The Shadowed Heir: A Dark Academia Reverse Harem Romance Novella (The Covenant Book 1) by Brooks Danica

Author:Brooks, Danica
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Danica Brooks
Published: 2024-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

JACE

The Covenant meeting runs exactly as expected - which is to say, like a perfectly choreographed demonstration of power. Twelve of us sit around a table that's probably older than the country, while my father holds court at the head. The room drips old money and older magic, portraits of past Covenant members watching us with judgmental painted eyes.

Today's entertainment: watching Marcus Chen grovel for mercy after his siphon was caught trying to escape. The girl kneels on the marble floor, blood dripping from her nose, while Marcus stammers excuses.

"She was unstable," he says, not looking at her. "Emotional. I should have reported her sooner."

My father's voice is silk over steel. "Indeed. The system only works if we maintain control, Marcus. If we let one slip through the cracks..." He leaves the threat hanging.

I grip the arms of my chair, feeling the wood crack beneath my fingers. The girl - she can't be more than nineteen - keeps her eyes down, but I can see her trembling. See the marks on her wrists where she fought against restraints.

"Please," she whispers. "I just wanted to go home."

"Silence." My father doesn't raise his voice. He never needs to. "Marcus, you know what needs to be done."

Marcus pales. "Sir, I-"

"Unless you'd prefer to join her?"

The threat hangs in the air for exactly three seconds before Marcus raises his hand. The girl starts to scream, but it cuts off abruptly as her body goes rigid. I watch the light leave her eyes, watch her collapse like a puppet with cut strings.

She's not dead. That would be too merciful. No, she's been bound - her power sealed away, her mind wiped of everything that made her who she was. She'll live out her days in an institution, a cautionary tale for other siphons who might consider running.

"Let this be a lesson," my father says, straightening his already perfect tie. "We cannot afford weakness. Cannot afford rebellion. The system exists for a reason."

His eyes meet mine across the table. The message is clear: don't fuck this up.

The meeting drones on. Budget reports. Security concerns. My father's voice fades to white noise as I stare at the spot where the girl fell. The maids quickly and quietly carried her out moments after she fell, erasing her existence with ruthless efficiency, but I can still see the spot of blood on the rug that fell from her nose. All I can think about as I continue to stare at it is Kit, waiting in my room like a lamb for slaughter. Kit, who looked at me with such defiance this morning. Kit, who has no idea what she's walking into.

"Remember," Father catches my arm as we adjourn. "This one's different. Stronger. Don't let her affect you like the last one did."

The last one. Sarah. Who nearly died because I couldn't control myself. Who at least got to keep her mind, if not her magic.

I take the long way back to my room, trying to delay the inevitable. The weight of generations of Abbott heirs presses down on my shoulders.

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