CHAPTER 88: REVELATIONS...

Charis

I was walking through the corridors toward my classroom, struggling to keep my eyes open.

Every step felt like it required a big effort, and I had to concentrate to put one foot in front of the other. I had managed to slip into Slater’s room at 3 AM this morning, and I was completely drained after last night’s insanity.

My mind was spinning with questions about who Kael truly was.

After seeing him at that horrific establishment last night, his incredible fighting skills, the way he’d navigated the building, and the ease with which he’d fought six grown men. I couldn’t help but think that I wasn’t the only one with secrets.

Not to mention that Slater hadn’t even been in his room when I’d returned.

When I’d slipped into his bedroom after arriving back at Ravenshore with Kael’s help, I’d expected to find him sleeping peacefully. Instead, his scent was faint, meaning he hadn’t been there for at least eight hours. When I woke up this morning, there was still no sign of him.

Something was going on, and I was just too damn tired to unravel it right now.

I was so deep in thought that I didn’t even notice the person beside me until an arm casually draped around my shoulders. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Easy, hot shot, it’s me," a familiar voice chuckled.

I spun around and looked up into Rhett’s hazel eyes.

"Oh, Rhett!" I cried out with joy, throwing my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

Rhett chuckled warmly as he held me, and for a moment, all my worries and exhaustion seemed to melt away. The warmth of his embrace reminded me that not everything in my world was dangerous and complicated.

After a while, I pulled back to look at him properly, scanning his face for any signs of weakness or pain.

"Are you sure it’s okay for you to be at school today? Wasn’t it just yesterday or two days ago that you had major surgery?" I whispered.

"Believe it or not," Rhett said with his characteristic cheeky grin, "I have officially broken the record for fastest recovery ever recorded. I am completely recovered, even Dr. Maxwell said I am the first patient that bounced back so quickly after something like that, and it’s all thanks to you and your magical blood."

I blushed, brushing off the praise with a small smile. "Don’t mention it."

Though his words made me think again about how my blood could have helped him recover fast.

The two of us continued walking toward our classroom, and I found myself relaxing for the first time since last night’s nightmare.

When we reached our class, I went to my usual desk while Rhett settled into the empty seat next to mine.

"So..." he drawled, leaning forward with a charming glint in his eyes. "What did I miss? What’s been going on?" Rhett asked, studying my face. "Why do you look so exhausted?"

"Well, I became Class Alpha. Against my will, mind you. All thanks to that vile creature..." I turned around, looking for Phil, but noticed he wasn’t in class yet. "Phil, who nominated me," I replied, deliberately ignoring his second question.

"That’s a win, though." Rhett smiled encouragingly."You’ll get extra credit points for leadership activities."

"Gee, thanks. I can’t wait to babysit a bunch of testosterone-addled teenage Alpha wolves."

Rhett laughed. "You will make a great Class Alpha, I can promise you that."

I smirked, resting my chin on my fist.

He leaned in, dropping his voice. "Okay, but seriously, you look like hell. Didn’t get enough sleep last night?"

"No!" I shook my head, shifting in my seat. "Just had a lot of studying to do."

"Take it easy, Eamon," he sighed, ruffling my hair. "Ravenshore is 80% your intuition, trust me. You don’t need to study too much."

"Anyway, what of the boys?" he changed the topic. "I didn’t see Slater in his room this morning, and Kael wasn’t in his room either."

I remembered last night’s events and wondered if Kael ever made it back to campus safely. The thought of him still being out there, possibly in danger, made me worry.

"I don’t know," I said with a shrug, trying to appear casual. "I left Kael’s room to spend the night with Slater."

"Why?" Rhett asked.

"Oh," I laughed nervously, not sure how to balance the lie without putting anyone in trouble.

Rhett smiled, giving me a knowing look before I could answer. "Was Kael being handsy again?"

Before I could answer, the classroom door opened and our form mistress entered with Phil walking beside her.

The class quietened as Mrs Tiam’s eyes swept through the room, landing on me.

