Chapter 111 111- Never Play Truth Or Dare With A Shifter
LEXI
I perch on the edge of Blake’s bed, my hands still slightly shaky as I pull out my phone. Okay. Think. Do something useful. I open the SCRI app and quickly type out a message, addressing it to Layla, Annie, and Principal Istvan.
Lexi: URGENT!!! There is something in the food in the cafeteria. I don’t know what happened but students were collapsing. Blake took me and Ellorie-Rae to his dorm and has us on lockdown. Someone needs to make sure everyone is okay. I ate some but it seems like my magic took care of it already. PLEASE HELP!
I read over it once, twice, then hit send. It feels… Not like enough. So after a second, I copy the message and start sending it again. To every teacher I can think of. Professor Matthews. Even Professor Cage. The more people who know, the better, right? Unless they’re already affected… That thought makes my stomach twist. What if they’ve already eaten? What if they’re already unconscious? I swallow hard and force myself to keep going, sending the message to as many people as I can before finally stopping. Okay. That’s something. That’s helpful… Right? I turn my ringer all the way up, just in case anyone replies, then place my phone carefully on Blake’s bedside table where I can see it. Then I look up. Ellorie is standing stiffly in the middle of the room, like she’s afraid to move. Her hands are held awkwardly at her sides, her posture tight, her eyes flicking around like she’s trying to work out what’s safe and what isn’t. Blake… Blake is worse. He’s standing near the door, completely still, his body angled slightly toward it like he’s expecting it to burst open at any second. His attention doesn’t waver, except for the occasional sharp glance toward the window. His eyes look wrong. Feverish. Too bright. Too intense. There’s a faint golden glow in them, like embers burning just beneath the surface, and his whole presence feels… Coiled. Tense. Ready to snap into action at the smallest trigger. Not sick. Not out of control. Just… Overloaded. Focused. Dangerous? Oh… I recognise this. This is the same look he had when the wolves broke into his room. He’s in full protective mode. Which, from what I’ve gathered, basically means his instincts are screaming at him to protect what’s his. His hoard. Me? And… Reluctantly, Ellorie. I slide off the bed and walk over to him, reaching out to take his hand.
“Blake?” I say softly, tugging gently on his arm. His eyes snap to me for half a second, sharp, assessing, before flicking straight back to the door. Right. That’s not great. He tightens his grip on my hand though, almost reflexively.
“Are you okay?” I ask quietly. He looks at me again.
“Yes. I’m fine.” He answers. It SOUNDS true. Which is the problem. I think it sounds true because he actually believes it. Not because it actually is.
“Blake…” I try again, softer this time.
“Come sit with me, please?” I ask. He shakes his head immediately, his attention snapping back to the door. Of course he does. So I change tactics.
“Blake, please?” I say, letting a bit more of the truth slip into my voice.
“I’m really freaked out. I want you to come sit with me.” I tell him. That part isn’t even a lie. I AM freaked out. I have no idea what’s happening. I don’t know if someone is coming for me, if this is targeted, if everyone is okay, or if they’re not. If they’re… NOPE. Not going there. I tighten my grip on his hand and tug again, more insistently. He looks at me properly this time. Really looks. Then, slowly, he nods.
“Okay.” He agrees. He lets me guide him back to the bed, sitting down and pulling me with him, close against his side. His arm comes around me automatically, like he needs the contact just as much as I do. Ellorie is still standing off to the side, clearly trying to make herself as small and unobtrusive as possible.
“That seat should be okay, right, Blake?” I ask cautiously, pointing toward his desk chair. He hesitates. Thinks. Then gives a short nod. Ellorie moves carefully, like she’s stepping through something fragile, and sits down on the edge of the chair.
Blake pulls me a little closer, his arm tightening slightly around me, like he’s trying to anchor me there. Or anchor himself. I lean into him and gently tug his hand into my lap, holding it between both of mine. His fingers are still tense. Still ready. Still not relaxed. His gaze drops to our hands. Or maybe… To the bracelets? The ones he gave me. They catch the light faintly as I shift, the pink diamonds glinting softly. Right. Treasures. I lift my wrist slightly, letting the bracelet catch his attention.
“Will you tell me about this?” I ask, keeping my tone light and curious.
