The Dread Descendant (The Dread Descendant, #1)

by Lauren Cate Leake

“My apologies, Grisham, I didn’t realize I needed to present you with my qualifications when I arrived tonight.” Maeve looked around at the others. “Did anyone else forget? No? Just me then.” An icy quality began seeping into her otherwise delicate voice. Mal folded his hands in his lap and leaned back joyfully as he watched Grisham’s expression. “But since you’re so curious,” said Maeve. “I’m at this table tonight because I have performed at an Elite level for years, in multiple subjects. And recently, A Supreme level. I score at the top of the school consistently and am incredibly dedicated to the execution of Magic beyond what we know of its limitations. I’m a Paragon, incredibly well organized and studious, and have written hundreds of unassigned papers over my educational time here at Vaukore simply because I enjoy learning and exploring Magic. I am the youngest witch in history to create a memory charm and, undoubtedly, one of the youngest to create any type of spell, let alone one that quite literally bends the mind. I am the only witch on record in the history of Magic with the ability to jump between minds and I would bet my father’s entire fortune you don’t even come close to that achievement.” She picked up her sparking water, toasting Grisham as his cheeks flooded red with anger and left him with a final seething blow. “And for the record, I am not ‘just a pureblood,’ Grisham. I’m a fucking Sacred Seventeen. And you’ll do well to remember it.”