Chapter 4

Toby shielded his eyes as he looked upward while he and his sister walked toward Hadleigh High. The weather was so bright, he was almost disappointed what was planned for the day wouldn’t happen under ominous rainclouds. Despite the sun shining luminously above them, it wasn’t too hot. If anything, the atmosphere was just clement.

“Oh god,” Maisie’s eyes widened in realization. “It’s that time of the year again?”

Toby rolled his eyes. “You’re complaining about it? You never stay.”

“But my friends do. Do you know how obsessed they are with you and your boys? Penny was even thinking about asking Rhys out. Rhys! That boy may be a knockout, but he gives me vibes that he’d rather knock you out while you least expected it.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“Of course, you would say that. You’re definitely worse. And stop staring at the sun. If you go blind, Dad won’t have a choice but to put me at the head of the company. You know what? On second thought, keep doing that.”

He took his eyes from the sky to give his twin a look. “Thanks for your concern, dear sister, but I think Dad would rather elect a blind man as his successor over a female even if she was his daughter.”

“It’s almost scary how true that is,” she shook her head. “I’m surprised the whole thing hasn’t self-destructed with that kind of thinking.”

The whole thing was an ancient tradition, preceding even their grandparents. Of course, it went down the line as some sort of a boy’s club.

“I’m outta here. Later, Tobs! I texted a specific group of my friends who wouldn’t want to hang around to wet their panties at the sight of you and your buddies.”

She didn’t wait for his response. Instead, she just walked ahead, skipping a bit. She squeezed herself into a group of girls who Toby recognized as her friends. They seem to be waiting for her because as soon as she arrived, the group of girls walked up the main steps and disappeared at the school building’s entrance.

Toby was left alone in the parking lot. However, he didn’t remain by himself for long, for Rhys, Arthur, and Maddox had arrived and made their way to stand beside him.

“Let’s get this over with,” Toby went to move forward but froze when Rhys’ hand landed on his shoulder.

“No need to rush things,” the golden-haired boy smirked, bouncing his eyebrows. “This can be exciting, you know?”

Arthur scoffed, sipping on his morning coffee as he eyed Rhys. “Only you would find this exciting.”

“Why wouldn’t it be? You get to see the fear in their faces. The excitement gleaming in others. It’s actually pretty fun putting people on edge. You should try it.”

Out of the four, Rhys has had the most experience with the entire process. The Gold family was one of the top families out of the twelve for a reason, and it appeared that it has taken its toll on the eighteen-year-old heir’s mind.

“You’re a creep,” Arthur turned away to drink.

Rhys just chuckled lowly. “And that still gets a reaction.”

Toby and Maddox gave each other a deadpanned look. After all these years, they all should have been used to the guy’s disturbing mindset by now. It wasn’t like they were much better.

With Toby’s prompting, the four golden boys of Sheffield walked towards the school’s main steps. They stopped and looked at the students who were already staring at them. Dread, amazement, disdain, and lust – it was all there.

Just a part of the routine.

Rhys raised a hand above his head and crooked a finger. At this simple gesture of theirs, the students began to gather in front of them at the end of the stairs.

The four boys waited for a significant crowd to form. Soon, a large audience, mainly boys, gathered in front of the school’s main steps. Some students were lingering at the sides, such as the newbies, who were a bit bewildered at what was occurring. When Toby was satisfied with the number of potential participants that had congregated, he stepped forward.

“Listen up, boys! As you know, the Legacy Trials are soon to begin! The event that has started and ended the lives of many!”

Being on the steps in front of the students who were standing a bit below him, he was able to see everyone’s reactions. He saw the many excited faces of those who have most likely had applied to participate. He also caught some of the doubting and terrified expressions, a few regretting signing up after an introduction like that.

Toby suppressed the smile that wanted to worm onto his face. Perhaps Rhys was right. This was pretty fun.

While he also didn’t miss the annoyed expression of some female students at the sides who started whispering among themselves. Some of them tried to plea their case in an attempt to be a part of the Trials. From begging to threatening to go to administration for misogyny, they’ve tried valiantly, but the tradition would not be broken.

Unfazed, he continued his announcement to the crowd.

“The lot of you who were either brave or stupid enough to enter will now have the nigh impossible chance of obtaining a spot in the Legacy Circle. Of course, you’ll have riches. You’ll get your fame. But the most important thing above them all… freedom.

“You will go forth and risk your pathetic, mundane lives for true freedom. Freedom not bound by any laws or unspoken rules set by the universe itself. You are on the outside now. The only god you will bow down to is Legacy, who feeds on the gratitude through the use of your new authority and position in power. If you are lucky enough to win, you are forever bound by Legacy. We only ask that of you.”

The crowd started cheering and clapping as Toby turned away, stepping back into place next to Arthur and Maddox. This was a signal for Rhys to step forward to announce the rules. When Rhys was front and center, he raised his hand, and the crowd grew quiet. This little action was enough to warrant complete silence, bringing a smirk to the boy’s face. After all, this was the power the leaders of the Legacies possessed and the kind these Legacy applicants wanted a taste of.

