Chapter 36 The Third Player

Chapter 36 The Third Player
Riven’s POV

The Third Player

She was late. She was fcking 20 minutes late.

I paced about, my fingers running through my head as I wondered if something wrong had happened to her. I was waiting in the old clock tower which was our usual spot. The air, if you looked hard enough, you would see dust floating in the air. I stopped and leaned against the wall, tapping my foot impatiently on the wooden floor. Every sound that I heard outside this place made me look up with hope and anticipation, thinking it was her.

Where the fuck was she?

I waited for another extra 30 minutes before finally, I heard the soft creak of the door. Lira slipped inside. Her face was pale in the moonlight coming through the broken window.

“You’re late,” I said. My voice was sharp, my fingers folded into a fist.

“I had to be careful,” she shot back. Her eyes were wide with something I had no name for. “Cael came to see me. He said the amulet was a trap set by the Headmaster.”

I froze. “Cael told you that?”

She nodded. “He said we’re being watched. He told me to stay away from everyone. Especially…” she bit her lips, pausing abruptly as if she just thought about what she wanted to say. I raised a brow and took a step forward. Did that bastard tell her anything about me?

“Especially….?”

“It's nothing,” she murmured, looking away. I took another step forward.

“Lira,” I growled and I heard her take a deep sigh.

“Fine! He said I should stay away from you, okay?”

A hot anger burned in my chest. Of course he did. The perfect prince, trying to control her. Trying to keep her for himself. Like I would allow it. She was my mate too!

“And you believe him?” I asked. My voice was a low growl.

“I don’t know what to believe,” she said. Her hands were shaking. “But I got this.”

She handed me a note. The paper was cheap. The writing was bold.

I know what you are.

I read the words. My blood went cold. This was bad. Very bad.

“Who gave you this?” I asked.

“I don’t know. It was under my door.”

I crumpled the note in my fist. “We have a bigger problem than Cael.”

“What?”

“I did some digging,” I said. “After the whipping. I went back to the lab.”

Her eyes widened. “You what? That’s too dangerous!”

“I had to,” I said. “And I found something. The amulet we stole? It wasn’t just a pretty rock. It’s a key.”

“A key to what?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said. “But someone else does. Someone took it from our hiding spot and planted it. They didn’t do it to frame Joren. They did it to get the amulet into the Headmaster’s office.”

She stared at me. “Why?”

“Because the Headmaster has a safe in his office. A special one. I think the amulet opens it.”

The pieces were coming together. We had stolen the key without knowing it. The third player(as we called the person) needed that key. So they set up Joren to get it back.

“This is a fucking game, and they are playing us!” I sighed.

Lira leaned against the wall. She looked tired too. “What do we do?”

“We stop being the played,” I said. “And we become players.”

I pulled out a small map. I had drawn it from my memory. The Academy’s lower levels.

“The Gala is tomorrow night,” I said. “Everyone will be distracted. The Headmaster. The Council. Even Cael.”

She looked at me. “What are you planning?”

“We break into the Headmaster’s office,” I said. “We use the amulet. We find out what’s in that safe.”

“That is just equivalent to committing suicide, are you stupid?” she whispered.

“It’s our only move,” I said. “They know about you. They’re closing in. We need something big…like proof. Something that can protect us.”

She was quiet for a long time. I could see the fear in her eyes. But I also saw the fire. The same fire that made her fight Cael. The same fire that made her follow me into the dark.

“Okay,” she said finally. “We do it.”

“Good,” I said. “But we need a distraction. A big one.”

A slow smile spread across my face. I had an idea. A dangerous one.

“What?” she asked. She looked worried.

“The Gala,” I said. “It’s the perfect cover. But we need to make sure everyone is looking the other way.”

“How?”

“I’ll take care of it,” I said. “You just be ready. Wear something pretty for your date with the prince.”

She glared at me. “How did you know about it? And It’s not a date.”

“Sure it’s not,” I said. My voice was bitter. “Just remember, princess. He’s not on your side. He’s the enemy.”

“I know,” she said, her eyes cast down. She said it as if she was sure, but I knew she didn't believe in it anymore.

She left the clock tower. I watched her go. My chest felt tight.

I didn’t trust Cael. I didn’t trust the Headmaster. And I didn’t trust this third player.

The only person I trusted was her and I feel like that was the most dangerous one of all.

I looked at my map. The plan was simple. Break into the office. Open the safe. Get the proof.

But simple plans often went wrong.

I had to be ready for anything.

I left the clock tower and moved through in the darkness. I had one more thing to do tonight.

I went to the storage room where they kept the fireworks for the Gala. It was easy to pick the lock.

I worked quickly. I rearranged the fireworks. I changed the fuses. It wouldn’t cause a fire. But it would make a very big, very loud distraction.

It was exactly what we needed.

As I worked, I thought about Lira. About the way she looked at Cael. About the note someone left her.

I know what you are.

Did they suspect she was a rogue just like I do? Either way, she was in danger. And I was the only one who could protect her.

Even if it meant going against the whole Academy which in fact, I am already against.

Even if it meant going against Cael.

I finished with the fireworks and slipped back into the yard.