Page 56 (2/2)

I tugged at the he I pictured Neil as a scared, angry, lost boy, thrust into a fight he didn’t want—but that archs got infected, and the power and unlierous Neil wasn’t any different from the rest of us

He was corrupted too

“I want to end this,” I said, pushing asidepeace to the fahtful heir”

“Assuernail against her cheek “I’ you’re too proud to take a blood test”

“I’d do it if I thought it would change anything”

“I’ll have to take your word for it” She sighed “I knohen I’m beat Between the rest of the leeches and your boyfriend, I can’t hold out for er”

“Red to kill you, even if you deserve it”

“That’s good to hear What about the rest of my people? And Chika?”

I glanced over to where Chika stood glaring death at me “I don’t knohy you care”

“I’m curious, truth be told It doesn’t matter what you decide, but I’ve found that what a person does when they have power over another says a lot about who they are”

I let that sink in What sort of person was I? My whole life I’d had power over others, and what had I done with it?

Sought out th at the expense of those around me

I’d been a selfish prick

“Chika can live But she’ll be punished”

“That’s nice to hear”

“You’ll get a piece of the assets Businesses,So will everyone else I won’t take it all”

Her eyebrows raised Again, she looked surprised I liked shocking her She seemed like a woman that wasn’t easily unsettled

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I believe this faether I understand that I will always be an outsider, even if I ahter I was raised by the Servants and I’ll always be one of the, and it hurt to hear it out loud After how I’d treated my sister and my brothers, I didn’t deserve to call myself a part of their family, but I pressed on “If I share some of the wealth and poith you all, I hope you’ll see it as a good faith gesture I want prosperity, and while I will be the head of the family, I don’t have to be a dictator”

Cosiers steepled, before inclining her head