SWNOVELS Secrets and Seduction: Chapter 13
The sun hadn’t even risen yet when I opened my eyes after a nightmare-less sleep.
The place next to me was empty. I brushed my hand over it, the sheets cold. He either left some time ago or was avoiding me. I was fine with both ways, sparing us the awkward silence in the morning, the goodbyes.
I stepped out of bed and put my shoes on, not even bothering to unknot my hair. No one would be in the hallways at this hour. At least that’s what I was hoping.
I couldn’t find my old clothes anywhere, not that I had planned to put them on since I didn’t want to cause Leilah any more stress.
With one last look over my shoulder, I closed the door and made my way to my room, where I needed to talk to my friend. She had some explaining to do.
My roommate was playing a game on her tablet when I stepped into the room, overtired, my footsteps nearly silent. She looked up with a worried expression, studying my face.
Faster than expected, she straightened up and wrapped her arms around me. I gave her a little kiss on the temple when I noticed her sobbing.
“Why are you crying? Hey, everything’s fine,” I reassured her, but she just shook her head.
“It was horrible. I’m so sorry, I failed you,” she muttered, her voice trembling.
“You didn’t fail me. You came back. That was more than my former friends had ever done for me.”
“I almost lost control. I’m so young, please, I’m sorry,” she said, repeating the last part over and over again. What did she mean by that?
“I don’t understand,” I returned, confused. She just shook her head.
“Be thankful you don’t.” I pushed her away from me, inspecting her face as she ran her sleeve over her face.
She looked the same as always, no sign of her frightening features from earlier.
I must have gone crazy. Yes, for sure. “What?” she asked, catching my skeptical look. I let go of her and she sat down on her bed, me next to her.
“This place, it’s fucking with my head.” Her eyes grew more wary, and yet they still seemed gentle, understanding.
“Not just with yours.” I fixed her with my serious gaze. No games, no riddles. The truth.
I lifted my hand and stroked Leilah’s delicate skin under her eyes. She let me, didn’t shrink back.
“Did I imagine it, Leilah?” My voice, low and determined, trembled slightly.
The very fact that I spoke those words was insane. She held my gaze, her features tense.
“Do you want to die?” she asked. It was a serious question, I realized, saw it in her expression.
“No.” My friend gave me a smile that did not reach her eyes.
“Then you must never ask that again.”
I lay in my bed and stared at the ceiling. My thoughts were all over the place, but they always ended up at the same point: the secrets of Preston Academy.
‘Why did you call Mr. Preston, of all people?’ I finally asked.
‘I knew for sure he wouldn’t rat us out.’ I looked at her, a mischievous grin on her lips.
‘And how were you so sure?’
‘Because we’re related,’ she replied with amusement, as if the fact that they shared the same blood was funny. ‘Well, by a hundred degrees, but still. Not that we go on vacation together or he sends us ugly Christmas cards. He doesn’t even come to family reunions. I’ve only seen him a couple of times outside of the academy.’
‘Heard his family isn’t the most pleasant company.’ She snorted.
‘His father, his name is Alexander too,’ she said, chuckling, ‘is hell incarnate. I wonder why his son isn’t more screwed up. I certainly would be with such a family.’ From story to story, his family, his circles, became more and more unsympathetic to me. Was he not one of them? After all, he had grown up with their customs. ‘But I’m sure you know him better, spending as much time as you do together.’ Leilah turned onto her side, head on the palm.
‘I don’t know him. Not the way you think.’ I tried to come across as confident and determined—in vain. She gave me an unimpressed look.
‘At least he helped you get dressed. I doubt those men’s clothes are yours.’ The soft fabric of his T-shirt nuzzled against my skin, his scent still on it.
‘He didn’t undress or dress me,’ I returned, rolling my eyes. No, he just made me come so hard I felt dizzy.
‘Your business, but you’re playing with fire, Avery, both of you. Watch your back. He’s got enemies.’ Enemies? That was a bit dramatic, even by her standards. The only enemy he had was me; at least if he kept being as insulting as he had been the first day.
‘There’s no fire. Not for any of us.’ I drew the blanket even tighter to my body and closed my eyes. No fire. Leila just mumbled a disbelieving Mhm and turned on her other side, surely dead tired. A fire would only burn us out.