Page 103 of Vicious Knight

Ivy

The crisp morning breeze kisses my cheeks as I stare at the family of swans paddling down the river.

It’s super early, but I was too restless to stay in, so I decided to go outside and enjoy my morning coffee by the river.

There’s a serenity about the place that’s soothing. It’s just what I need to balance me, if only for the time I’m out here. It’s a break. A moment of much-needed respite to regroup with myself.

I didn’t see Thorne last night. He was busy, and so was I. I was practicing for my piano recital next week.

Professor Grimfrost thought it would be a great idea for us to have a small event to get some practical experience.

I’ve done a million of this type of recital in the past, but I’m nervous for this one. Not because of the incredibly talented students in the class who I consider better than me, but because I’m not myself.

Being with Thorne makes me feel like the girl with the borrowed life again.

I know I didn’t exactly stop being her. But because everything about us is so reckless and volatile, I don’t know what to feel.

The logical part of me remembers our arrangement and is scared to death.

The other part of me loses sight of the logical side when I’m around him.

I just stop thinking the way a normal person should.

It can’t be a good thing to be so precarious around a guy who’s blackmailing you.

And what’s going to happen to us?

What’s going to happen to me?

I’ve even lost sight of my idea to get into the Knights’ database.

As it stands now, I’ve accepted that there’s no way for me to get into the system without asking someone for help. At the moment, that person is nonexistent.

The only thing I can actually do is keep my eyes open for an opportunity to present itself, whatever shape or form that might take.

The crunch of leaves behind me pulls me out of my tumultuous thoughts.

It’s Isabelle. She’s carrying a little box from the pastry shop.

We haven’t seen each other since my dramatic exit from English class on Monday with Thorne.

She gives me a little smile before she reaches me but I can see a ton of questions lurking in her eyes.

“Morning.” She holds up the box and smiles brighter. “I come bearing sweet, tasty gifts.”

“You’re the best. I’m in need of a sweet, tasty gift.”

“Perfect. I got deluxe strawberry and vanilla cupcakes with that pretty frosting we all love.”

“Thank you.” I move my coffee cup so she can sit next to me.

“Any time. I love that you love cupcakes as much as I do.” Isabelle sits and places the pastry box between us and opens it, revealing the deliciousness. “Mackenzie is always on some sort of weird diet. This week she’s not having refined sugar or anything brown.”

I laugh. “Anything brown?”

“Yeah. I keep telling her most girls would kill to look like her, but she never listens. She’s trying to lose weight for the Halloween gala. So she won’t be joining us for any treats until after. She wants to fit into her costume.”

“I wish that were all I had to worry about.”

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