“They cannot protect you from me,” he snarled.
Oh, that was a bad, bad slip, and in front of a witness no less. “I don’t need them to protect me from you, Ainsworth. You and I can dance anytime you want and I’ll win. You keep hiding behind the hat of the pope while committing all your crimes your buddies let you, and I’ll stand with the dragon royals. But, if you want to dance one on one, just name the time and place, and you won’t be a problem anymore.”
“Your arrogance will be your end, child,” he sneered. “You are insane to think you could take on a councilman.”
I smiled at him, knowing it was the evil one. “Pot. Kettle. And it’s not arrogance. I simply know more about me and my situation than you do, no matter how many private investigators you hire, spies you send at me, or people you try to buy off or order near me. If I wasn’t everything you salivated for, you wouldn’t be going all-in on me. We both know I’m more powerful, as you can only make level five crystals.”
His eyes flashed shock, physically recoiling from me before he could catch himself, but I knew from his reaction Edelman saw it. “That’s nonsense. Of course I could do—”
“Headmaster Edelman isn’t going to believe you over me on anything after all he’s seen of the proof of your crimes. Save your breath and scurry back to your group of sick fucks trying to own a woman like a possession and steal all she has and her power.”
“Watch yourself, Tamsin Vale, or—”
“Or what?” I sighed, throwing my hands up in the air. “Even if you pulled this off, the royals would have come for me. I’m saving all their castles. Could your guards really go toe-to-toe with them? Sure, you could hide me, but they’re huge fucking dragons, and you’ve pissed in a lot of pies. You guys keep coming up with these stupid, short-sighted plots I keep laughing at as I dodge.
“Enough already. You’re not going to win when it comes to me. Drop it and do your jobs. Protect your people and fight the Underground. Go after real threats and do some good to try and absolve your soul from all the evil you’re going to rot for. I know you won’t, but try for power another way that won’t get you dead when we meet in a dark alley. You won’t ever get me, so enough.”
“I will. One day, I will.”
I snorted. “No, you won’t, because I’d rather end my life than ever let you have my power to do more evil with, and I know the rune to do that in a flash if I’m ever truly caught. And I will, Ainsworth. I’ve told you guys over and over again that I’m willing to give my life for this fight. I will go all the way. I knew that was probably the path the moment I started it. You think it’s a kid’s bluff. It’s not.”
“You’re insane,” he hissed.
“No, I’m dedicated, and I would rather fall on my sword a million times than ever let someone as insane as you win and do what you want with me and my power,” I snapped. I stepped closer and in his space. “Look into my eyes and see the truth. See it now, and understand I’m not bluffing. I will go the distance. I’m willing to give my life for this fight. Are you? Because you keep pushing, it will be one of us, and soon.”
He studied my gaze and clearly didn’t like what he saw from the way he went pale. I knew what it was because I truly meant what I said.
And the man saw his death in my eyes. He saw the absolute promise of his death, as I knew I would bring it as soon as I could.
He tried to grab the copy of my degree, but I cut that off, saying there was no way he should have it, as I didn’t answer to him or the council. I answered to my council. Edelman didn’t cave either and Ainsworth left empty-handed, grumbling that we would both regret it, and some more nonsense.
Edelman waited several minutes until we were alone and no one was around to hear us. “You can’t go that far, Vale. We need you.”
“I hope to get the backup before it comes to that, but we both know it will come to that, and I’m prepared for the cost. I’ve always been. It’s not about staying alive, but staying alive as long as I can to save them and keep everyone on my side alive. I’ve always known that.”
“I don’t accept that.”
I smiled at him. “It’s not your choice. It’s mine, and I made it with the first battle of this war. The first instance I told Von Thann to go fuck himself, and he wasn’t breeding me, and no one could announce what I was, we knew in the end my death was probably inevitable. I’m just trying to delay it to save as many as I can and, hopefully, my people.”
He shocked the shit out of me by hugging me tightly. “Hang on, young one. Hang on. The tides are turning and hope is on the horizon. I feel it. Others of us who have the right crystals and ties to seers feel it. We just need you to hang on and keep going.” He kissed my hair and as fast as he’d hugged me, he let me go and headed for his office.
Well, that was weird… And oddly comforting. As many problems and issues as I’d had with Edelman saying too much or handling me in ways he shouldn’t, he really did give off that safe, Santa vibe.
“I don’t accept that either,” Zack said
