Chapter 42
*Jiselle
I knew that question was coming from a mile away.
Nate was pissed
Beyond pissed.
But I was too busy cherishing life to pay attention to that right now.
Ethan was still staring absentmindedly after where Hadelyn had gone, but Nate? Nate was staring right at me. “How did you find us?” I asked, my voice quieter than before, carefully avoiding the absolute fury in his eyes. He scoffed. “You basically woke me up at three–thirty in the damn morning-”
“How did I wake you up?” I interrupted, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was a toddler who just wouldn’t get it.
“You called for me, Jiselle,” he said, his voice lower now, as if he didn’t want Ethan to hear.
My stomach dipped.
“But… but how could I-”
“You were terrified,” he hissed, and in the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between us, his hands pressing into the wall at either side of my head. My back flattened against the cold surface, my breath hitching as his presence caged me in. It didn’t seem like he cared that Ethan was standing right there anymore. His entire focus was on me, his blue eyes burning like a storm over the ocean, swirling with anger, frustration… something else.
“I felt your fear,” he said, voice rough. “Your panic was so strong down the bond that I didn’t even second guess it–I just followed the feeling.”
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry
It must’ve been the moment I realized that Hadelyn wasn’t planning to just drag us to his office and give us a tap on the wrist. The moment I thought Ethan and I weren’t getting out of this alive.
I shook my head. “But… we’re not fully mated. We haven’t completed the mate bond.”
“But we’re still true mates,” he snapped, his jaw tightening. “I don’t have to put my mark on you to feel you, Jiselle. Heightened emotions are always felt by true mates. You should know that.”
My stomach clenched.
I did know that:
I just hadn’t expected it to be this strong.
“Man, that was scary, Ethan said suddenly, shaking his head as if snapping himself back into reality.
Nate stepped back by one step, but my back was still pressed against the wall.
Only one.
And his presence still felt too close, too much
Ethan’s gaze flickered between us, his body stiffening. His instincts were screaming at him to be careful Even he could tell that Nate was pissed beyond belief
“Woah, dude, don’t take it out on her, Ethan said quickly, stepping closer to my side. “She was just trying to learn what’s being hidden in this school”
“That’s exactly why I’m mad, Nate growled, his voice a lethal edge.
He turned his glare on Ethan
The air seemed to vibrate with tension.
“Do you even understand what Hadelyn would have done to you guys?” he bit out. “What any of the other instructors would have done if they had caught you?”
“Nobody talks about anything around here, and I just needed-
“You need to stay the hell out of danger, Nate Successfully unlocked! ed lower, more dangerous.
“There’s a reason nobody talks about shit around here his voice was rouyn, tight, and deadly. “And I told you- he jabbed
a finger toward Ethan, “-to wait until second year. Are you trying to get yourselves killed?”
I stared down at the floor, suddenly feeling like a child being scolded. And to my utmost surprise, Ethan mirrored my expression.
wwe had a target on our backs
And Nate had to clean up my mess.
He let out a sharp breath “Now I have to find Miss Rudding and get something to buy her into your lie because Hadelyn will go to her. And if she believes him?”
His jaw locked.
“He will gladly bring the other instructors into this.”
The meaning of his words settled into my chest like a weight
Hadelyn wanted us dead.
Not expel
Dead
Because we knew too much too early.
Lexhaled sharply, looking between Nate and Ethan.
“Tm sorry” I mumbled, my voice small. “To both of you. I put you in danger, all because I couldn’t wait.”
Max had told me the same thing Nate told Ethan.
Let it go until second year.
hacht listened
Instead, I risked it all just to know the truth.
And now, Nate might get tortured like Max had
And Ethan?
Now he had a target on his back, too.
The weight of it made me sick.
A heavy silence stretched between us, the consequence of my actions hanging in the air.
Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I knew the second we stepped into that library that this was risky,” he admitted. “It was my choice too. I could have dragged you back to your room kicking and screaming. I don’t blame you, Jizelle
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yeah, well… Nate sure does”
At that, Nate let out a dry chuckle, but there was no humor in it.
“No, I don’t” he said, voice flat
I blinked, taken aback.
His eyes met mine, burning. “1 don’t blame you for wanting to know the truth. I blame you for thinking you could get away
1bt my lip. “So what now?”
Nate’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“Now?” His gaze flickered past me. “Now, you two need to be more careful than ever”
Ethan exhaled sharply “Great Love that for us.”
Nate ignored him, his focus locked on me.
“handle Miss Rudding,” he said, his voice firm. Final. “But you need to stop pushing. If you keep looking into this, I probably won’t be able to protect you next time.”
I swallowed “You don’t have to protect us. Nate”
He stepped closer, his jaw tightening
His eyes met mine–intense, fundus, conflicted.
And soft
Even for just a second
“You’re wrong” he murmured
blinked “What?”
His throat bobbed. His fists clenched at his sides
“do”
Chapter 42
He turned away before I could respond.
Before I could figure out what the hell that meant.
I stared after him, my stomach twisting with guilt, relief something else entirely.
This wasn’t over.
I took the book from my sweater, grateful that Hadelyn didn’t search us. The pages were missing, but maybe I could still find something useful.
“Wait, how did he find us?” Ethan asked, having the worst timing ever as we headed in the direction of our rooms. I snorted.
“Luck,” was all I said. And thankfully, he bought it.
