Page 42 of The Honor Society

Jude shoots to his feet. “And Jenner’s War.” He shakes his head. “The bodyguard looking guy, fuck, and if you’re Famine, and I’m—” He swallows and looks guiltily at Lilah.

Tears well in her eyes. “You’re. What?”

He closes his eyes and looks away like he’s ashamed, yet I know it’s more or less that he’s been hiding it. “Conquest.” He says hoarsely. “I’m the heir to Conquest.”

Lilah sputters out a laugh. “Then who the Hell is Axel?”

“He’s nobody.” I say quickly. “Just a guy I shot to protect from all of this, someone I should have never involved. He’s innocent.” I feel like a horrible person. “And I shot him but at least now they aren’t looking in his direction and he’s safe. That’s all that matters guys.” My head jerks up. “And from here on out, it’s on all of us to keep it that way.”

12

Thirteen Days Until The Convocation

AXEL

“Ithink you need more animal heads.” I acknowledge the wall of decorated skulls facing me along with the roaring fireplace. “Maybe some human ones? Not real of course, too dark for our taste, but might make a man shit himself. Useful?”

Rhodes’s footsteps are measured, as always, like he’s afraid to put too much pressure on each foot or maybe just years of practice sneaking around, he makes his way over to me with a glass of whiskey then takes a seat opposite on his dark green leather couch. It’s very gothic of him, this whole aesthetic, but I say nothing, judging by his stern expression my smart retort wouldn’t be accepted with open arms, more like, two knives and a smile.

“War was taken.” He sips and lowers his glass. “Famine was taken, do you really believe any of this was coincidence?”

“They figured out my little game it seems.” I shrug. “So?”

“They’re trying to collect heirs before you can. And this isn’t a game, Proctor.”

“I find it fun.” I lift my mask to take a sip.

“For the love of God just take it off, nobody’s here!”

“Rules are ru⁠—”

“—Axel.” He growls.

I grin behind my mask and then slowly pull it off my head and set it next to me like it has its own fancy seat, the way it should. “I was getting hot anyway.” “It must kill you to hide that beautiful jawline every day.” Rhodes sounds disgusted about it. I’m more impressed he noticed.

I merely smile. “Miss my sexy profile that much, hmm?”

“Go to hell.” He takes another measured sip. “They’re trying to gain votes, to reveal you, to behead me.” He waves his hand. “Allegedly.”

“Grotesquely, do they even know how large your neck is? We’d need a guillotine." I clap my hands together. “Problem solved, your skull can be the first, I say above the fireplace.”

“So you have to stare at it if I get replaced?”

I make a face. “Kill joy.”

He smirks. “You’re getting too close to her, Proctor.”

“Famine?” I shrug. “I’m supposed to be close.”

“Not Famine. Charlie.” He corrects.

“Careful.” I warn.

“That’s Chancellor speaking to Proctor, a simple warning, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Then Chancellor,” I draw out the title. “Should remember who he’s fucking talking to, shouldn’t he?”

“Testy?”