Chapter 35: The Trap

Cael’s POV

The Trap

I watched Lira walk away from the Headmaster. She held her head high, but I saw the tension in her shoulders. She had used me as her shield. It was a smart move. A dangerous one.

My back still burned from my father’s cane. The order echoed in my head. Eliminate her.

But when she stood there, blushing and saying my name, all I could think about was the feel of her skin under my hands. The way she looked at me, even in her shame.

This was a problem.

I went to the infirmary to check on Joren. He was lying on his stomach, his back covered in bandages. He was awake. His eyes were full of pain and confusion.

“I didn’t do it, Cael,” he whispered when he saw me. “I swear.”

“I know,” I said. My voice was quiet.

“Then why?” he asked. His voice broke. “Why did they do this to me?”

I had no answer for him. The truth was ugly. He was a pawn. Basically a message. My father and the Headmaster needed to show strength. They needed to scare everyone. Joren was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Rest,” I said. It was a useless thing to say, I knew that.

I left the infirmary. My mind was a storm. Lira. Joren. My father’s order.

I needed to think. I went to the war room. It was quiet there.

I looked at the Academy's map. I marked where the guards were found unconscious. I marked the Headmaster’s office. I marked the lab. There was a pattern. The intruder was moving with purpose. They knew the Academy well. Very well.

A thought came to me. A dangerous thought.

What if the other intruder was not a student? What if it were someone with authority? Someone who could move around without being questioned.

Someone like the Headmaster.

But that made no sense. Why would he break into his own office? Why would he frame Joren?

Unless it was not about the amulet. Unless it was about something else.

A trap.

The Headmaster knew someone was sneaking around. He knew about the lab break-in. So he created a situation. He planted the amulet. He made it look like a theft. Then he “found” the thief.

It was a show. A performance to scare everyone and to draw out the real threat, and Lira had almost walked right into it. My blood ran cold. If the Headmaster suspected her, and he probably did, then she was in more danger than she knew.

I had to warn her.

But how? If I were seen with her, it would only make things worse. My father’s order was clear. I was supposed to eliminate her, not protect her.

I was stuck.

I left the war room and walked the halls. I felt like I was in a cage. Everywhere I turned, there were walls.

I saw Lyra coming toward me. She was smiling. It was not a nice smile.

“Cael,” she purred. “I heard you were busy with that Omega last night. I hope she was… satisfying.”

Her words were like poison. I wanted to push her away. But I couldn’t. She was the daughter of a High Councilor. She was part of my world.

“It is none of your concern,” I said, my voice cold.

Her smile faded. “Everything about you is my concern. We are meant to be together. You know that. My father and your father have an understanding.”

An understanding. A business deal. That’s what my life was. A series of deals and orders.

“The Gala is tomorrow,” she said, stepping closer. “We will announce our pairing then. It is time.”

I looked at her. Her perfect face. Her cold eyes. She was everything I was supposed to want, but all I could see was Lira’s gray eyes. Full of so much fire and so many secrets.

“We will see,” I said.

I walked away from her. I didn’t know where I was going. My feet just moved. I found myself outside Lira’s dorm. It was a stupid risk. But I had to see her. I waited in the shadows. I saw her come back. She looked tired. She went inside. A few minutes later, I saw a light in her window.

I found a small pebble and threw it at her window. It was a childish thing to do, but it was all I could think of. The window opened. She looked out. Her silver hair was loose around her shoulders. She looked beautiful.

“What do you want?” she whispered. Her voice was not friendly.

“We need to talk,” I said. “It’s important.”

She hesitated. I saw the war in her eyes. She didn’t trust me. And she was right not to.

Finally, she nodded. “Give me a minute.”

She came out through a side door. We stood in the dark garden. The moon was hidden behind clouds.

“What is it?” she asked, keeping her distance.

“The amulet,” I said. “It was a trap. The Headmaster set it up. He knows someone was in the lab. He is trying to find out who.”

Her eyes widened. I saw the fear in them. “How do you know?”

“I just know,” I said. “You need to be careful. Very careful. He is watching you.”

She looked at me. Really looked at me. “Why are you telling me this?”

It was a good question. Why was I helping the person I was supposed to eliminate?

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But you should stay away from Riven. Every move you make is being watched.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I have to… There are things I have to do.”

“Then you will get caught,” I said. My voice was harsh. “And when you get caught, they will kill you.”

We stood in silence. The air between us was heavy.

“The Gala is tomorrow,” she said finally. “You still want me to come with you?”

“Yes,” I said. “It might be the safest place for you. In plain sight. By my side.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay.”

I wanted to say more. I wanted to tell her about my father’s order. I wanted to tell her I was trapped too.

But I didn’t.

“Be ready at seven,” I said. Then I turned and walked away.

As I walked back to my room, I felt more confused than ever. I was warning her. I was protecting her. I was going against my father’s direct order.

I was betraying everything I was raised to be.

And for what? For a girl I barely knew. A girl who was my enemy.

But when I thought about her being hurt, or killed, something inside me broke. My wolf paced about restlessly.

I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I couldn’t let her die.