Ronan, twisting and turning in his cuffs, desperate to get free, caught my eye with nothing but rage and regret pouring through.
I’d known things would be hard here. Different. But I’d never thought…
“Hey Dad, quick question.”
Kenzo chuffed. “What?”
Maia pushed away from the table, stepping around the guards as she sauntered to his side. “Sage as the PremierRegent? Love it. Two Premiers in our pocket is genius. Truly. But I just need you to clarify something you said earlier.”
The Oniguro boss sat down, rubbing his forehead in annoyance. “Just spit it out, already.”
“When you said ‘nobody lives here for free,’ did you mean Mom, too?”
He paused, his eyes darkening and lips curling. “Her job was to provide me with an heir. Once that was done, well… her death accomplished far more than the rest of her life would have.”
Ronan swore, struggling further while Maia simply whistled. “Damn, that’s what I thought.”
In the blink of an eye, a dagger made of pure, blue flame grew from her hand, born of her demon power. With a practiced flick of her wrist, it flew straight into her father’s heart.
Kenzo gasped, unable to grab the weapon as it seeped into the wound, leaving behind only a plume of smoke. His suit darkened as blood seeped into the fabric. “Maia… you….”
She shrugged, picking at her nails. “Just following in your footsteps, Dad.”
I stifled a scream as he fell face forward onto the table, his eyes losing their spark of life as they stared at his daughter.
The guards looked between Maia, Ronan, and their dead boss, too shocked and confused to move.
Seconds ticked by, until Maia finally sighed. “Let Ronan and Sage go.”
The guards holding him found the key, and as soon as his hands were free, he charged towards the man who had held me, driving him to the ground and pummeling his fists into the man’s face. All I could do was watch wordlessly at the carnage, the sound of bones crunching and flesh disintegrating from Ronan’s heavy blows.
I was sure the man was as dead as Kenzo, but Ronan refused to stop. Maia, meanwhile, lifted a booted foot and kicked her father out of his chair, taking his place.
She watched her brother for another few moments, holding out a hand to stop the other guards from intervening, and then finally spoke up. “I think you got him, killer.”
Ronan gave him one more sickening punch, and then stood, spitting on what remained of his face. Finally, he placed his hands on his chest, incinerating his body into hot, white ash.
When it was all over, he turned to me, his face instantly crumpling. “Sage, are you okay? Hospital?”
I looked down to where my hand had landed over my heart, my fingers clutching the fabric of my dress.
I was terrified, but it was nothing like the attack I’d had at the diner.
“N-no, no, I’m—”
I couldn’t finish the sentence before Ronan pulled me into his embrace, trying his best to avoid getting any blood on me, but his hands were soaked, and the smell was overpowering.
“I’m sorry for everything, I keep failing at protecting you.”
It felt less like a failure and more just incredible bad luck. Like the gods were putting us through their own bizarre set of cruel challenges.
For Hecara’s sake, what was next?
“Now, now, Ronan, the only blood she’s sporting is Toru’s. You’re fine, aren’t you Sis?”
Maia grinned from her new seat, bringing her feet up on the table and holding her hands behind her head.
“Um, yes. Yes, I’m good.”
