“Riley Lyons. Come just to see me, have you?” Isaac held all the power in here and he knew it too. He examined me with his icy eyes, his brown hair combed perfectly to the side, and his suit pressed without a wrinkle to be found. He looked like a leader but he didn’t act like it.

I didn’t break it off with Isaac for no reason. He has an ‘I’m the child of a ruler so I’m basically a ruler too.’ Complex. We used to be close friends, but that changed when his father fell ill and he’s been slowly taking over the responsibilities he’s never had before. It’s been changing him, and I didn’t like what he was becoming, so I left. He treated me like an object, something he owned and possessed. He treated the entire city like he owned it. I’m not the nicest person either, but my actions hurt the few people around me, his actions hurt all of us. He’s been trying to get me back ever since, and I’ve been doing a great job of avoiding him until now.

“No Isaac, I’m here for work.” I kept my voice flat.

“I have an opening, you could come work for me.” He grabbed my arm.

“You already know my answer.” I pulled my arm free.

I could feel Conner’s presence behind me. If this wasn’t Isaac he would have torn him off me himself.

“I will be crowned Regent in two days and you will be beside me. I’ll have real power Riley. If you don’t choose it I will make it happen.” Isaac threatened me, but it sounded more like begging.

“You’re pathetic.” I stepped aside and pushed him to get to the hall that led to Mar’s door.

“You can’t run from me forever.” Isaac called after me. “Being a coward isn’t like you.”

I sucked air in through my teeth. My nails dug in to my palms and against Conner’s light touch on my shoulder I turned around and marched towards Isaac. He backed up as far as he could before he hit a wall. We’re about the same height, so it wasn’t difficult to get close to his face and jab my finger at his chest.

“Regent’s son or not, I am not afraid to hurt you. I either walk away and you leave me alone, or I stay and you limp away with something broken.” I whispered. “Am I being clear?”

Isaac nodded. The false confidence in his eyes now replaced with fear. I backed away before his private soldiers could tear me away from him.

The moment I wasn’t close enough to threaten him, he smiled and looked me up and down. “Perfectly clear. I like someone who can put me in my place.”

I took a deep breath and walked away. Conner kept to my side in the hall, for comfort and to also make sure I didn’t turn around and aim my gun at Isaac’s head. I heard the car start up out front and I knew he had left.

“I’m surprised you didn’t hurt him.” Conner smiled. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. When I do come for him, he won’t see me coming.” I kept a neutral expression and put my hand on Mar’s door.

A plague that read, ‘Militia Therapist’, adorned the wood.

Conner shook his head but kept his smile. He reached over me and pushed the door open. Mar sat at her desk, her straight black hair pulled up in a high ponytail. Her coffee skin a few shades lighter than Conner and not a single flaw. She didn’t have scars or anything, and her blue-grey eyes were focused on the pile of paperwork on her desk.