Chapter 124

I was similarly frantic that night in the dream state with Luca. He clasped me in his arms, desperate to hear my story, to know that I was safe. I told him, briefly, what happened, and then begged him to let me go, to sleep, because I absolutely could not turn my mind away from the Chemistry test I knew was waiting for me the next day. noveldrama

Luca kissed me so softly, so sweetly, and said of course that he’s rooting for me, and he can’t wait to see how well I do. And then we ended the dream with him wishing me the best of luck, though he assured me I didn’t need it.

So, of course, I woke up just riddled with guilt. Because Luca – he’s been so, so sweet to me, and I am keeping a very real secret from him now. Somehow it was different when Jackson was just a mate a vague, unreal connection. But now that Jackson knows, and that we’ve acknowledged each other, and we’ve bonded?

God, but it’s different.

All of these thoughts and memories weigh me down as I head down the hallway to my door, as I twist the handle and push my way inside.

Both Rafe and Jesse cheer the moment I step into the room, but their cheers fade awkwardly when they see how wrecked I am.

“Oh, jeeze,” Jesse says, striding across the room and immediately shutting the door and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Honestly, Ariel, you looked better post- examination when you were all covered in blood.”

“That’s because I had hope,” I moan, letting him lead me over to the couch, where Rafe is waiting with my favorite green blanket. As soon as I sit down he lays it over me, tucking it in at the sides. I smile up at my big brother, loving him.

“Was it that bad?” Rafe asks, anxious, looking down as he stands next to me. “Did you fail?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh, shaking my head. Because it certainly feels like I did. The test was… insane. But what happened before it?

“I got…spooked,” I sigh, shaking my head.

“What?” Jesse asks, confused as he sits down on the coffee table.

“Well,” I say, looking between them and hesitating, because this news

–

they’re not going

to be very happy about it. “The other cadets – they wouldn’t give me a test booklet, at first. Kept passing them to each other around me.”

“What?” Rafe hisses, going still.

I nod, looking down as I continue. “Neumann asked what was going on and one of the other cadets spoke up, saying that I failed the Examination and shouldn’t get to sit the exam.‘

Rafe and Jesse gape at me, appalled. I take their silence as the invitation it is, nodding and moving on. “They said I was carried over the line, that I rely on my…my royal connections. to get through, and apparently now on Jackson, and that I don’t belong here.”

“What the fuck did Neumann say?” Jesse asks, already livid.

“He took my side,” I say, raising my eyes and looking between them. “He slapped a test. booklet onto my desk and said that I didn’t break a single rule and just because none of them was clever enough to convince a bigger cadet to build them a chair, and declare them governor, and carry them over the finish line, it didn’t mean it was wrong for me to use my resources wisely.”

I take a deep breath, carrying on. “And then, when they insisted it wasn’t fair, Neumann called them out. He said that if Jesse Sinclair,” I say, looking at my cousin significantly and letting him know that Neumann really did call him out by name, “had been carried bleeding across the finish line by the crown Prince that nobody would have countered it. That everyone would have called it noble, and applauded, and happily mark both of you as passing with flying colors”

Rafe and Jesse go still, looking at each other before returning their gazes to me. “He’s right,” Rafe said, nodding solidly. “That’s exactly what would have happened. What happened next?”

I sigh, shaking my head, wondering if I should even get into it.