“Where did you get it?” I prompt him. He looks momentarily surprised by the question. Like it wasn’t what he expected. Then, slowly, his focus shifts. Not to the door. Not to the window. To me.
“To get that…” He starts, his voice a little rough at first before smoothing out.
“I traded for it.” He answers. I nod encouragingly, watching him.
“With a jeweller. He needed a specific stone for a custom commission. Rare cut. Hard to source. I had one.” He continues. Of course he did.
“So you just… Traded it?” I ask, kind of surprised. I know he gets attached to his things. I think it would take a lot for him to give something up.
“Not just. There were additional conditions. Time constraints. Precision requirements. He needed it immediately. I got more out of it than he did.” He corrects. I smile slightly.
“That sounds like a lot.” I respond.
“It was. But the result was worth it.” He agrees, but there’s a hint of satisfaction in his tone now. His thumb brushes lightly over the bracelet as he speaks, then across my wrist, his touch slow and deliberate. The tension in him starts to ease. I can feel it. The tightness in his grip softens. His shoulders lower slightly. That sharp, burning intensity in his eyes dims, the gold fading back to something warmer. Steadier. He exhales quietly, almost like he hadn’t realised he was holding his breath. And just like that, he’s back. Not completely relaxed. Not safe enough for that. But better. More present. More himself. I tuck that away immediately. Note to self. Ask about his hoard when I need him to calm down. Good to know.
My phone buzzes suddenly against the bedside table. I jump a little, my heart lurching before I can stop it. Blake reacts faster than I do. His hand is already on the phone before I even reach for it, his movements sharp and controlled as he checks the screen first, eyes flicking over it quickly before handing it to me. I don’t even question it. I just take it.
Layla: I’m with Principal Istvan now. We’re taking care of it. Stay put. I’ll let you know when we know what’s going on.
I stare at the message for a second, reading it again even though I’ve already taken it in. They know. They’re handling it. They’re… Calm? Or calm enough to text me. That helps. A little.
Lexi: Okay.
I hit send, then keep staring at the screen like something else might appear if I wait long enough. It doesn’t. Of course it doesn’t. I slowly lower the phone into my lap, exhaling softly. Okay. So now we wait. I glance around the room. Blake is still tense beside me, even if he’s calmer than he was a minute ago. I can feel it in the way his arm is still firm around me, like he’s not about to let go any time soon. Ellorie is sitting rigidly at the desk, hands folded in her lap, clearly trying not to touch anything, barely even breathing too loudly. The room feels… Still. Heavy. Like everything is just paused, waiting for something to happen. I HATE it. I hate waiting. I hate not knowing. I could sit here and spiral. Run through every possible scenario. Every worst-case outcome. Every horrible thing that might be happening right now. Or… I can not do that. I take a small breath and straighten slightly, forcing some energy back into my voice.
“So…” I say, glancing between them, trying for something lighter.
“Anyone want to play I Spy?” I ask brightly. There’s a beat of silence. Blake looks down at me, one eyebrow lifting slightly, like he’s not entirely sure he heard me correctly. Ellorie blinks.
“I… What?” She asks faintly. I shrug, offering a small, slightly sheepish smile.
“Well, we’re stuck here anyway, and I don’t know about you guys, but if I sit here doing nothing, I’m going to start imagining worst-case scenarios and probably make myself feel ten times worse.” I tell them as I tuck my legs up slightly, leaning more comfortably against Blake’s side.
“So… Distraction seems like a good plan.” I reason. Blake studies me for a moment. Then, slowly, something in his expression softens. Not amusement, exactly. But… Understanding. He glances back at my bracelet and smirks. Huh… I think he worked out my ‘calm Blake down’ plan. Well, as long as it works, I guess it’s fine. Ellorie lets out a small, nervous breath that almost sounds like a laugh.
“Well… Okay.” She says cautiously.
“I guess that’s… Not the worst idea.” She decides. I brighten immediately.
“Great! I’ll go first.” I say. I glance around the room, pretending to scan for something completely normal, something harmless, something not related to poison or danger or anything else currently terrifying. The good news is, Blake’s room is FULL of treasures and knick knacks. Then I grin.
“I spy… With my little eye… I see something…. Gold.” I start. Blake huffs quietly beside me. And just like that, the room feels a little less suffocating.