in a headlock, probably hoping to snap my neck. Before he could squeeze tight, I planted my left foot between both of his, bent low, and pressed up on his elbow. The swift movement released his grip, and he stumbled. I grabbed his shirt collar and spun him toward me. Summoning all my strength, I slammed my palm into his face.
A sickening crack erupted as the cartilage gave way with apop.Bastien’s eyes went wide, the whites turning red as if blood had suddenly filled the orbs. He stood still for several seconds, making strange gagging sounds, before his eyes rolled back. He slammed into the ground, his lifeless skull bouncing on the dirt.
Looking up, I found the entire Laurent force staring in horror at their leader lying dead at my feet. My parents looked dazed and confused, unable or unwilling to look at me, both of their eyes locked on Bastien’s body.
He looked so frail and insignificant as he lay there, blood still oozing from his nostrils. He’d lost himself in his own mental hell. If nothing else, the dream walk and his reaction to it hadshown me he was incapable of change. He’d been twisted since birth.
Two huge arms enveloped me from behind, and I flinched, sure it was someone else trying to attack me, but it was only Aurelius pulling me into an embrace.
“You did it,” he whispered, pressing his lips to my ear. “You did it.”
“Seize her!” my father shouted, pointing a shaking finger at me, his eyes brimming with tears.
“I saidseize her,” he cried again, looking at his men. No one moved.
“You will not,” Freddy said. “This was a legal challenge. Brielle Laurent won. It is over. Done. She is now the leader of House Laurent.”
“No,” Mom shouted, her voice breaking as she did. “She’s not even a shifter. Irefuseto allow it.”
“Sheisthe leader,” Sophia cried out, shoving her way forward to join Freddy. “It doesn’t matter if she can shift or not. She is a Laurent by blood, and she defeated Bastien. It doesn’tmatterwhat you want, Mother. This is done. Legally. I follow my sister.”
Tears stung at the back of my eyes as I looked at my two youngest siblings. A deep, aching love for them nearly overwhelmed me. I still had a family who loved me.
The Laurent men obeyed Freddy’s orders and backed away. My parents looked as though they’d just lost everything. They both visibly deflated when they realized they had no control over their men any longer.
Suddenly, it dawned on me.Iheld the power now. After all these years of living as an outcast, believing I really was as worthless as my parents and brother thought, I was in charge.
Turning to Aurelius, I let out a single laugh that sounded more like a sob. “Is it really over?”
“I think so.” He kissed me, and for a few seconds, everything else vanished, leaving only Aurelius and me standing there, wrapped up in each other.
43
AURELIUS
“Are you sure about this, Your Highness?” Titus asked, eyeing the paper in front of me warily.
I nodded and picked up my pen. “The Laurents did the same. Elle and I are of one mind on this. She took care of it on her end, now I need to on mine.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Titus said, and winced with discomfort. “But this willseverelylimit your family holdings and finances. Perhaps if we discussed it with the fae?”
I shook my head as I signed my signature on the first line. Titus sighed as I did the same thing on the next twenty pages. When I was done, I tapped the papers into a neat pile. Titus still looked sad, but he only nodded as he took the stack from me.
“I’ll have them notarized immediately. Is there anything else you need from me? Perhaps something for the ceremony?”
“No, thank you, Titus. Just have copies of those sent to all our shifter-led subsidiaries. They need to know we’re getting out of the magic business.”
“Very well,” Titus said as he departed.
Alone in my office, I leaned back in my chair and let out a heavy breath. It was done. Finally.
It had been several weeks since Elle had beaten Bastien and taken her rightful place as the Laurent heir. After her experience within the wellspring, she’d decided it was time for us shifters to extract ourselves from the business of depleting the source of magic for simple financial gain. The decision had sent shockwaves through the shifter world. I’d had my own doubts, but when she described what it had been like to be within the wellspring itself and how it had the aura of a living entity, it made sense. We couldn’t continue draining it for profit. Not when our kind might cease to exist without it.
