“Is she safe alone?” Rion asks, tapping the tip of his finger on the takeout lid as he thinks.
“Really, I’d say she’s safe as long as they don’t call for her guardian’s presence, wouldn’t you?” Thorne adds, and I pause, considering his statement before I exhale slowly with a nod.
“Why?” Ocean asks, rubbing her lips together nervously.
“Things are bad if your guardian is called,” I explain, taking a deep breath as I try to calm the panic that threatens to make me do something stupid. If your guardian is called, it means they’re considering death, or they’ve already taken necessary actions in that direction.
Thorne is right. If I’m here and she’s there, it’s not that bad, right?
“So what are we supposed to do? Just sit around and wait?”
“Pretty much,” I admit, hating the way my gut twists at the answer as the sound of footsteps draws closer, making their way up the stairs.
My pulse falls into pace with the sound as my heart rate quickens. I turn toward the person, but it’s as if the world is moving in slow motion when Professor Morton appears with a slight grimace, her eyes crinkling.
“Kael Forrester, The Sanctum will see you now.”
I stormthrough the double doors at the end of the hallway, Professor Morton long forgotten atthis point. She hightailed it the moment our feet touched the ground at The Sanctum, all in fear of the five members who sit around the circular table before me.
My lips purse as I take them in. Something’s not quite right. Usually, I face off with them seated in a row, but in here, it almost feels as though I’m interrupting something, despite my being summoned.
The walls are a deep navy, their chairs a charcoal gray, and only a few spotlights brighten the windowless room.
“Mr. Forrester,” Toman states, announcing my presence as I step a little farther into the room. Not too far, there’s not much space as it is.
“What is this about?” I ask, acutely aware of the fact that both Anya and Cordelia’s eyes are locked on my abs, not my face. I probably should have taken a moment to change, but the second Professor Morton spoke, I rushed at her, desperate to get here as quickly as possible.
“I think we all know what this is about,” Saken states, running a hand through his peppered hair with a heavy sigh.
“Would I ask if I did?” I retort, aware I don’t usually take any kind of tone in their presence, but the effort I usually put into faking respect is whollygone. I want Elodie’s whereabouts, and I want them now.
Clearing my throat, I try to remain calm, but I’m floundering, out of my depth.
“Elodie left campus last night. When were you made aware of this?” Rikard asks, giving me a tired look, and I shrug.
“I was never aware she left campus, just that she was taken to the medical center,” I state, and Cordelia taps her finger on her chin as she finally brings her eyes to mine.
“So you were present when she returned?” she clarifies, and I nod. ”And how did she return?”
I frown. “By car.”
“You know we need more than that, Kael,” Anya states, running her tongue over her bottom lip, but she doesn’t even have the grace to lift her attention to my face.
I shrug. “I assumed it was something to do with you guys.”
A look passes between the five of them, one that confirms it had nothing to do with them.
“What makes you say that?” Toman asks, rubbing two fingers into his temple.
Scrubbing a hand at the back of my neck, I try to keep my awareness muted. “I believe the escortshe was given said something about making sure she didn’t get into any more trouble.”
Saken clears his throat, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “None of us arranged an escort for her.”
My eyebrows furrow. “So you think I did? Are you forgetting that I had leave granted?”
“Leave that was cut short to attend to such matters,” Cordelia murmurs, her gaze boring into mine.
“Well, you did place me as her guardian,” I grumble as Anya sits tall in her seat, flicking her loose red hair over her shoulder.
