“Definitely,” I agree as I start to wonder how deeply he has underestimated Cillian.
“I think Cillian may have recorded something too,” I whisper into his ear so only he can hear me.
CHAPTER 60
SABLE
After a long walkthrough the castle, we arrive back at the administrative offices. Just a couple of days ago, I was registering for classes and living under the delusion that if I just persevered, I might have a little bit of normalcy in my life, even if it was just four classes a week. Given this has never happened in my time here, and I’m guilty of several things, that idea seems awfully silly now.
A student I don’t recognize asks us all to sit, but there aren’t enough chairs. I guess large groups like ours aren’t called in very much. We wait a few minutes, and I wonder if the dean is actually this busy or if he’s just looking to make us sweat before he pulls us in.
“Orion, you can go in first,” the girl says, unable to keep the blush off her cheeks and the flirtation out of her voice. I can’t entirely blame her. He’s hot as hell, and she wasn’t in the cafeteria to hear he’s taken, but still, a primal part of me wants to stake my claim. I almost laugh at myself for having possessive feelings for five men, but here we are. My eyes move away from her and to the door that he disappears behind.
“Why would they want to speak to him first?” I ask.
“He’s the weakest link,” Lex answers quickly, with that cutting efficiency that makes people hate him sometimes. Frankly, I love that about him. The quick flash of warmth in my chest doesn’t last, though, because Orion stays in that damn office for a while. Every so often, the loud edge of his voice can be heard through the wall but never what he’s actually saying.
“He won’t fuck us over,” Soren tries to assure us all.
“He’s the reason your father sent Arabella as our new Offering,” Parker reminds us, and then everything is quiet as we all worry whether picking “the weakest link” first was the right move after all.
A few minutes later, Orion steps out with a wide smile on his face, pride brimming from him like he did something fantastic. I have more faith in him than the guys seem to, so while I’m scared, I’m not shocked when the dean says, “Thank you for being entirely useless,” before slamming the door behind him.
“What did you do?” I ask as he stands beside me and leans in to kiss me.
“I talked about NY fashion week.”
“I heard a lot of yelling,” I say.
“I’m passionate about my work.” He shrugs and gives me this delicious smile.
The guys get called in one by one after that, saving me for last. When it’s finally my turn, the five of them refuse to let me go alone, so every single one of them pushes their way into the office. There are only two chairs across from the dean’s opulent desk. I take one, and Lex takes the other, like he’s my legal counsel, while the rest of them stand around me like my enforcement. It’s funny, given that Soren is the one getting ready for law school.
Julian Hollowsits on a placard on his desk, and I realize this must be some relation to Parker, though that doesn’t seem to be helpful to us right now. I know the founding families are oftenvery extended and many people who have the right last name aren’t nearly as rich and powerful as others. Birth order can really be a bitch.
“Miss Briarwick, we have some very concerning news, and we wondered if you knew anything about it.” He doesn’t say anything else, waiting for me to incriminate myself. Does he really think it’s going to be that easy?
“Is there something new about my father?” I ask, faking panic. So many bombshells have been dropped on me since he drove me off that bridge. It’s easy to channel the feelings and make my acting convincing.
“Um, no,” Julian says. His face crumples like he’s not sure if he should believe me or not. “Miss Aragona has what are potentially lifelong injuries as the result of your assault, Sable.” The dean stares at me hard from behind his desk, and before I can say anything, the guys start to ramble around me, all of them talking angrily at once. I hold up a hand and wait for their silence. The dean raises his eyebrow when they all listen to me within a moment or two, settling down to let me handle things.
“I’ve never assaulted Miss Aragona,” I deny the claim. “I would advise you and anyone else involved to be careful with making slanderous statements.”
“Stating the reality of her injuries is hardly slander,” he says.
“Saying I caused them when I didn’t is, though, isn’t it?”
“Let me rephrase then,” he says, like he’s tasted something bitter. “Miss Aragona has named you as her assailant. Are you calling her a liar?”
“I didn’t call her anything.” I give him a small smile. “And I’m sorry that something bad happened to her, but that’s hardly my fault.”
“That’s not what she says.”
“Arabella and her friends assaulted Sable last term, and you guys did nothing about it, so why don’t you ask her why she would be motivated to lie,” Hadrian suggests.
I ignore Hadrian entirely, aiming my gaze at Julian Hollow. Suddenly, it clicks with me that this goes much deeper than me hurting Arabella. He’s in on all of it. He’s how Parker managed to slip me in, in the first place.
“I would suggest either of you prove it then.” I stare him down until he breaks the eye contact. It’s a small act of dominance, but I still feel powerful having won. There are definitely cameras hidden in our halls, but who’s watching them is still a hotly debated issue. He chews the inside of his mouth as he stares at the six of us.
