Page 188 of Fractured Fate

Ever since Aiden told her about how he still struggled with his nightmares, she wondered what she could do to help him. It wouldn’t be a hardship to sleep by his side if it helped him attain peace. It surprised her he hadn’t already requested it. Then she remembered his apprehension about his species despite her assurances.

She hoped allowing him to bite her with his fangs would show him her sincerity—that she wasn’t afraid of what he was. Reassuring him wasn’t why she allowed him to bite her and drink her blood, but she wondered if it would double as reassurance for him.

The headmistress clapped her hands at the head of the table, drawing their attention, halting the chatting amongst them. “Dominic and I spoke with the other members of the Blackthorn Clan through conference calls after we became aware of the situation with the young rogue.” She rose from her seat and her manicured nails tapped the table when she steepled her fingertips against the surface. “I have met privately with the young man to discuss his situation and the clan’s decision.”

Riley stretched her arms in front of her, the many bracelets on her wrists clattering on the surface of the table. “What did they say?”

“King Adrian has accepted the information we provided and with the caveat that the young man remains under strict surveillance in the interim, he may seek asylum at Blackthorn Academy. If he indeed desires to reform himself and integrate back into our world, we will grant him the same opportunities as the rest of you to obtain a degree and move out into the world, but only if he proves his sincerity during his time here.”

“That’s it?” Seth asked, his steel eyes narrowing. “He just gets away with being with the rogues who are after Blaire and hurt Charlotte?”

Lukas leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. “I don’t know why he gets a free pass to go to school. He puts the rest of us at risk.”

The headmistress leaned forward, narrowing her russet gaze on the two who spoke against Noah. “I expected more understanding from you two, considering I’ve been made aware you know the full account of why he behaved like he did.”

“I still don’t know if I can trust him,” Lukas muttered.

“You’re correct,” she conceded, standing upright. “This is why Blackthorn Security will monitor his behavior and interactions on campus. Furthermore, this is not a slap on the wrist situation. Noah Black will be required to meet with the clan at a future date and provide a detailed debriefing of everything he knows about the rogue group or groups operating in this region. That information isn’t pertinent to this discussion, so I didn’t think I had to inform you, but since you both were willing to accept Mr. Black so graciously…” She cut her gaze between Lukas and Seth, the disappointment in them clear on her face.

“With all due respect, I don’t blame them for their mistrust,” Dominic said.

“Nor I. I am not one hundred percent settled in the choice myself, but I feel with the details provided, punishment when he seems unaware of the role of those he surrounded himself with is unjust.” She settled her gaze on Lukas. “For someone who knows what it’s like to be labeled guilty on assumptions, I expected more from you.”

Charlotte leaned over and whispered, “What is she talking about?”

Blaire frowned, ducking her head. “When I was gone, students treated him like he’d killed me, unaware of the actual story. Rumors ran rampant, and some outright called him a murderer.”

Lukas slid his gaze over to the two of them. Blaire hadn’t been as quiet as she thought.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” the headmistress said. “Thank you, Blaire.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean he should be crucified for it, but I’m tired of seeing these assholes walk, get their memory wiped, or go to Cresbel while Blaire suffers, and we get pegged as the ones in the wrong.”

“If you knew what happened behind the walls of Cresbel Asylum, you wouldn’t say that,” Dominic said with a shake of his head. “The reports I’ve seen during meetings with the clan would shake you to the core. It is not a place you want to end up.” He looked over at Aiden, catching his eye.

Dominic had stopped Aiden from ending up there or being executed. Charlotte had more to thank him for than she realized.

Headmistress Velastra said, “I understand you feel this is unfair, Lukas, but there are procedures we must follow. There are things you’ve all done that have been overlooked for the sake of the greater good, but if the clan proceeded with harsher punishments above what another would receive for the same laws broken, anarchy would erupt in our world. There’s already enough discourse surrounding Blaire’s awakening as it is.” The headmistress rounded the table. “We need to try to mitigate the discord.” She waved a hand at someone out of sight before returning to the table. “I expect you all to behave yourselves.”

Noah rounded the corner of a bookshelf with his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his dark jeans. He wore a leather jacket over a charcoal gray hoodie with a white T-shirt underneath. He offered the room a hesitant smile, but it didn’t meet his eyes.

Aiden stood, and Charlotte followed, reaching out for his arm to keep him from going after Noah. A muddled mess of emotions hit her chest like a gunshot the instant Aiden noticed him. She couldn’t decipher his feelings. The only thing she knew for certain was that Noah was the target of his intensity.

Aiden moved to position himself in front of her when Noah noticed her and rounded the table. “Stay away from her,” he said, voice like ice. When Noah froze, he added, “Give me a reason and I’ll end you.”

His lack of trust in Noah was unmistakable now. While he didn’t express his mistrust as candidly as Seth or Lukas did before, his words carried a deadly promise that everyone in the room knew he was capable of fulfilling. He had killed for her before.

Noah held up his hands and took a step back. “I get it.”

“Aiden,” the headmistress said, voice stern. “Sit down and control yourself or you will be asked to leave. All of you show a bit of decorum. I expect better than this.”

Riley tapped her hands against the table. “I didn’t say anything. I trust the guy.”

Charlotte’s mouth popped open, and Riley laughed.

“What? I didn’t. But he said all that stuff. He’s a sad boy.”

“A sad boy?” Noah’s dark brows disappeared behind his shaggy curls.