*Jiselle*
I couldn’t breathe.
It was like my lungs had forgotten how to function. Like the air was there, but it wouldn’t go in–wouldn’t stay. My fingers were shaking. My hands were cold. And all I could do was stare at the parchment crumpled in my lap like it had grown
teeth.
His name was on it.
Nathaniel Morningstar.
Circled in blood red.
Marked.
Next.
A scream crawled up my throat, but it got stuck somewhere between panic and disbelief. I shoved the list away–tossed it across the room like it might explode–but it didn’t help. The name was already burned into my vision. Into my chest. Into every part of me that had come to love him, need him, trust him.
Kael was dead.
And now Nate-
No. No no no no-
My body moved before I realized what I was doing. I scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping on the edge of the rug as I tore toward the bathroom door. What if he slipped? What if it had already started working? What if I was too late?
“Nate-” 1 gasped, my voice choked and trembling. “Nate!”
The door opened just as I reached for it.
He stepped out, shirtless, damp towel slung over his shoulder, brow furrowed. Water still clung to his collarbone and dripped slowly down the lines of his chest.
But he was fine.
Whole.
Alive.
He froze when he saw me. “Jiselle?”
And then I broke.
The panic hit all at once, a tsunami of emotion so fast and full I couldn’t think, couldn’t stop it. I pressed my hands to my chest, trying to hold everything in, but the sob still ripped out of me. My knees buckled. The tears came hard, hot, and endless, falling in thick streams down my cheeks as I collapsed onto the bed and curled into myself.
He was beside me in an instant.
“Hey–hey” Nate whispered, kneeling in front of me. “Breathe. Look at me. Just breathe.”
I couldn’t. I couldn’t.
His hands gently cupped my face, thumbs brushing the tears from beneath my eyes. His voice dropped to that soothing, grounded register that always made my walls fall.
“Jiselle. Breathe in for four. With me.”
He inhaled. I tried to follow.
“Hold it now out”
We repeated it. Again. Again.
Eventually, the dizziness dulled. The shaking slowed.
But the tears didn’t stop.
He pulled me into the chest, wrapping his arms around me so tightly, so completely, I could feel his heartbeat against my
ear
“You’re okay, he murmured. “You’re safe. I’ve g
Successfully unlocked!
I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me tethered to this world. And maybe he was.
“What happened?” he finally asked, brushing my hair from my face. “What is it?”
I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. My voice was hoarse. Raw
1/3
Chapter 76
“The list,” I whispered.
His brow creased. “What list?”
I shook my head. “I can’t tell you.”
“What list, Jiselle?”
His voice wasn’t demanding. Just scared. But it made something in me twist with guilt.
And then he saw it.
His eyes flicked to under the chair where I had thrown the list. To the edge of parchment peeking from the folds. He reached for it.
“No-” I gasped, lunging to stop him.
But he already had it.
He unrolled it slowly, his jaw tightening with every second. His hands didn’t shake. His face didn’t change. But his eyes… His eyes told me everything.
“Where did you get this?” he asked quietly.
My panic returned in full force. “You’re not supposed to see it! You’re not supposed to know. Nate–oh god–you’re not-” “Jiselle–stop.” He grabbed my shoulders, holding me steady. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“No, you don’t understand,” I said, my voice rising. “You’re not supposed to be fine. The list–it’s magical. They said if the target finds out before their time, they die. I wasn’t supposed to tell you. That’s why I didn’t. That’s why I couldn’t!” “But I’m not dead.”
The words were so calm, they stopped me cold.
He stepped closer, the list still in his hand, and crouched in front of me again.
“You told me,” he said. “You showed me. And I’m not dead.”
I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of it. “But… you’re on it.”
“And still breathing.”
My brain scrambled for answers. “They said it would kill you. I believed them–Nate, I believed them-”
He gently pulled me into his arms again, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m not happy you kept it from me,” he said against my hair. “But I understand why you did.”
1 clutched his shirt. “I was scared.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t want to lie-”
“But you were protecting me. I get it.” He pulled back, brushing his thumb along my cheek again. “You thought telling me would cost me my life. And still… you almost did.”
I nodded, tears still slipping free.
He kissed me again–this time on the forehead. “That’s how I know it’s real. Us.”
My breath hitched. I could only nod.
He stood, pacing once as he studied the list again.
“Where are you going?” I asked, voice panicked.
“I need to find out something*
“You’re scaring me”
He turned and looked at me gently. “Don’t be scared. I’ll be back soon.”
He shrugged on some pants and grabbed his jacket, folded the list carefully, and kissed me one more time before slipping
out the door
I waited
Ten minutes passed,
Then an hou
I sat curled on the couch, gnawing my lip and checking the window like a prisoner waiting for rescue. Every second stretched. Every sound made my skin prickle.
Three hours later, the door finally creaked open.
I jumped up, half–sure he’d come back bleeding or worse.
2/3
Chapter 76
But he didn’t come back alone.
Three people followed him inside. All older. All deadly.
My breath caught in my throat. Without even asking, I knew they were on the list too–people I didn’t recognized but look sure as hell capable of being a threat to the council.
“You brought them?” I whispered.
He nodded, stepping aside as they entered.
“They’re all on the list,” he said. “And they already knew. I told them.”
“What?” I shrieked. “Why would you risk it? Why would you-”
He closed the door. “Because I know it’s not true. This school has been playing this game longer than you think.”
I looked at the others. One of them–the girl–was Kael’s cousin. I recognized her.
“You shouldn’t have risked it, I whispered. “If something had gone wrong-*
“It didn’t,” he said firmly. “Because I’ve been here longer than you, darling. I know these tricks. The list is real, but we won’t die from knowing. That was just part of the illusion.”
“Then why give it to me?” I whispered. “Why tell me I’d be the only one who could see it?”
He stepped closer, his voice low.
“Because whoever gave you this didn’t want us prepared. Didn’t want us fighting back. They only wanted you alive. And as much as I’m all for you living, they lied to you. They knew your heart and used it against you, which means they can’t be trusted
I met his eyes.
The weight of truth settled on my shoulders.
“Who gave you the list, Jiselle?”
I hesitated.
Then I spoke.
“The Headmistress.*
He didn’t look surprised.
“Expected” he muttered. “She’s always had her own agenda.”
But I didn’t stop there.
My voice was barely a whisper.
“And Instructor Carrow.”
He stilled
And the temperature in the room dropped.
