My chest should loosen, but it doesn’t. She’s still here, still breathing… and still three questions away from finding out what I’ve done. The kiss. The lies. The reason she was even in that arena in the first place.
“I think he was just trying to make a point,” Finn says after a beat. “The guy’s an asshole who hangs out with bigger assholes. Probably wanted to make a scene, start of a new semester, take down an easy mark to make the rest of the cohort flinch.”
“Hey. Easy mark?” Ezzy frowns as Finn shoots her ayou know what I meanlook, which only pisses her off more.
Great.Maybe they’ll start bickering again and I can slip out before the truth burns a hole clean through the back of my throat. But it doesn’t last, Finn actually backs down this time.
“Do I need to remind you both,” Ezzy boasts. “That I placed top of our Offensive Magic class last year? And I’m fine, bruises aren’t terminal. Plus, I’m the one who had him in a choke hold until he passed out...”
“True.” Finn nods, almost impressed. “I’ll give you that. And I’ll admit I’m always glad I’m not paired against you in any magical Demonstrations.”
His hand shifts on the blanket, just a little closer to hers—but then his eyes flick to me. He wants to ask, I see it immediately. My throat tightens, I swallow but the air feels thick, heavy and waiting.Then Ezzy follows his gaze, head tilting as she squints right at me.Shit.
“Okay, forget Elijah for a second.... Forget me.” Her eyes now glinting as bright as her hairpin. “Because I want to know what the hellthat was?”
I blink. “What was what?”
“That,” she says, stabbing a finger in the air like the kiss is still hanging there. “You and officer tall, dark, and golden-eyed,the Nightrose, making out in the middle of the Rec Hall while half the Citadel watched! Did I get knocked in the head harder than I thought, or did that actually just happen?”
Heat flares—neck, ears, everywhere, so hot it itches. I open my mouth, but close it again. Quick. God, I was hoping they’d stay wrapped up in making sure she was okay. But the second she asks, all three sets of eyes swing my way. Finn practically jumping with excitement, while Rowan just leans back in his chair, arms crossed, one brow raised.
My lips press tighter, like that’ll hold the truth in. But there’s no escaping it, no escaping Talen. No escaping the kiss.
And now they’re all staring, wide-eyed, waiting for answers I don’t have, or can’t give.
If I tell them the truth, they’ll know I interfered. They’ll start putting pieces together—why I wasn’t Reassigned, why he was kissing me... and who knows what Talen would do to me,to them, if he found out I didn’t play along.
But if I lie and they figure it out later? Trust gone. No way back. My only allies in here, my only friends?
If you want to stay alive. Keep your mouth shut. Never tell anyone that was fake.
Talen’s warning echoes in my head. No, I can’t risk testing him. Can’t risk Reassignment—front lines, dragon fire chewing through my lungs. I know Ezzy got hurt because of me. But I’ll be gone soon... she’ll be safe then. Won’t she?
Suddenly, the room feels about half its size, and yeah, my face is definitely red.
Just over two weeks left... but I have to give them something.
So I lie.Again.
I spin something on the spot, tell them we’ve been hooking up secretly since the first week, and just pray they believe it.
"I knew it,” Finn bellows with a massive grin, “I told you he wanted to fuck you since day one. I could tell from the way he checked you out during your first Demonstration.”
He looks so smug, like he’s just solved a murder mystery. Rowan, on the other hand, doesn’t even look surprised.Does he know?How could he? He wasn’t there… was he?
“That wasn't him checking her out, Finn...” Ezzy cuts in, rolling her eyes. “...He wanted to kill her, you’re so clueless sometimes.”
“Look, Ez, we’re guys. We say one thing and we do another...” He shrugs, like it’s some universal truth. “And Lyra’s an Outerlander. I’m sure the men she dated back home were all a little… rough around the edges. That’s probably just her type, right?” He tips his chin towards me.
I’m almost insulted by how easily Finn buys it, but at least it’s working. Funny thing is, Bren is the total opposite in every way, but I just lift a shoulder and give them awhat can I say? I have my typeslook.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t understand this?” Ezzy turns to Rowan, who’s finally relaxed a bit, one leg crossed over the other, smiling like he’s in on some private joke.
“I’m happy for them. I think they make a great couple...”
Okay, that’s weird. Finn, I get. But Rowan?
Ezzy turns to me. “But he wanted to kill you, you hated him, after what his family have done?”
