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“Can’t we just…” She looked at Noah. “Keep it a secret?”
Noah grimaced.
“The headmistress already knows what happened,” Riley said. “My brother and Dom told her. That’s why she knows about that guy Brent’s death.”
“Yeah, but she’s keeping Aiden’s secret.”
Riley shook her head. “The problem is Blackthorn Security knows a rogue attacked you, but they don’t know who. They don’t know he’s dead. They’ll likely pin it on Noah if we bring him to the academy.”
“What? No!”
“Hey,” Noah said softly. “It’s alright.”
“No, it’s not. You’re not taking the fall for a crime you didn’t commit.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, don’t think you need to vouch for me. I did something stupid, and this is the price I pay for it.”
“Screw that,” Charlotte snapped. She was tired of the people she cared about getting hurt and being forced to sit idle while it happened. “We can say the rogue got away or something. No one has to say anything about anyone dying.”
Riley nodded. “We could talk to the headmistress and see if she would keep it under wraps. No promises, though.”
“That’s treason,” Noah said.
Charlotte and Riley shared a look. Was there no way to save Noah?
“Still gonna do it,” Riley said, dismissing Noah’s look of surprise. “Anyway, I got a question.”
“Okay,” he said, dragging out the word.
“Why are the rogues really targeting Charlotte? I mean, it seems like it’s about Blaire, but why bring Charlotte into it?”
It was a question Charlotte had asked herself over and over since she realized they wanted Blaire.
“Well, you know why Brent focused so hard on her, but the original reason is trying to get to the human of prophecy, which you also know. The thing you don’t know is that they believe Charlotte would be an easy way in, with her being a human and not aware of our existence.” He sighed, his kind blue eyes meeting Charlotte’s. The immense remorse in them pained her. “You were originally an assignment, but I grew to like you so much. You were funny and smart. I enjoyed spending time with you.”
“Sucks for you. She’s my brother’s Korrena.”
“Yeah, I get it.” He laughed. “You really are protective of him, aren’t you?”
Riley crossed her arms and raised a dark brow. “Problem?”
“None at all. I’d be the same way about Trudy if she were still here.” He cleared his throat and looked at Charlotte. “Are you bonded?”
Her face warmed, and she shook her head. “We’ve not done the ritual, no.”
“Doesn’t matter though, right?” Riley asked tartly.
She looked at Riley and nodded. “I’m not leaving Aiden.”
“I know,” Noah said. “That’s not why I asked. Just curious. Korrena pairs are special. I didn’t think another human could be one. I only want to be your friend.”
Charlotte moved to sit on the bench behind them along the wall. Riley joined her. She needed to be honest with Noah.
Closing her eyes to recenter herself, she opened them and said, “I need time. I’m not sure about what friendship we could have after all the manipulation.”
“I understand that, but I need you to know something.”
She didn’t respond, instead waiting for him to continue.
