How Not To Fall For A Dragon
Chapter 120 120- Do Not Go Looking For Trouble
LEXI
When we land in the Academy courtyard, I climb down quickly, my legs a little unsteady from the flight. The moment my feet hit the ground, I take a step forward, and then another, putting a small but very deliberate distance between myself and Blake. It’s instinctive. I don’t even think about it until I’m already doing it. And then I DO think about it. And I don’t step closer. By the time Blake shifts behind me, the air in the courtyard shifts too. Movement, fast and urgent, pulls my attention forward, and I look up just in time to see a group of people rushing toward me. Too fast. Too many. My heart spikes, a flash of panic hitting hard enough to steal my breath. For a split second, I think I’m about to be attacked. My body goes still, bracing, until I recognise them. Principal Istvan, Layla, and… Professor Cage? He’s the only one not running. He follows behind at a measured pace, hands loose at his sides, eyes sharp and observant. He doesn’t look worried. He looks like he’s watching.
“Oh… Hi?” I say, my voice a little breathless. Layla reaches me first, stopping just short of grabbing me.
“Lexi! I was so worried! Where have you both been?” She blurts out. I hesitate, just for a second.
“Well… When Professor Cage left, the Academy kind of… Indicated that we should leave.” I say slowly.
“So we did. We went to…” I falter slightly.
“Blake’s house.” I finish. The words feel strange. Incomplete. I sigh quietly, and Layla’s expression sharpens immediately. Her eyes flick over my face, then past me, toward Blake, and then back again. She notices. Of course she does. I give her a small, tight smile and a subtle nod. I’m fine. She doesn’t look convinced. And she’s not the only one. Principal Istvan’s gaze lingers on me just a moment too long before shifting slightly, taking in the space between Blake and I. Even Professor Cage’s attention settles more fully now, his head tilting ever so slightly as if he’s reassessing something. No one says anything. But I can feel it. They notice. Or maybe I’m just reading into it too much because I’m uncomfortable…
“I was calling you.” Principal Istvan says.
“Yeah… I forgot my phone.” I admit. She gives me a look. A very specific look. I shrug faintly.
“It was kind of rushed.” I say, justifying it. Her gaze flicks briefly, again, towards Blake. Then back to me. Before she can respond, Professor Cage clears his throat, and the moment shifts.
“Ah, yes. Right.” She says.
“The Academy had you leave because there was another attempted break–in. But it failed. The Academy handled it.” She tells us. My stomach tighten slightly. Another one.
“Harry stepped out of the classroom, because he’s been conducting an… Independent investigation into the cafeteria incident. He needed to confirm something” She continues, gesturing toward Professor Cage. I open my mouth, ready to ask what he found, but Blake steps forward. Chasing the linkansen, between us. Not much. But enough. Enough that he’s suddenly beside me instead of behind me. And without thinking, I shift my weight, just the side. Barely noticeable. Except it 15 noticeable. Blake’s expression doesn’t change. But he tenses up slightly in response, Layla’s eve movemera Principal Istvan’s expression stills for half a second. Even Professor Cage’s gaze sharpens slightly. No ure uments. But they
“Why him?” Blake asks. His tone is sharp. Contidied
“Because he was one of the people who was drugged it suggests he wasn’t involved Principal turcan replies evenly
“That doesn’t prove anything. He add have taked it? He accuses Profesor Cage’s expressim darkent mediately.
“Uh, no. I examined him. He was definitely
by drugged the insis
Chapter 120 120- Do Not Go Looking For Trouble
“Enough of this crap!” Professor Cage snaps.
“I don’t need to explain myself to you. I’m investigating because it pisses me off that someone drugged me, and I don’t want it happening again!” He
announces.
“He’s not lying.” I say quietly. The words come out softer than I expect. Blake stills slightly, then gives a small nod. Accepting it. Trusting me. I keep my gaze forward. I don’t look at him, but I can feel him there.
“So… What did you learn?” I ask, turning back to Professor Cage, my voice a little more controlled now, even if it still feels strange talking to him like this. He smirks slightly.
“Well, I can’t be completely sure yet, but I THINK I know who did it.” He says,
I pull in a sharp breath.
