Chapter 56 56- Do Not Say Yes Without Thinking First
LEXI
Blake leans in to kiss me, but before he can, the world suddenly lurches. We both pitch forward at the same time.
1 yelp as the ground seems to vanish beneath us and we fall through the box. For half a second my brain refuses to process what’s happening. There’s no
shattering, no lid snapping open, no resistance at all, just the bizarre sensation of my hand slipping through solid stone like it was never solid to begin
with. I jerk my hand back instinctively, heart hammering. Blake stays there a moment longer, eyes narrowed in sharp focus, then slowly pulls his hand free
as well. He tilts his head, curious rather than alarmed, and reaches in again deliberately. His hand disappears up to the wrist.
“There is something inside.” He informs me calmly. I stare at him, then at the box.
“So we won?” I ask, excitement bubbling up despite the lingering shock. He nods, unmistakably smug.
“That is an odd way to open a box.” I say, still trying to wrap my head around it.
“Yes.” He agrees. Blake picks the box up and experimentally flips it upside down. Nothing falls out, but I hear it. A soft, solid shift from inside the stone. Something new. Something that definitely wasn’t there before. He sets it back down and reaches in again, fingers closing around something unseen. When he pulls it out, it’s… A necklace? A long silver chain, simple and unassuming, with a small circular pendant. It doesn’t glitter or glow. It doesn’t look especially rare or valuable. If anything, it’s almost understated, especially compared to everything else I’ve seen tonight. I frown slightly.
“It seems odd that the prize for a game meant for two people would be something only one of us can wear;” I remark.
“I think there’s more;” Blake says, watching me. Sure enough, when I reach inside the box myself, my fingers catch on something else, another chain. I pull
it free. Ah. Two necklaces. Identical.
“That makes more sense. I guess we get one each.” I say, turning it over in my palm. The pendant is round and about a centimetre thick. One side is engraved with an arrow, but instead of a point, there’s a small heart.
“Interesting.” I murmur.
“It has hinges.” Blake observes. I blink and look closer. He’s right.
“They’re lockets?” I ask, intrigued. I run a fingernail along the edge until I find a tiny groove and carefully pry it open. Inside is a miniature compass.
“Huh. That’s different.” I say. Blake opens his as well, his brow furrowing almost immediately.
“What?” I ask.
“It doesn’t point north… It doesn’t even have directions. But it’s definitely pointing somewhere.” He replies slowly.
“That’s weird. Which way is north?” I ask. He gestures off to our left. I glance down at my compass.
“This one isn’t pointing north either.” I say, puzzled. Blake mods, clearly just as confused. I tilt mine again, and notice something etched faintly into the inside of the lid.
“There’s writing in here. Does yours have it too?” I question. He checks, then nods. I read aloud.
“Each needle turns toward its twin,
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Chapter 56 56 Do Not Say Yes Without Thinking First
Untroubled by distance or stone.
It does not tell you where to go,
Only who you’d find if you did.”
“Is this another riddle?” I ask. Blake studies the compasses thoughtfully.
“I don’t think so. I think it’s an explanation.” He concludes as he holds his up.
“Put yours next to mine.” He suggests. I do. The needles tremble, then align.
“Now move it.” He says. I slide mine to the side, and watch as the needle spins smoothly to follow his. Blake shifts his, and the pattern becomes
unmistakable.
“They point to each other.” I breathe.
“Yes.” He says quietly.
“That’s really cool.” I say, smiling.
“Kind of like a magical ‘find my‘ app. Not very precise, but meaningful. Sort of like a friendship bracelet or something.” I joke cheerfully. I pull the chain over my head, carefully tucking my hair free. It’s long enough that the pendant settles against my skin and disappears beneath the neckline of my dress. Blake mirrors the motion, slipping his under his shirt as well. For a moment, neither of us says anything. And somehow, despite the crowd, the music, the magic, and the chaos of the night, It feels like the prize isn’t the compasses at all.
Blake and I return to the dance, and I manage to convince him to stay a little longer. We leave our box where we were sitting, no one is going to steal the dragon’s puzzle box, after all. It doesn’t take long for people to realise we must have solved it. I can feel the shift in the crowd almost immediately. The looks. The whispers. Some people look annoyed. Others openly scowl. I hear a few muttered comments about cheating. It almost feels like we did cheat. We definitely had an advantage. But then again… The whole point of the game was to take the time to genuinely get to know someone different to yourself. We just happened to do that before the game even started. That’s not cheating. That’s commitment. Still, it’s too late to worry about it now. We dance for a while longer. I let myself enjoy it, his hand steady at my back, the familiar warmth of him anchoring me as the music carries us along. But eventually my feet start to ache, and the excitement of the night settles into a heavy, pleasant tiredness. I shift my weight, trying to hide it, but Blake notices anyway.
“Are you ready to leave?” He asks quietly. I nod, relieved.
“Yeah. I think so.” I agree. He fetches our box without hesitation, hooks my hand around his arm, and we start the walk back toward the dorms. The night air is cool against my skin, a nice contrast after the warmth of the crowd. It’s been a really good evening. Not perfect, but meaningful. Sure, I didn’t end up
talking to anyone other than Blake. But if people are so quick to judge me just for being friends with him, then they probably aren’t the kind of people 1
want in my life anyway. We stop between our doors.
“So…” I say, turning to face him.
“We can probably leave for my place after breakfast tomorrow?” I ask. He nods, but something about his expression tells me he’s not really focused on logistics right now. He steps closer. Automatically, I step back. Not because I’m avoiding him, just habit. The instinct to give space when someone bigger moves in. Blake raises an eyebrow and steps forward again. This time, I back up deliberately. Mostly because I can tell he’s noticed. Mostly because there’s something almost amused in his eyes now, and I want to see what he does with it. He steps in again. Really close. I back up once more, and my shoulder blades brush against my door. I lean back against it as he moves in, his presence filling the space in front of me, his body blocking any easy escape. Not that I want one. I’m exactly where I want to be.
“About that kiss…” Blake starts. I force myself to keep breathing.
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Chapter 56 56- Do Not Say Yes Without Thinking First
“You said you didn’t regret it.” His voice is low, controlled.
“Does that mean it’s something you would like to repeat?” He questions, his voice sly. I would answer, but the whole breathing thing is not going
particularly well right now.
“I’d really like words, Precious.” Blake says, his expression a little more serious. He’s so close I can feel the warmth of his breath, the faint brush of it against my check. Asking me to speak right now feels deliberately cruel. But I do want it. So I draw in a shaky breath, gathering myself.
“Yes.” I manage, my voice soft and breathless. Just one word, but it feels like enough. Blake grins. And it’s dangerous. That grin isn’t playful. It’s satisfied. Like he’s just been handed confirmation of something he had been waiting very patiently to hear. Without hesitation, he leans in and kisses me. This one is deeper. More certain. His mouth fits against mine like he already knows how it should feel, and I melt into it before I can overthink anything. My hands come up automatically, fingers curling into the embroidered fabric of his shirt, feeling the raised gold threads beneath my touch. I’m breathless when he pulls back slightly, and I know I should say goodnight. I don’t want to. And then… The door behind me flies open. I yelp as I tumble backwards into my room, skirts and limbs tangling as I stumble. The last thing I see is Blake standing there, stunned and slightly dishevelled, looking very much like a man who had plans that have just been abruptly interrupted. The door slams shut between us. Silence. I lie there for a moment, heart pounding.
“Academy… Rude.”
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A ARLENE SHARIDA
I love the Academy O
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
