Charis
I collapsed onto my bed, still smiling.
"I wasn’t even acting at first. I really was overwheld. But then I realised how it looked to everyone watching, and I decided to lean into it."
"Those parents went from wanting to attack you to protecting you in less than five minutes," Isolde said admiringly. "The whole scene will be in the news tomorrow, but now you’ll be portrayed as the victim, not the villain."
"And the boys believed it completely," I added. "They still think I’m this fragile girl who needs their protection."
Isolde’s smile beca wider. "Which is exactly how we want them to think. Sympathetic allies are much more useful than suspicious enemies. You see what I told you about sha?"
I nodded, repeating what she’d said a few days ago. "Sha can be useful when you need people to be quiet."
"Yes," she nodded. "At least no one can use your identity as Eamon Riggs against you now."
I sat up and looked at her more seriously. "What about the court case? How did that go?"
"Better than expected. Your father’s lawyers did their best, but we managed to turn it into a public spectacle that will prompt the judge to be very careful with his decision. And now, with today’s events, public opinion is definitely on your side."
"So the plan is working?"
"The plan is working perfectly," Isolde confird. "Though we’ll need to speed up so aspects now that you’re more visible. Are you ready for the next phase?"
I thought about the boys downstairs, probably worried sick about . About the parents at the school who had gone from angry to protective in minutes. About how easy it had been to manipulate everyone’s emotions just by crying at the right mont.
"I’m ready," I said. "What do you need to do?"
***
By evening, I ca downstairs to see Slater and Rhett whispering to each other in the living room. They were sitting close together, their heads bent over sothing I couldn’t see. Their voices were low and serious.
I stood at the base of the staircase watching them and wondering what they were so imrsed in that they didn’t notice when soone touched my shoulder. I jumped, startled, and turned to see Kael behind .
"I want to talk to you," he said quietly, motioning for to follow him.
I took one last look at the other two boys and followed Kael back up the stairs. He led to the guest room where he was staying and pointed to the bed.
"Sit," he said.
I sat down, and he sat close beside ; his knees were touching mine. He turned to face earnestly and reached for both my hands, holding them tenderly.
"I’m sorry," he began. "For everything. I should have explained earlier about Sandra. She’s not my girlfriend. She’s an agent from my workplace, and she’s here on orders, sa as . She was sent to watch because my superiors think I’m compromised. The girlfriend act is her cover. She would also act as my tutor, but would be the one helping with schoolwork."
"And you let her kiss you."
"I was too shocked to react. It won’t happen again."
I pulled my hands free. "That’s not the point, Kael."
He sighed. "I know. I’m sorry. And about the trial... I voted against you because I was so desperate to protect you that I was shortsighted about the consequences. Like I told you before, I thought it was the only way to help you eventually."
"Eventually," I repeated.
"Yes. I know it was wrong. I know I failed you when you needed most. But please, can you forgive ? And can we not ntion it in the future? It’s... It’s hard for to think about."
I stared at him, pulling my hands free. "You don’t have the right to tell how to forgive you."
He was quiet for a mont. "Fair enough." Then his expression changed. "What’s the real deal between you and Isolde?"
"What do you an?"
"I overheard your conversation earlier. In your room. The laughing and all the planning. So the act at the school gate was part of sothing bigger? No wonder I couldn’t sense how hurt you were through our bond."
I scoffed. "Are you eavesdropping now? Is that how far you’ll go?"
Kael rolled his eyes. "I know how people like Isolde work. She’s using you, Charis. Whatever she’s promised you, whatever she’s made you believe about her motives, it’s not real."
"Using ? Isolde is trying to rescue the girls trapped in the lab where Ravenshore is experinting on them and using them as breeding stock. If that’s been ’used’, then I’d rather be used than stand by and do nothing."
Kael laughed, dryly. "Are you really that clueless?"
My hands clenched into fists. "Excuse ?"
"If she wanted to help those girls so badly, why isn’t she contacting law enforcent? Why would an ordinary human who has no ties to our world spend millions of dollars on a rescue mission?"
"Isolde isn’t human," I corrected. "She’s a halfling. Her mother was an Oga."
Kael scoffed. "Whatever she claims, it doesn’t change the fact that sothing about her isn’t right. I haven’t been able to uncover any substantial information about Isolde’s background. Or Vale’s, for that matter. That kind of privacy costs serious money and indicates they have sothing shady to hide."
He reached for my hands again, but this ti his grip was gentler. "I care about you more than you’ll ever understand. But I need you to co to your senses and see what’s really happening here. I don’t want you getting dragged into sothing dirty, nor do I want you getting blinded by her promises."
I stared at him for a long mont. His dark eyes were filled with worry. He genuinely believed what he was saying.
"Fine," I said finally. "Let’s say I believe you. Then why is Isolde getting close to ? Why is she wasting all her money and resources on ? What could I possibly have that she wants? The fact that I’m an Alpha’s daughter?"
Kael’s expression grew more serious. "That’s exactly what worries . There has to be sothing specific about you, sothing that makes you valuable to her plans."
"Like what?"
"I don’t know yet. But people like Isolde don’t invest in soone without expecting a return. And the return is usually much bigger than the investnt."
I pulled my hands away from his. "People like Isolde? You keep saying that. What exactly do you think she is?"
"A manipulator. Soone who exploits people’s emotions and desires for their own benefit. She found you at your lowest point and offered you everything you wanted to hear."
"She saved my life."
"Did she? Or did she save you for a purpose?"
The question hung between us. I wanted to argue, to defend Isolde, but sothing about Kael’s certainty made hesitate.
"Even if that were true," I said slowly, "it doesn’t change the fact that there are girls trapped in that facility. They need help."
"And I agree they need help. But not from soone whose motives we can’t trust."
"So what do you suggest? That I abandon them?"
"I suggest you work with people whose goals align with actually helping them. My organisation, for instance."
I laughed bitterly. "Is your organisation that you’re questioning yourself? The one that might be involved in arms dealing and human trafficking?"
Kael’s face darkened. "Those are accusations, not facts."
"From soone who’s been watching you closely enough to know things he shouldn’t."
"Peter is—"
"Peter is what? Wrong? Or telling the truth and you don’t want to admit it?"
Kael was quiet for a mont. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. "I don’t know anymore. That’s part of the problem. I’m not sure who to trust."
"Then why should I trust you over Isolde?"
"Because I’m not asking you to do anything except be careful. Isolde is asking you to risk everything for a plan you don’t fully understand."
I stood up from the bed and walked to the window. Outside, Isolde’s grounds were perfectly maintained, beautiful and peaceful. It was hard to imagine anything sinister happening in such a place.
"What if you’re wrong?" I asked. "What if she really is just trying to help?"
"Then I’ll apologise and help however I can. But what if I’m right? What if she’s using you for sothing that will hurt you or those girls?"
I turned back to face him. "Why do you care so much? Really?"
"Because you’re my mate. Because I love you. Because the thought of losing you again makes want to destroy everything that could threaten you."
The raw honesty in his voice caught off guard. He wasn’t trying to manipulate . This was fear.
"Kael..."
"Just promise you’ll be careful that you won’t make any major decisions without talking to first. All of us."
I looked at him sitting on the bed, his dark hair falling across his forehead, his hands clasped tightly together. He looked worried and completely sincere.
"I promise I’ll be careful," I said finally.
It wasn’t exactly what he’d asked for, but it was all I could give him right now. Because the truth was, I wasn’t entirely sure who to trust either. And until I figured it out, being careful was the only smart choice.
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