Chapter 121 121- Never Let Him Explain His Side Of The Story
LEXI
I start walking toward the dorms and Blake falls into step beside me. Or maybe behind me. I don’t actually check. I don’t turn around to confirm it, and 1 don’t say anything either way. I’m not going to tell him to stay away from me. I’m not going to make a scene or draw some dramatic line in the middle of the courtyard like a child. And I’m definitely not going to pretend he isn’t there or refuse to speak to him or anything like that. Because he is there. And despite everything… I don’t actually want him gone. That’s the annoying part. He apologised and I DO appreciate that. I really do. I know that wasn’t easy for him. I know how stubborn he is, how certain he gets when he decides on something. The fact that he came back, admitted he was wrong, and meant it… That matters. A lot. It just… Doesn’t fix it. Because apologising doesn’t undo what happened. It doesn’t erase the fact that he took my choice away from me. That he decided what was best and didn’t even give me the chance to agree or disagree. That he locked me in his vault, a room, filled with all the things he values, and expected me to just… Accept it. That I would be okay with it. Or maybe he knew I wouldn’t be okay with it and thought I would just forgive him eventually, like he did before. But part of apologising, really apologising, is accepting the consequences of your actions. And right now, the consequence is this. Distance. It’s not a punishment. Not revenge. I just need space. I trust him to keep me physically safe. I trust him to protect me if something attacks, if something comes for me, if things get dangerous in a way I can’t handle. But I don’t trust him not to take my choices away again if he thinks it’s justified. And that’s the problem. That’s the part I can’t ignore. Because I don’t want to have to fight him for control over my own life. I don’t want to be wondering every time something goes wrong whether he’s going to decide for both of us again. The frustrating thing is… This whole situation didn’t even have to turn out like this! I went with him. I AGREED to leave. If he had just asked me, said stay here for a few days, don’t call anyone yet, let’s think this through,‘ I probably would have said yes. I probably would have stayed. I would have trusted him. But he DIDN’T ask. He decided. And that changes everything. Right now, I’m upset. I’m scared. I’m stressed. And I need space to think. To calm down. To actually process all of this without someone hovering over me, trying to fix it, trying to manage me. Preferably not while locked in a vault full of things that suddenly feel a little too much like… Comparisons.
I reach my door, step inside, and lock it behind me. The click is quiet. But final. For a second, I just stand there, staring at the door, listening to the silence. Half–expecting Blake to follow me in. He doesn’t. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse. I cross the room and collapse onto my bed with a heavy sigh, staring up at the ceiling. I’m exhausted. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Everything just feels… Heavy. For a moment, I consider just closing my eyes. Letting myself sleep and deal with everything later. Because honestly? That sounds amazing. But I can’t. Because something still feels off. Wrong. And it’s not just Blake. It’s everything. The break–in. The drugging. Professor Cage… No matter how logical his explanation sounded, no matter how neatly everything lined up… It doesn’t sit right with me. And I trust that feeling. If there’s one thing I know I can rely on, it’s my ability to tell when someone is lying. And he WASN’T lying. I’m sure of that. But that doesn’t necessarily mean everything he said was true. It just means HE believes it. Or that he chose his words carefully. Or that he left things out. I replay the conversation in my head, picking it apart piece by piece. The way he paused before answering. The way he framed things. The way he immediately pointed the suspicion at Professor Matthews. Was that logical? Yes. Was it convenient? Also yes. And the thing that really bothers me is that I didn’t push. I didn’t ask him directly where he got the sample. Or how he knew exactly what to look for. Or why he seemed so… Certain. I didn’t ask him what he didn’t say. I just… Accepted it. Because I was distracted? Because I was overwhelmed? Because I was still trying not to look at Blake? I sit up, rubbing my face with my hands. That was a mistake. Not a huge one. Not catastrophic. But still a mistake. I should have asked more. Tested him. Seen how he responded under pressure. Because right now he’s still a suspect. Even if no one is saying it out loud. Even if he sounds confident. And honestly… The fact that he’s the one leading the investigation? That doesn’t make me feel better. If anything, it makes me more cautious. If no one can find Professor Matthews… That doesn’t mean he won’t answer me. Maybe he’ll pick up if it’s me. Maybe I can just ask him directly. And if he lies, I’ll know. I should have asked Professor Cage more direct questions earlier. Pushed harder. Tested him properly. But I was overwhelmed. I’m still overwhelmed and that’s exactly why I need to be careful now. Slower. More deliberate. Less trusting. I’ll deal with Cage next time. In public. Definitely in public. Because one thing is very, very clear to me now. Until I’m completely sure about someone… I’m not being alone with them. And as for Make… thest tightens slightly at the thought of him. I still care about him. That hasn’t changed. That’s the problem. But something does need to change. Resina can’t go back to how things were. Not unless I know, really know, that he won’t do that again. And I don’t know what that looks like yet. What boundar need. What I need from him. What we would even look like after this. But I AM going to figure it out. I have to. Because Fm not loving myself. bullies, not to hunters, not even to someone I care about.
