Chapter 0228
I was simrly frantic that night in the dream state with Luca. He sped 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.
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 nket. As soon as I sit down heys 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.
N?velDrama.Org holds this content.
“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 pped 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 dere 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 Sinir,” 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
apuded, 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.