"Riggs," she called out immediately. "Come and take the attendance."

I nodded and went to the front of the class while Mrs. Tiam stood waiting for me to finish. As I went through the roll, I noticed that both Rhett and I were marked present for the day I’d missed classes.

Once I finished and returned to my seat, Mrs Tiam clasped her hands.

"Listen up. In three days, we’ll be hosting the annual Inter-Academy Challenge with Ebonvale Academy. This will be a series of academic and physical competitions that will test your knowledge, strategy, and teamwork abilities but it will be mostly for students from Year Two."

She paused to let this sink in. "And it’s an opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with certain school activities you’re not used to. This competition will also provide what we call ’stray marks’—bonus points that could be crucial if you’re struggling to meet the cut-off requirements in any subject."

"Sweet Moon," Rhett muttered. "The Ebonvale girls are going to eat us alive."

I didn’t have time to reply when a dark-uniformed Sentinel appeared at the door and cleared her throat as her eyes settled on me.

"Eamon Riggs, you’re needed in the Headmistress’s office."

Rhett immediately stood up. "What’s the problem? What does she want with him?"

But I already saw this coming. Afterall, I’d left without her last night.

"It’s fine," I placed a gentle hand on Rhett’s shoulder and shook my head. "I’ll be back soon. "I’ll just go see what Headmistress Vale wants and come back immediately."

I followed the Sentinel out of the classroom, I wasn’t even afraid this time around.

When we arrived and the Sentinel left us alone, Vale immediately walked toward me with anger radiating from every part of her body.

"You little—" she hissed and raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-swing glaring at her.

Her eyes widened. "Really, Charis? You want to defy me now?"

I pushed her hand away with a snarl. "I should be asking you the same damn question."

Vale’s nostrils flared. "Watch your tone—"

"No, you watch yours," I snapped, stepping closer. "You took me—no, delivered me to a man like a wrapped gift. A man who tried to make me strip. A human, Headmistress. I may be desperate, but I’m not a prostitute!"

"He wasn’t going to sleep with you!" Vale interrupted through clenched teeth. "He only wanted to see your mark. Was that too much to ask for? How dare you accuse me of trying to pimp you?"

"Asking me to strip naked in front of a stranger isn’t pimping?" I shot back, my voice rising. "Not to mention the amount of atrocities I witnessed there that night! I don’t know what to make of any of this, and I don’t know what you think I am. Yes, I’m desperate, but I will not do that. I will not undress in front of strangers to satisfy your agenda!"

"And why is everyone going crazy over some mark on my body? What is so special about it that people are willing to traffick and exploit others?"

"I wasn’t trying to traffic and exploit you Charis."

"But you had me dress the part. Did you expect for me to go there and fight?"

She stared at me for several long seconds before responding.

"He wasn’t going to sleep with you" she said quietly.

"Really? Because the last time someone told me to take off my clothes and locked the door, it didn’t feel like a science experiment."

"He just wanted to see your mark," she hissed. "Is that too much to ask?"

"To you? Maybe not. But I am not some museum exhibit! Do you even hear yourself?"

Vale turned, breathing hard. "That mark... it’s sacred. You’re a healing potent, Charis. That man was a top human geneticist. He’s worked with Lycans before. He wasn’t trying to sleep with you. He was trying to confirm a theory."

"And you were willing to parade me in a dress that barely covered my ass to do it!"

Vale’s face twisted in frustration. "That dress was part of the protocol. Appearance matters in these meetings."

"Meetings? You mean transactions?"

"You don’t understand what’s at stake—"

"Oh, believe me, I do. You want to use me. Just like my father. Just like Darian. And just like every other power-hungry adult who sees me as a means to an end."

Vale stiffened. "You don’t get to stand there and act righteous. You’re here on false credentials. I’ve protected you."

I let out a bitter laugh. "No. You didn’t protect me. You could have explained this beforehand instead of tricking me into that nightmare!"