Page 129 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Are you okay, Amelie?” I ask. I feel like an idiot, because obviously she’s not okay, but what else can I say?
“Peachy.”
A laugh slips free and I look at her face just in time to see her eyelids flutter open.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Her voice is scratchy, but her gaze is steady and locked on me. Next to me, Kalen huffs.
“Do you know where you are? What happened?” I ask her gently.
“Yeah. My bed. I was sick and hit my head.”
“Do you remember what happened before that?”
“The party.”
“Anything else?”
I watch her carefully as she pauses, thinks hard, then shakes her head.
“Liar,” Kalen whispers.
“What?” I blink at him.
“She’s lying. She remembers everything.”
I look between him and Amelie and see guilt flash in her eyes. Why would she lie? I mean, we know what happened, I just wanted to check ifshedid. No one wants to be the one to repeat that back to her.
“It’s okay, Amelie. We know. You don’t have to explain it.”
She nods in relief and sinks back into the pillows, eyes closing again for a moment while she takes a deep breath.
“Can I…” her voice cracks and dies. “Drink?”
“Of course.” I grab the cup of water from the bedside table and pass it to her. She sips slowly from the straw that Slate had the foresight to provide. Years of looking out for Onyx after his fights have trained him well. Speaking of…
“Kalen. Can you go and tell our brothers that Amelie is awake, please?”
“I’ll text them,” he dismisses.
“No. Please go and tell them, face to face.”
“You go.”
“Kalen—”
“You’re not my teacher anymore, you can’t tell me what to do! I’m not leaving.”
“Kalen...go…” Amelie says, sounding stronger. Was it the drink that helped or Kalen’s annoying stubbornness? His eyes flash with hurt and I feel bad.
“Kalen,” I sigh, “Amelie needs a shower, and I’m going to ask Elsie to come over and help. You can go and get the twins and bring them back here, with food, in half an hour. No one is trying to get rid of you, okay?”
“I am,” Amelie jokes quietly, straight-faced. Helpful. I groan, but Kalen looks at her and grins.
“Okay, I’ll grab the others, but we’re coming back, sis, so make yourself presentable.”
She chuckles and gives a small smile as he leaves.
