Chapter 29

29

" P oison?" Ivy scrunched her brow as she said the word, and I couldn't stop the scoff that resulted.

"Don't play dumb. Noah found the notes." I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping I looked stern, but really, I was just trying to hold myself together. I couldn't fathom how the person I trusted the most planned and executed something so wicked, and it took every drop of strength I had to keep the tears at bay.

"What notes? What poison?" Her face was twisted, brows scrunched, and eyes wide. Ivy looked so genuine, I wanted to believe her.

"The love poison, Ivy! Adding Pratbane to the potion!"

"I don't even know what Pratbane is, Henri! I swear!"

"Why would I believe you? You've been drugging the entire academy with a love potion, and conveniently, someone leaves their notes out for a love potion who wasn't you?" I was sneering, unable to hold back the wrath building within me.

"I promise, I never meant to harm anyone! I certainly wouldn't dream of poisoning anyone! You must believe me, Henri! You know I wouldn't!" Ivy pleaded, and I finally let the tears fall.

"Do I, though?" I held her watery gaze with my own for a few more moments before looking away. Without sparing another glance in her direction, I left her room.

"You don't understand, Henri!" she yelled after me, but I wasn't stopping.

Calmly, I descended the stairs in the dormitory, taking deep, controlled breaths. I counted every step I took, letting the echo of my footsteps on the concrete ground me.

Other students passed me, and I kept my eyes downcast. I just had to get out of this stupid building.

As soon as my shoes touched the paved courtyard in front of the building, I took off running. My breathing shortened, but not from the exertion. I stopped, having not made it any further than one dormitory building closer to the gate. The tears flooded down my cheeks, and I could only think of one thing to do.

Barely able to see the screen of my phone, I called Noah, already trying to find somewhere to vomit. This was too much, and I needed to leave.

"Hello, darli—"

"Noah," I sobbed into the phone, hoping he would be close.

"Henri, what's wrong?" His tone lost all warmth and became demanding, alarmed.

"Where—" cough— "Where are you?" I was sputtering and choking on the very air I was breathing.

"I'm coming to find you." A clatter in the background blared through the speaker. "Where are you, baby?"

"At Wallen," I choked out. "Noah, I…" I trailed off, a wave of nausea taking over. Before I could hang up to spare Noah, I dropped to my knees and vomited behind a bush in the courtyard.

It wouldn't stop. No matter how hard I tried to breathe and calm myself down, I couldn't stop retching, emptying the contents of my stomach. And once there was nothing left, I continued to heave.

"Henri, what happened?" came Noah's concerned voice a second before I felt a hand between my shoulder blades.

The ability to form words was gone, and I just stayed bent over, praying this would end, but it didn't. I continued dry-heaving, feeling vile and empty all at once.

"Here." Noah held a bottle of water out, and I shakily took it, hoping it would give me even the slightest relief. His hand rubbed circles on my back as he crouched next to me, pulling my hair out of my face. I leaned back on my heels, tipping the water into my mouth. I heard a spell spoken under Noah's breath and felt even more relief wash through me.

"That should calm you until I get you home. Can you walk?"

I nodded feebly, and Noah helped me to my feet, but as soon as we took a step, I stumbled. Wasting no time, Noah swooped me off the ground and carried me across campus.

"You're going to be okay," he whispered, but he had no idea. As I thought about the betrayal again, a fresh round of sobs took over my body. Even with my blurred vision, Noah looked overtaken with worry. Though I wished I could fix that, I couldn't stop crying enough to tell him what was hurting me so deeply.

I didn't realize we'd made it to the car park until Noah was lowering me into the car and buckling me in. Silently, he raced around the car to slide into the driver's side before ripping out of the lot.

I used the motion of the car to distract me, allowing it to calm me even the tiniest bit. Leaning against the seat, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to count backward from one hundred. It was a method that helped stabilize me when I was younger, yet it did nothing for me now. Inhaling nearly to the point of pain and holding my breath didn't help me slow the quick, labored pants I was stuck with.

But how would one recover from finding out their closest friend had betrayed them in such a terrible way? Breathing and counting exercises just wouldn't do the trick.

Once the car stopped, I was lifted from the seat. I knew keeping my eyes closed was the only thing preventing me from vomiting again. Leaning into Noah's chest, I breathed in his dark scent, letting it comfort me slightly.

The plush comforter of the bed greeted me, and I immediately turned face-first into the pillow. Tearless sobs wracked my body, and the absence of Noah's hands made me ache.

Time passed indiscernibly for me, my face buried in the pillows, and I tried to calm my mind from the truth I'd learned. Ivy was my best friend. Surely, I could forgive her for something like this. Right?

I could see her intentions, just as she'd confessed. A worried friend who wanted to help me get more out of my shell and try something new. But why did she have to do it in such a wicked way? Why was she so concerned with my love life that she would commit egregious acts of sin against the academy?

None of it made sense.

The image of those glittering vials in her hands would haunt me forever.

"Come on, love," Noah whispered gently, his hands on me once again, soothing only a sliver of the anguish I felt. I finally opened my eyes to look at him, discovering nothing but fear in his beautiful features. Pulling me from the bed, he helped me walk to the bathroom. There, he had run a bubble bath that steamed the room.

Noah helped me undress wordlessly, and I finally began to breathe deeply. The scent of jasmine in the air comforted me further.

Sinking into the bubbles and water, I closed my eyes once more. Noah placed a hand on my cheek, and I leaned in for a moment before slipping under the water.

Holding my breath only for a moment, I let out a scream under the protection of the bath. The second I came back up, Noah pushed my hair out of my face and soothingly stroked his fingers down to my shoulders.

Silence remained between us while I stared at the far wall of the bathroom.

"Do you want me to stay?" Noah asked, and I finally looked at him.

"Of course," I responded hoarsely. Tears filled my eyes again, and a tiny sob broke from my mouth. "Noah…"

"What is it, darling?" I'd never heard his voice so soft before today, and it nearly made me break down even further.

I sucked in a ragged breath, a tear slipping down my cheek. Noah was quick to wipe it away, but his hand stayed on my face.

"Ivy…Ivy is the one who has been attacking the school with the love potion." My voice was monotone and barely above a whisper, but I was proud I got all the words out before another sob hit.

Noah's lips parted, brow furrowing. "Ivy?"

I could only nod, tears freely flowing again.

"Baby," Noah whispered, the empathy on his face warming the ice in my veins. He pulled back, and I buried my face in my hands, weeping anew over the information.

Firm pressure on my back had me looking up to see Noah climbing into the tub with me. I scooted forward to make room for him; the water sloshed and made some bubbles float into the air. He wrapped an arm around my front, scooting me backward until I was leaning against his chest. Then, both of his arms bracketed around the top of my shoulders, holding me firmly.

"I'm so sorry, baby," he whispered into my ear, pressing a light kiss right underneath it.

Noah just held me until my tears subsided. Once the water had become cold, he helped me out and wrapped a fluffy black towel around me. He had already set clothes out for me—some of his silk pajamas—and helped me dress before he dressed himself. If I wasn't so upset, I would giggle at how cute it was.

He led me to the living room, where he left me on the couch to brew us both some tea, and I put on another stupid romantic movie I hoped would help get my mind off the tragedy that was this day.

Silently, Noah returned with our tea mugs, setting them on the coffee table before picking me up and wrapping his body around mine. I relaxed into him as he stroked my arms with his fingertips. With my head leaned back against his chest, I didn't bother looking at the movie I'd put on. I just allowed this man, who I'd previously thought of as my enemy, to calm the storm that raged in my heart.