Chapter 13

13

I f a hand hadn't pressed over my mouth at the same time as one wrapped around my wrist and yanked me sideways, I'm sure I would have released an ear-splitting scream.

I struggled against the hold for five seconds before I recognized the voice whispering in my ear. "Calm down, it's just me."

Once I stopped thrashing against him, Noah released the hand over my mouth but still gripped my wrist. Under a large oak tree just a few meters from the potions building, I took in Noah's football uniform, which unfortunately fit him very well.

Glaring at him, I asked, "What's this about?"

"I think someone knows what we're doing," he said lowly, a serious look on his face.

"What makes you think that?"

"I went up to our lab, and this was on our bench." He handed me a note, and I scrunched my brow.

Stop trying.

"This could be about anything, Noah. I don't see how this is—"

"This was next to it." He opened his blazer pocket to show me something he'd tucked away.

"What is that?" I asked, stepping closer to examine it better. I grabbed at it just as I realized what it was.

Stepping back, I dropped the key like it was spelled to burn me.

"Wh-where did they get that? I didn't leave that last night."

"I know you didn't, Henri." Noah was seething with anger, his eyes burning as he picked up the key and held it out to me.

How my spare room key ended up on our lab bench next to that note chilled me. That key stayed at the very bottom of my backpack in case I ever forgot my regular one. A keychain that looked like a teardrop vial hung from the keyring. I hadn't pulled it out of my bag in over a year, not since I'd accidentally left Ivy with my normal one.

I touched my backpack's straps, haunted by the thought that someone had rifled through my things.

"S-someone went through my stuff," I whispered, wondering when it could have possibly happened. Everything in my bag was always precisely where I wanted it, and I had noticed nothing out of place in the last few days.

"Shit," Noah cursed under his breath. He said something else, but I heard none of it.

I never left my bag unattended. Even walking through the aisles of the library, I never abandoned my bag at a table. I kept it with me always. There would be no way for someone to sneak those keys out of my bag without me noticing. Not in class, not at meals…never.

The only time I didn't keep a watchful eye on my bag was in the safety of my dorm, but it wasn't possible that someone got into my dorm. That would be absolutely—

"Hey." Noah grabbed my elbow, pulling me a bit closer. "Don't freak out. I'm sure it's nothing major. I can see exactly what you're thinking."

"Someone was in my dorm!" I whisper-yelled, on the verge of crying. But I couldn't cry in front of Noah again. It just wasn't an option.

"I'm sure that's not how they got your key."

"Noah, I never let my bag out of my sight!"

"What about when we went to get ingredients? You left it in the lab while we snuck upstairs—both times."

His words instantly calmed me, and I allowed my muscles to loosen slightly. "That's…possible."

"Exactly. That's probably how whoever is threatening us knew we were doing it, and they figured they could scare us. You're completely fine." He wouldn't look me in the eye, and he, too, was visibly stiff.

I nodded, knowing he was probably right. I just couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind.

"I think we need to go somewhere else to get more research materials. Nothing we have done has worked so far, and we really need to get this anti-potion finished." There was a new sense of urgency in Noah's voice. "But if whoever did this knows who we are, then if we're continually seen together in the potions building, I worry they'll make more threats."

"I've read almost every book in the library on the subject. I just haven't been able to figure out how exactly we're supposed to use willow bark to balance the dew drops out enough that the potion won't dull the user to feelings entirely." I considered taking off my backpack and pulling out my notes, because I needed him to have the same information I had. "But I do think I know how they're spreading it to the entire campus. I just haven't found any material on the subject."

"Precisely why we're going off-campus to get lesser-known texts." He started walking towards the bronze gate tens of meters away, the exit to the academy grounds. I hastened to keep up with him.

"Off-campus?" I took a step back, knowing the rules about leaving campus. It wasn't exactly forbidden, but because of the attacks, the school had instituted rules about students leaving without just cause and clearance. "There's no way I can—"

"Don't worry, goody two-shoes. I live off campus."

"I know, but I don't. Why would they let me leave?"

"Because," Noah started, turning to look at me over his shoulder and then grabbing my hand. He interlaced his fingers with mine and pulled me in stride with him. "You're with me."

My jaw dropped as I looked up at him. I understood exactly his insinuation and still didn't comprehend the plan. While my brain was trying to compute, he looked even more relaxed than ever, a cocky smirk on his mouth. I had nothing to say, since all my thoughts were a jumbled mess. Instead, I just looked like a hungry piranha with lock-jaw.

As we neared the gate, Noah relaxed further, dropping my hand and slinging his arm around my shoulder as if he'd done so hundreds of times before, like we weren't academic enemies, but rather that we were romantic partners.

The gate attendant sat in the fancy box that was always staffed, and without more than a second glance, unlocked the gate. We didn't even have to give signatures or anything. I didn't leave campus often and had only left once since the attacks began, but even when things were normal, they would ask where I was going. I guessed living off campus had its perks, and this was one of them.

Even when we were outside of the gate, the sound of the lock clicking back into place behind us, Noah didn't remove his arm, didn't step out of my personal space. It could be quite comfortable if it was anyone but him, but I was waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop and for him to joust verbally with me.

That didn't happen either. Instead, Noah's arm remained secure around my shoulders as he escorted me to the student parking lot, where he led me to a sleek silver car. He opened the passenger door like a proper gentleman and waited for me to settle awkwardly in the seat with my bag between my feet before closing the door.

Before getting in the car, he pulled out his wand and used a quick spell to change his clothing from his uniform to an all-black outfit that looked just as attractive on him. I willed myself not to think about that.

He slunk into the driver's side and pushed the start button, the car humming to life. I knew next to nothing about vehicles, but this one had to cost more than my academy tuition. Everything was high-tech and fancy, the sound of the engine unlike any other I'd heard.

Nothing surprising, honestly. Not with Noah.

He'd always had the best of everything and had no qualms about making sure everyone knew. Though it seemed in our mastery, he'd calmed that down a bit.

I opened my mouth to compliment his car, since that seemed the polite thing to do, but he peeled out of the parking lot with such acceleration, I lost my breath and reared my head back against the seat.

A devilish grin was on his face when I took the slightest second to turn my head, his right hand shifting the car's gear with ease.

"Don't you think this is a bit fast?" I whimpered, trying to keep my lunch down.

All I got in response was a deep chuckle and the revving of the engine.