‘I’ve seen her attempt to fight. I’m sure,’ Sebastian says. I narrow my eyes at him, contemplating reaching over the desk and stabbing one of the pens on it into his neck. My lips purse at the idea. It would make this entire exchange a whole lot more interesting, that’s for sure.
Bartollo walks around his desk, humming in thought. He trails a finger along the edge of the dark wood as if he’s mapping it out before he reaches the high wingback chair and lowers himself into it. He leans back, placing an elbow on the arm to rest his chin in his hand, then he rubs at the clean-shaven skin as his eyes lock onto mine.
‘Miss Nocthare, whywasMiss McVoy in your room ?’
‘I caught her on the way downstairs and asked if she could get me some new bedding,’ I answer quickly, almost too quickly, so I keep going. ‘I woke up freezing this morning and went to find some myself before we bumped into each other.’
Nicks starts nodding beside me though, as if in agreement. ‘I did wonder why there was a towel laying on your empty bed.’
I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment as Sebastian’s eyes dart between us.
His brows crease. ‘You don’t have bedding? Why not?’
‘Sir.’ I step forward, ignoring Sebastian. I just want to get this issue underway and myself out of this damn room. ‘Is there any evidence that pins me to this crime? Because as much as I don’t like to admit it, Sebastian is right.’
Ugh, kill me now.My stomach roils.
‘I have no idea how to find where Harley was being held, nor do I possess the ability to enter intoanyof the units, not to mention the size difference between Harley and I. Everyone saw what he was capable of on ceremony night. There’s no way I’d stand a chance against him.’
‘At this stage, no, there is no evidence.’ Bartollo folds his hands together on his desk. ‘You were simply brought here for questioning. But I don’t think I need to remind you that your position here is already on thin ice.’
No, you do not. I’m already reminded every day how undeserving I am of my position here. I nod though, forcing my head to dip in submission, while my fists bleach white at my sides.
After informing me that my alibis will be questioned, Bartollo effectively dismisses me from the room. Surprisingly, Sebastian starts to follow behind me, probably wanting to get as far from his grandfather as possible, but at the pointed clearing of Bartollo’s throat, he reluctantly turns back.
‘Stay,’ Bartollo orders. ‘We need to talk.’
Yeah, have fun withthat. I smirk as I walk away.
NINETEEN
Before I can leave Bartollo’s office, Nicks tells me that I need to wait outside the doors for him. I obey reluctantly, just glad to be out of that room and separated from the oppressing presence radiating off Bartollo. I swear, being near him is almost suffocating.
Raised voices occasionally reach my ears as I wait, pacing up and down the length of the door and scuffing my shoes along the floor. I can’t hear specifics, but I recognise Sebastian’s voice a few times – whatever they’re saying in there, he sounds livid. Though his being livid doesn’t seem to be so unusual; he’s often walking around like someone pissed in his shoes these days.
Just as I feel myself getting restless, the doors open and Nicks and Sebastian storm out, the latter slamming the doors shut behind him loudly. The look on his face could make a grown man soil himself, especially as he stalks right up to me and presses his chest to mine. I back up involuntarily.
‘Rein it in,’ Nicks warns, slapping a large hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, pulling him away from me. ‘Nothere.’
‘This isyourfault,’ Sebastian hisses at me, shaking his head in disbelief as he allows Nicks to move him. And I say allow, because they’re almost equal in size and if Sebastian didn’t want to be moved, he wouldn’t.
My mouth opens to dispute his words, because I’m reaching my tipping point of being blamed for things I haven’t done. In fact, I’m not sure how I haven’t already soared past my tipping point and exploded right into acting like a cornered animal and scratching the eyes out of everyone that comes near me.
‘I said nothere!’ Nicks points a finger at me, silencing my unspoken words with the harsh look he sends my way. ‘Both of you get back to Malachite. Now.’
Nicks is the one who lets me into our unit. Sebastian stalked ahead of us and entered first. We find him standing with his arms crossed over his chest in the middle of the common room. Two students come through the door on the left, stopping in their tracks when they look between the three of us.
‘You.’ Nicks points to them. ‘Either go back to your rooms or get to class.’
They gawk at him for a split second before their heads drop and they hurry past, ducking behind me and Nicks to exit out of the gate.
‘I didn’t do it,’ I blurt the moment the students are gone, just in case I didn’t make myself clear enough to Nicks and Sebastian earlier. I have no idea what they were talking about while I was subjected to waiting outside, but in case Nicks has any doubts, I need him to know. I didnotdo this.
‘I never thought you did.’
‘Wait, what? Why the hell did I need to be questioned if you thought I was innocent?’
‘Because whatIthink is of no consequence to the headmaster. You’re just lucky that having no way to get in the gates worked in your favour. Because that was the only leg you had to stand on in there.’
