Page 183 of A University of Betrayal

If only he knew his words hurt.

“Unnecessarily,” I sighed.

Every time he was sympathetic, I wished we were still best friends, maybe even more. Except it would only get that far in my dreams. I had to finally put an end to it.

“No,” he continued to disagree. “You should have told me something.”

“And thenwhat?”I laughed. “You don’t have to protect me. I’ve managed fine without you for the last two years,” I slipped out a little too sharply as I straightened my blouse and tightened my ponytail.

There was regret in Julian’s gaze.

“If he wins the games, I’ll accept my fate,” I continued, trying to change the subject.

“You don’t evenlovehim.”

I looked into Julian’s eyes.

What did he know about love?

“It’s about the pack,” I clarified my intentions in case he’d already forgotten.

“It’salwaysabout the pack,for God’s sake!”Julian cursed, and I felt that sting again from the scar Miles had just ripped open.

How ironic that a person I absolutely disliked and someone who meant the world to me could touch the same wound inside me.

I looked at my former best friend and remembered that I was actually mad at him.Hell,he had been sitting in a room with two Quatura and – even worse – a Ruisangor, reading diary entries of a Quatura who had been in touch with my uncle.

As I had stood in the kitchen, making myself a snack, the ham sandwich had almost slipped out of my hands from shock.

I had never wanted to eavesdrop on them, but it had been so clear to my sensitive hearing that I would have had to get some earplugs so I couldn’t hear anything. And when my uncle’s name had been mentioned, I hadn’t been able to resist the urge to listen in disbelief to Bayla reading aloud.

It was no secret that Alarik didn’t take part in the rivalries. He had helped Julian’s father back then by contacting the mayoress, and that had brought a lot of conflict. But these diary entries,a bloody love letter? To a Quatura?!Ireallyneeded to talk to him.

Julian’s look became more worried. I realized that I had been staring at him the whole time, lost in thought, and hadn’t reacted to his critical comment, as I usually did.

His pretty small freckles sparkled at me like little stars. When the summer passed, they would disappear too, just like every year. And it was already November.

Welcome Home, Son

Radical Face

“I don’t want to argue with you now,” I said quietly.

Julian understood, and then he did something I hadn’t expected. He pulled me into his arms.

“Me neither,” he whispered warmly against my ear.

Heat shot through my body.

It took a few seconds, then I finally let myself sink into the hug I had needed for so long. The one from a childhood friend, a person who had always made me feel so safe. I had longed for this embrace for years. My body pressed against him, pleading for his gentle touch, and he gave me a minute that felt like half an eternity.

“I want to go out with you,” he said as he pulled away from me.

I winced, my knees went weak, and the next moment I was gasping for air.

“No.”

“No?” He looked at me as if I’d just punched him.

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