Page 315 of A University of Betrayal

“If he’s silent like a grave, that’s all the more reason to get to the bottom of it. He obviously is hiding something,” Larissa said, as if she had read my thoughts. “We need a plan.”

“Oh no. Not again,” it came from the kitchen, amused, and I looked at Miles, who was inspecting the cupboards.

What was he looking for there? Tableware? Or was this clown up to something?

“What do you mean?” Larissa shouted back.

Miles laughed mischievously. “Nothing, sis.”

“Ew,stop calling me that.”

Larissa had only known for two months now that this idiot, of all people, was her brother. I would have punched him in the face if he’d called me that.

Larissa had already forgotten Miles’ comment and turned her attention back to the Alice case. “We need to make sure we’ve searched everything.”

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. “I’m not letting you guys break in there again.” Half the group groaned in displeasure, Bayla and Larissa to be exact. “Besides, Alarik is on alert,” I added.

“Then we need to do it on a day when we can keep an eye on him, when he’s not in the office.”

Why did Larissa always ignore my clear commands? Was it so hard not to do something?

“The Winter Ball,” Bayla said, and Larissa’s eyes brightened.

“Not really, guys…” Julie said in a low voice.

“That’s out of the question,” I said.

After all, I had the last word when it came to my uncle.

“Emely, come on, just this one last time. If we don’t find anything then, we’ll leave him alone. I promise,” Larissa pleaded.

I looked from her to Bayla, and finally to Julian and Julie. All except the latter looked at me with pleading faces.

“I think you deserve to know the truth just as much.”

Looking at Bayla, I wondered if she meant what she just said.

“What a great way to drag me into this,” I sighed with distrust. Then I placed the palm of my hand on the pile of papers. “You win.”

With that, I turned away from the disbelieving faces around the table.

“Oh my God!Did you just hear that?” Larissa exclaimed in disbelief.

And a discussion broke out behind me. At first, it was about me, but then it soon turned to the Winter Ball and how they could best go about looking for clues undetected.

Pushing away the regret in my stomach, I walked to the kitchen where Miles was leaning against the kitchen counter, looking at me in surprise. His arms crossed and a pile of plates was beside him.

“I didn’t expect that from you, little wolf.”

“Don’t get too comfortable in this house,” I said sharply, pointing at the plates before gesturing behind me to the living area. “You may be accepted bythem,butneverby me.”

Just because of him, I should have said no. Just to annoy that moron. But I had said yes. And this time not because Julian wanted me to, but becauseIwanted to. I wanted to know the truth about my uncle.

I opened the fridge and looked for something decent to eat. What Julie had cooked smelled good, but it wasn’t what my body was craving. I needed more meat.

Again, I felt Miles staring at me.

I rolled my eyes. “If you think this is going to make me uncomfortable, you’re mistaken.”

---