Released (Highgate Preparatory Academy, #3)

by Rosa Lee

A smile that is most likely quite terrifying in its peaceful serenity tugs up my lips as I reach the bottom step, knowing that my only living relative will not see another sunrise. The thought fills me not with horror, but with grim satisfaction, and with a sense that justice will be served in my name once more to a monster, doled out by monsters much bigger and more frightening than he is. Not for the first time, I know that I am one of them. And damn proud of it too.

“Ash is pissed, beautiful,” he murmurs, his breath tickling my face. I heave a dejected sigh. “Take me to your leader then,” I reply, a wobbly giggle leaving my lips when Loki chuffs out a laugh at my terrible joke.

After all, what better way to defeat the monsters that plague us than by becoming monstrous ourselves?

“All for one,” he repeats in a bored tone, but the tilt of his lips shows his amusement. “Come on, big guy,” Loki cajoles Jax, waggling his eyebrows. “We need our fourth Musketeer.” Jax sits with his arms folded for another beat, then huffing, gets up, and thumps his hand hard on top of ours like a dick. “Say it,” Loki insists, and Jax holds his stare. A lesser man would wither under his intense scrutiny, but Loki holds his ground. “All for fucking one,” Jax rumbles, and Loki fist pumps with his free hand. All for fucking one.