Before I can call anyone, I need my phone.
“Did you get my phone, or is it still in the classroom?” I ask the Academy My bedside drawer slides open istediately, sth and delibe help the small rush of relief when I see my phone sitting neatly inside like it’s been waiting for me the whole time. At least samathing is stil
“Thanks.” I say softly The drawer gives a quiet little thunk as it closes, aboost like a response, and I pick up my phone, mening it over in second before unlocking it. Okay Think. If Professor Cage 14 right, then Profen Matthews is the may likely suspect. If hay weang still very much in the running. And the only person currently missing in Matthews. Which makes him either very quitry Che very
Istent
himself
Chapter 121 121- Never Let Him Explain His Side Of The Story
pushing that thought aside for now, and pull up Professor Matthews‘ contact on the SCRI app. I’m not a particularly confrontational person. I don’t enjoy accusing people or putting them on the spot. But I CAN ask questions. And if he answers… I’ll know. I press call and lift the phone to my ear. It rings. Once Twice. Three times. I wait, holding my breath a little, listening to the steady tone. Come on… Answer… It keeps ringing. And ringing. And then… Nothing The call ends. I lower the phone slowly, staring at the screen for a second. Well. It was a long shot anyway. If he’s hiding, he’s not going to pick up. And t something’s happened to him… I exhale slowly, shaking my head. Don’t go there. Not yet. I scroll down instead, my thumb moving automatically as I spen my messages. And then I freeze. Missed calls. So many missed calls. Mostly from Layla. A few from Principal Istvan. That makes sense. But then… Ellie. Multiple messages, one after the other, each one a little more urgent than the last.
Ellorie: Hey Lexi, you weren’t in class this afternoon. Are you alright?
Ellorie: Lexi, teachers are looking for you. What’s going on?
Ellorie. Please answer, I’m worried. Where are you?
Ellorie: Lexi, where are you?
I type quickly.
Lexi: I was out with Blake and didn’t have my phone. There’s been a lot going on.
The reply comes almost immediately.
Ellorié: Are you okay?
I hesitate. Because that’s not a simple question anymore. Not really. Am I okay? Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Well that’s a little more complicated. With everything else going on? Not even close. I stare at the screen, trying to figure out what to say, what I should say, how much I want to explain, and then my phone starts ringing. Ellorie. Of course. I answer immediately.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Lexi?” Her voice comes through fast and a little breathless.
“Are you alright? Tell me where you are!” She insists. There’s something in her tone. Urgency. Relief. And underneath it, a thread of fear. And suddenly, I’m very aware of something else. Ellorie wasn’t in that conversation earlier. She didn’t hear Professor Cage. She doesn’t know what we know. Or what we think we know. And right now… I don’t know if I should trust her.
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Oh I never expected another one today Thank you. Wonder if Blakes gone off to get himself drunk can dragons get drunk Ge
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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.
