Page 54 of Devious Knight

Of course I never intended the latter, or to damage the statue. I thought I moved the bike far enough away that no one would be in danger.

I know it wasn’t the case; it’s just an excuse to stab me in the back.

Thorne and Caspian tried to save me, but what can you do when over a hundred witnesses saw you commit the crime in broad daylight?

Right now I actually don’t know what’s going to happen to me.

The one thing I’m sure of is Kade’s threat, which is singing in my head like a bad song I can’t shake.

Tiffany and I turn the corner, and I spot Aleksander’s office at the end. I’ve never had any reason to see him here until now.

When we reach the door Tiffany faces me with a heavy scowl on her heavily made-up face.

“I hope he expels your ass,” she spits in a venomous tone.

So much for support. Not that I expected actual support from her, but it would have been nice if she’d just said nothing at all.

Like me. I don’t reply.

She knocks on the door. Aleksander calls out for us to come in.

Tiffany opens the door, and a wave of anxiety hits me as we walk inside. This office is nothing like Chancellor Potalov’s.

The room feels imposing with its heavy, burgundy curtains and rows of bookshelves crammed with textbooks and binders. Everything feels like it's judging me.

When we walk past the shelves my eyes find Aleksander’s scrutinizing stare waiting for me as he straightens behind his desk.

“Thank you, Miss Vasilyev, you may leave the detainee with me,” he says to Tiffany, but he keeps his eyes on me.

“Thank you, my lord.” She dips her head in a respectful bow, almost looking like the dutiful president she’s supposed to be.

She leaves us, and as the door swings shut behind me the sound it makes echoes through my soul.

“Isabelle Kolyav, take a seat.” Aleksander points to the chair in front of him.

I sit and meet his gaze once more. The last time we sat together like this was after my mother was killed.

We’d had several meetings where I identified the shooter, but that last meeting was where Aleksander told me that he thought I’d made up hearing another man in the room. The case was dismissed after that and marked as solved because they had the shooter.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” His gaze intensifies and the furrow lines on his forehead deepen.

Where do I start? I have no idea. I just know I’m not to bullshit him or beg.

The man before me could order my death simply for not liking me. He wouldn’t need to give a reason. He is the law as far as the Knights are concerned.

“I’m sorry for what I did, my lord.”

“Sorry for which part?”

Good question. It also tells me he can see straight through me. He knows I’m not sorry for setting Kade’s bike on fire.

“It wasn’t my intention for things to get out of hand.” That is hopefully a good no-bullshit answer. I didn’t lie and I didn’t tell the truth.

“Very well. What you have done is very serious. If damage were done to school property or anyone was harmed you’d be out of my school and I’d be pressing charges.” He pauses for a moment. “Fortunately for you, the fire department was able to contain the fire and prevent any damage to the statue.”

“I’m glad.”

“I imagine so. However, with that said, what you’ve done cannot go unpunished, so I’m placing you on probation for the rest of the semester.”

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