“I, for one, cannot wait for this year’s Trials. Some of the challenges I thought of all by myself. And I’m eager to watch it play out.”

Rhys scanned the crowd, his grin widening as the air suddenly grew stiff. Toby couldn’t help but be impressed. The Gold heir had a knack for producing such a sinister vibe that emanated whenever he willed it.

“From this point forward, I, the great Rhys Gold, and my associates Toby Irons, Arthur Leadquist, and Maddox McCopper will now be known as your Metallic Lords. Or Lord for shorts, we’ll give you that preference.

“Now, we all know the only things that will never change are how morally questionable and life-threatening they are. So, if you are not up for the challenges, lacking in insurance, or weighed down by that pesky, little voice at the back of your head you call a conscience, you are free to exit now.”

Rhys purposely paused to see if there was anyone who would leave the crowd. No one moved an inch. How could anyone do so? Most of the boys would rather fail than be known as a coward who cannot take up the challenge of becoming a Legacy. Toby grimaced, thinking about any of the possibilities of what Rhys had in store for them. It was bound to satiate that dark side he could barely keep under wraps. He wondered how many of these students in front of him would be able to survive and make it to the end.

Lord knows the hell he went through.

“No? No one? Perfect. Perfect, indeed,” Rhys muttered with dark glee. “Preamble party at nine o’clock on Friday. Location? Alo Forest. Be there and hope to survive. Dismissed!”

…

Was he attending a school or a mega-mansion?

Beau questioned himself as he stared up at Hadleigh High. He could have sworn the building was not this humongous five years ago. Over eight thousand square feet of concrete and numerous opaque glass windows, the edifice loomed over Sheffield like a castle in its kingdom. He sauntered past luxurious vehicle after vehicle, nearly reaching a dispersing crowd of students before someone strode up beside him in step.

“You walked?”

Beau side-eyed the spiky-haired blond ambling next to him, an unassuming smile directed his way. Old instincts had his hands tightening into fists. A smile from someone his age spelled a nasty prank and humiliation coming his way.

“Hm?” he straightened his body, going on the defensive just in case.

“I mean, you look like a new face and all. I’m guessing you don’t live around here?”

Beau eyed him fully in distrust. Now that Beau was really looking at the blond, he immediately recognized him as one of the boys beside Toby at the party he, Thallon, and Gillian went to. He caught a glimpse of their interaction and knew that he was definitely a close comrade of the dark-haired boy. He began to calm down as his fists uncurled.

No need to alienate anyone in this line of work so soon, but he did need to keep his guard up. This was his “in,” but he wouldn’t be easy prey either.

“And that’s your business how?”

The guy shrugged. “Not trying to intrude or anything. Just wondering if you’re new to town.”

He wasn’t, but now wasn’t the time to tell the truth. Instead, he shrugged. “I guess I am.”

The blond beamed as they reached the main steps. “That’s great! The name’s Garrett, by the way. I’m a senior here. I’m thinking you’re a sophomore?”

“Nope. Same as you.”

“No shit?” Garrett studied the smaller boy. “You seem a bit… twinkish for your age.”

Beau almost froze at that. “Uh… what?”

The hell was with this human?

Garrett lifted a hand in apology. “Sorry. No offense. You don’t look seventeen and eighteen is all I meant by that. Which is a good thing. You don’t have to suffer the cons of old age so soon. Me? I’m debating whether to ask Toby to convert me into a robot or not. Everyone thinks they would want immortality until they’re actually faced with the choice.”

Did he just say…?

This time, Beau did stop, his legs stilling just before the entrance. “Hold up. Toby? As in…”

Garrett nodded enthusiastically, his spikes flopping a bit. “Tobias Irons. Yup! Biggest name around and my best friend. You could say I’m pretty famous myself.”

The lycan never considered himself to be lucky, especially when he was younger, a time when he was desperate for it. He’s learned to work without praying for it, but godsends coming in bits and pieces like this were always cherished.

“And he’s here right now, yeah?”

He sincerely hoped he was. He meant to catch him and have their reunion before the start of the day, hoping to put the Irons heir off his game during his classes. No one seemed to recognize him just yet, so the cake was sweetened with a cherry on the top because the wolf had the element of surprise.

“Yeah! He has to be to rule the school. In fact, he and his guys were just outside announcing the Legacy Trials.”

Beau blinked. “The Legacy Trials?”

He felt as if he should have known that name. A memory trying to push its way to the forefront of his mind but was mired by all the bullshit of the past.

“Oh, you are definitely new here…” Garrett pushed past the door and into the school, holding it open for the other to pass.

Beau warily nodded in confused appreciation, feeling like he owed the boy. “Beau.”

“Well, Beau. I have a lot to teach you before you even step foot in the hallway.”