The knot in my chest tightens. “I don’t know what it was,” I whisper.
“I thought someone was following me. Then the lights started flickering, and things moved—flew—on their own. And the laughing… It felt like I was being hunted. Ugh, you probably think I’m insane.”
He doesn’t question it or mock me. He just… listens.
His shoulders hitch up a fraction, breath catching as his gaze wavers, like he’s not sure if he should close the distance or retreat. And then he does something I don’t expect.
He pulls me in.
Not too hard. Not possessively. Just enough to tuck me against his chest, his arms around me like a shield. His body is warm and solid and safe.
“You’re alright,” he murmurs. “You’re safe now.”
I press my forehead to his chest. Breathing. This is not like him. This is not like me. But everything feels right being in his arms, like an immense weight I’ve been carrying has lifted.
“I would have come faster if I had known you were afraid.” His voice is strained, filled with self-directed fury. “I should’ve been closer.”
“Atticus…” I look up at him, and his gaze is already on me—intense and open in a way I’ve never seen before. Not guarded. Not cold. Just him.
His hand comes up, brushing a damp strand of hair from my cheek.
“I should get going… Holly’s waiting for me,” I say cautiously.
Edging back, I try to laugh it off. “Maybe I slipped in the shower and hit my head. Honestly, that sounds more believable than a flying object and you having a heart.”
His hands drop before I finish, the warmth vanishing so fast I almost sway again. He shakes his head like he’s trying to clear something he doesn’t want to admit was there. His eyes avoid mine. “Yeah. You should go.”
I turn and go. The creepy feeling is gone. I feel protected. I have no idea what just happened, but I’m thankful Atticus was there. Not that I’d say that out loud.
By the time I make it to the cafeteria, my nerves are still buzzing like exposed wires. I spot them right away — my friends, all huddled around our usual table, trays barely touched, deep in conversation.
Holly’s the first to notice me. Her brows pull together as she waves me over. “You look pale. And wet. What happened?”
I drop into the empty seat next to her, grateful for the warmth of their presence. “You’re not gonna believe this.”
I explain everything—the weird feeling in the locker room, the lights flickering, the laughter, the things flying off the counter. Their eyes widen as I go on.
“And then I ran straight into Atticus in the hall,” I finish, rubbing my arms like the chill still clings to me. “He said he felt my fear through the bond.”
Brix raises a brow. “Atticus? The ‘cold and broody’ Atticus came to the rescue?”
“That’s the one,” I mutter.
“And he comforted you?” Tabby leans in like I’ve just confessed a scandal.
I nod, slow. “Yeah. He was… weirdly nice. Like, actually nice. He held on to me until I stopped hyperventilating. Which is—yeah. Not normal.”
Holly whistles low. “Okay, that’s a plot twist.”
We all sit in silence for a second, trying to piece it together.
“I don’t know what’s weirder,” I admit, “the creepy ghost vibes or Atticus acting like he cares.”
“Well, both are concerning,” Cleo says. “But let’s not lose focus. It was probably just another bully.”
“Right.” Sly straightens up. “We’ve been digging more into sin powers. How they appear and what could trigger them.”
The shift in tone is instant. Everyone gets a little too quiet. Eyes darted around, making sure no one was listening.