“Who?” I ask.
“Who?” Blake demands at the same time, his voice sharper than mine.
Professor Cage doesn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he folds his arms, gaze flicking briefly between us like he’s weighing how much to say, and how much to withhold.
“The message I got in class was from a friend. I sent them a sample of the drugged food. They identified what was used.” He says finally.
“And?” Blake prompts, impatience threading through the single word. Cage’s eyes flick to him, irritation flashing there. quick, controlled.
“And, I left class to go check something.” He continues, slower now, like he’s choosing each word deliberately. There’s a pause. A beat too long. Just enough to make it feel like he’s building to something.
“The ingredients for that particular compound are usually all available in the potions lab, and they’re gone.” He says. A small silence follows.
“They’re not just sitting out either. Some of them are restricted. Potentially dangerous. Locked away.” He adds, almost casually. His gaze drifts, not quite looking at anyone directly.
“Only staff could access them. The Academy wouldn’t allow anyone else.” He explains. I nod slowly, though a small, uncertain thought flickers in the back of my mind. The Academy bends rules sometimes… For me. Or at least, it might. I don’t know. I’ve never tested it. But now isn’t the time to be wondering about that. The point is, I’m not entirely sure the Academy wouldn’t let someone else access them if it trusted that person.
“So… You think it was one of the professors?” I ask. Cage tilts his head slightly, like he’s considering how to answer that, even though it’s obvious be already has.
“Yes,” He says.
.
“One who might have an issue with Blake… And who knows exactly what’s in the potions lab. There’s something in the way he says it. That smooth Tos certain. And when I don’t immediately respond, he rolls his eyes.
“Blake, would Professor Matthews have any reason to dislike you?” He says, tone edging toward something almost mocking Blake shrug
“Is there anyone who doesn’t?” He shoots back dryly. I suppress a sigh.
2/3
4:47 pm PE
Chapter 120 120- Do Not Go Looking For Trouble
“You think Professor Matthews might be involved?” I ask quietly. The logic… It’s there. Blake threatened him. Publicly. And if someone wanted Blake out of the way… But something about it doesn’t sit right. Professor Matthews has always seemed… Genuine. Nervous, maybe. Easily intimidated. But not… Not this. Then again… My judgement hasn’t exactly been perfect lately. The thought stings more than I expect.
“Is Matthews the only one who would know what was in the potions lab?” Blake counters, his tone cool but pointed.
“Because it seems to me that you knew enough. And any professor could have gone to check.” He reasons. The accusation hangs there. Not direct. But not subtle either. Cage’s gaze snaps to him. For a second, just a second, there’s something there. Something sharp. Defensive. Then it’s gone.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure. He says, but there’s a faint edge under the words now. Which is… Not reassuring.
“But Lam suspicious. Enough that I went to Istvan. Particularly since Matthews is nowhere to be seen. He didn’t show up for his afternoon class.” He continues. That lands harder than I expect. Layla’s earlier panic suddenly makes a lot more sense.
“We’re not accusing anyone just yet.” Principal Istvan cuts in smoothly, her tone calm but firm. But I can see it. The uncertainty. The way her eyes flick briefly between Blake and Cage, measuring, assessing. She doesn’t know. None of us do.
.
“It’s still concerning. Which is why when you were missing as well as him, we got worried.” Layla adds. Right. That explains the running. The urgency.
“So… What do we do now?” I ask. Principal Istvan’s expression settles into something decisive.
“You do nothing.” She says. I blink.
“Keep yourself safe. Stay in your room whenever possible. Listen to the Academy, as you have been. We will continue to investigate and inform you when there is something to know.” She adds. I don’t love that. At all. Sitting. Waiting. Doing nothing while someone is actively targeting us? I glance at Blake. He
looks just as unimpressed. His jaw tight, his posture rigid. But after a moment, I nod anyway.
“Okay.” I agree. Beside me, Blake gives a short, reluctant nod too. I’m not entirely sure if he agrees. Or if he’s just… Choosing not to argue. For now.
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R Visitor
*keeps trying to flip to the next chapter* lol… I think I need a life. I am way to invested in this story. Props to the Author.
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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.
