Nikolai’s gaze bounces between me and Creighton. “Wait a minute. If he was in your room, how come I didn’t see him with you when the fire first broke out?”
“I told him to stay put until I investigated the situation since I didn’t want him to run into you guys.” I’d high five myself if I could. Now, that’s a believable lie.
“Still…” Gareth starts.
“Still what?” I lift my chin. “Creighton saved my and Jeremy’s lives. You should be rewarding him instead of beating him up for it. Besides, if you’re worried this is the Elites’ doing, it still doesn’t make sense to threaten Creighton. He was never a part of that club.”
“His cousin is,” Killian says matter-of-factly.
“But he isn’t. Never was and never will be. The time you’re wasting here could’ve been used to worry about the Serpents that you so thoroughly offended, Kill. Surely you realize they’re the most likely culprits behind this mess?”
I can tell that I’m getting to them, considering the subtle change in their expressions. They must’ve thought about the Serpents’ angle, too, but since they had Creighton in their grip, they chose to believe it would be the Elites instead.
Nikolai tosses away his weapon, appearing dejected that his fun has been ruined.
“I must admit, the whole story sounds convoluted,” Killian says. “You’re not even worried that Jeremy can and will hear about this incident?”
I swallow, not feeling so brave anymore. Still, I try my best to preserve the façade. “I’ll talk to my brother when he wakes up. In the meantime, let Creighton go.”
Both Killian and Nikolai step out of the room.
Only Gareth stays behind and helps me untie him. The dried trail of blood looks gruesome against his ethereally beautiful face.
The lack of light gives his features harsh angles, almost sinister to the eye. His lips are slightly parted and I can’t help reaching a hand out to touch them, or touch him. But then I recall he doesn’t like being touched, so I let it drop to my side.
After we’re done removing the ropes, I crouch by his chair. “Is he going to be okay?”
Gareth leans back against the wall, arms crossed, expression nonchalant but alert. Dirt smudges his wet shirt, neck, and face as lingering evidence of the fire. “He’s just unconscious. Will probably wake up in a few.”
“I’ll call Remi and Lan to come pick him up.”
“Or you can wait until he wakes up and leaves on his own.”
“I don’t trust Kill or Niko not to come back here and finish what they started.”
Gareth smiles. “That’s true. Call away, but instead of Landon, make it Brandon. Elites aren’t welcome here.”
“Okay. Thanks, Gareth.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Jeremy will find out about this one way or another. Before anyone else opens their mouth, I’ll be the one to tell him about this whole scene.”
“I understand.”
I think I’ve gotten myself in worse trouble than I bargained for.
* * *
So I might have overestimatedmy abilities to deal with the fallout from the fire.
After Jeremy woke up and found out about the thing with Creighton, he downright forced me into house arrest.
I’m escorted back and forth between REU and the mansion. I’m not even allowed to volunteer at the shelter.
His excuse: it’s dangerous.
And this time, Mom is on his and Papa’s side. She even told me that it was a good idea to come home for a while.
It’s been a week of constant security, boundaries, and stupid locked-up prison.