Page 51 of Vicious Knight

I clutch my chest. “Oh my God. Isabelle.”

She faces me again. “That man went to prison, but there was someone else there with them. Someone I didn’t see properly, but I know they’re linked to the Knights.”

“What?”

“The Knights refused to investigate because my mother was an outcast.”

My lips part and there’s a tremor in my soul. My heart goes out to her but hearing her story makes me think of mine. Of my father and the injustice he faced and continues to face, because it was someone in the Knights who set him up.

Isabelle has bared her soul to me. I wish with all my heart that I could do the same. It would be so freeing to speak to someone. But I can’t.

“Saying sorry doesn’t feel like it’s enough,” I mumble, reaching out to tap her hand.

“It’s okay.” She gives me a small smile of appreciation but I can still read the dullness in her expression. “I wouldn’t know what to say to me either. I’ve tried to move on and live my life.”

“How do you feel about the Knights?” Although I shouldn’t ask her such a thing, I’m interested to know.

“Like everything, some are good, some are bad. I honor my mother and my grandparents by being here at Raventhorn, but I know I have to watch my back.”

I nod slowly, heeding the advice for myself. “Don’t worry about Kade. He’s a complete ass.”

“Yeah. I know that now. I feel like such an idiot, though.”

“He’s the idiot. He doesn’t know what he missed out on.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the Kade is an asshole talk.” She nods at my coffee cup. “That must be cold now.”

“It’s okay. I think I might have consumed way too much coffee over the last few days.”

“Join the club.” She giggles then sits straighter, looking like she just remembered something. “Did you see Thorne at the party?”

“Oh… yeah.” At the mention of Thorne I remember my situation.

“Sorry, I totally forgot to ask you about him. Did something happen?”

I don’t really want to talk about Thorne but I know I have to tell her something. “Things just got more complicated.”

She’s about to say something when we hear our names called.

It’s Eilish. She’s standing on the path across from us, tapping her watch.

“The meeting starts in three minutes. Don’t be late,” she calls out, looking worried.

That damn meeting. I forgot it. “We’re on our way,” I answer.

Eilish nods and heads to the dorm.

“I’m totally not in the mood for this meeting.” Isabelle rolls her eyes.

“Me neither.”

We stand and make our way back to the dorm.

“Promise me you’ll tell me about Thorne later.”

“Sure.” I feel like I was saved by the meeting because I don’t know what to tell her about Thorne.

We make it back just as the meeting is about to start.

---