Page 76 of Knot What She Seems
That question shatters my trance. Makes my blood run cold. Because I realize…I left my wig in the room.
I’ve been made.
26
KYLIAN
“How the fuckdid they get in?” Ridge paces around our tiny cottage, as he always does when he feels a particularly strong emotion.
I wave my hand in the air to garner his attention. “This may be jumping to conclusions, but I would say a door.”
The look Ridge throws me? It could curdle milk.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Luka begins to scrub down the counter with a soapy rag. If Ridge paces when he’s upset, then Luka cleans. The kitchen is already immaculate, but by the time my packmate is done, I’ll be able to see my reflection in the granite countertop. “We always suspected that bastard was a traitor. This is just further proof.”
Three Noths were able to infiltrate Eros Academy. We have no idea what their goal was, but if I had to hazard a guess, it was to eliminate the crown prince. Fortunately, the little shit was able to take one out. Guess he’s not as useless as he first appeared. That, or our training has toughened him up. Ridge and I disposed of the other two. Colter is currently scouting the perimeter, ensuring that no one else has infiltrated our defenses.
I’m just grateful the Noths didn’t decide to target Darling Academy. The thought of my mate being under attack, alone and defenseless… A vise squeezes my heart.
I don’t even want to think about that.
As it is, I’m fighting every alpha instinct I have demanding I race over there, blast through her door, and ensure with my own two eyes that she’s okay.
I force myself to tune back into the conversation.
“Impossible,” Ridge is saying, punctuating the word with a shake of his head. “I may not trust Headmaster Asshole either, but I was following him all day. He never even left his office. There’s no way he let the Noths inside. At least not physically.”
“And the guards on duty?” Luka demands, scrubbing even harder at a particular spot. I don’t see any stain, but then again, what do I know? The last time I cleaned was…never. I’m more of a “throw my clothes on the ground and wait for the magic elves to wash them for me” type of guy.
Luka would look positively dashing in an elf costume.
“Dead.” Ridge’s lips straighten. “But even if the Noths were able to get past the front entrance, it doesn’t explain how they got into the school.”
During the day, the school has over a dozen active-duty soldiers guarding it. At night, the doors are locked and can only be opened from the inside. All of the windows are bulletproof.
Someone must’ve let the Noths in.
Anger thrums through my veins, and I suddenly feel restless. I’m not sure it’s even possible in my current state for me to stay still. I need to move, to act, to dosomething.
An idea occurs to me. A risky, stupid idea.
Fortunately for me, risky and stupid are my middle names.
Can someone even have two middle names? Hmmm. Something to ponder once everything calms down. Maybe I should consider officially changing mine. Anything would be better than Leslie.
Ridge curses and glances down at his phone, which has started to vibrate. “It’s the boss. I need to take this.” He flicks his gaze toward Luka. “Go debrief with the headmaster. If he’s innocent, we need him on our side. And if he’s guilty, see if you can trip him up.” Ridge turns toward me, one of his brows arched. “And Kylian…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Remain here and look sexy.” I strike a pose from my position on the couch. “Been there, done that, am currently doing it.”
Ridge rolls his eyes but turns away without comment, accepting the call. He steps into another room, and the door snicks shut behind him.
Luka stares at his half-polished work with a scowl, then sighs and drops his rag into the sink. He reaches for his black peacoat—though I’ve told him time and time again that it makes him look like a douche—and slips it on.
“See if you can find Colter. I want to know what he found out,” Luka instructs, as if he’s somehow the boss of me. Imperious prick.
Instead of answering verbally, I give him a one-fingered salute that has his right eye twitching. Then, in a cloud of douchebaggery, he stomps out of our cottage. I wait until I’m sure he’s gone before grabbing my coat, which was draped over the back of the couch. I glance in the direction of the bedroom, ensuring Ridge is still on the phone, before hurrying outside.
The cool night air batters my skin, but I welcome the chill. I’ve been feeling overheated as of late, and the cold is a blessing.
