Page 70 of Devious Knight

“Maybe you shouldn’t drink that.”

I look up to find Thorne standing at the door looking from me to the cup of tea.

“Hi.” I straighten, surprised to see him. He's never come to see me before and I’ve rarely spoken to him without Annika around. “I think you’re right. It’s chamomile tea.”

“Yeah, I don’t like that either.”

I put the cup down and push it away from my notebook.

He walks closer and I think of the other day when I went crazy. “Thank you for trying to help me.”

“No worries. I came to check on you. Annika told me about Cambridge. I also wanted to see how things have been with Kade.”

How do I answer that and tell him that things are so much worse?

I’m supposed to hate Kade for what he did, not lock lips with him.

“I’m okay,” I decide to say. Everything is too complicated for me to say anything else.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“That was one hell of a stunt you pulled the other day.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I figured you had to be really upset to do something like that.”

I nod slowly. “I was.”

“I know Kade destroyed your sculpture. My uncle will talk bullshit about evidence but I know Kade did it.”

I’m momentarily stunned that he came right out and said that. Aside from Annika, Mackenzie and Eilish, I haven’t spoken to anyone else.

“I worked on that sculpture for a long time and it got me into Cambridge.”

“I don’t know what his motive was but he shouldn’t have done that.”

I wish I could tell him more. I could say that Kade hates me because I did something to him and he won’t tell me what it is. And I guess I could tell him about all the threatening behavior, but then he’ll confront Kade who will find a way to manipulate the situation to his favor.

I know that’s the worrywart in me talking but I’m right. As loathsome as my punishment is, until I can figure a way out of it—and right now that’s nonexistent— it’s something I have to deal with myself.

“Promise me you’ll come to me if he does anything like that again.”

I smile at him, feeling grateful for his offer. “I promise.”

“Good. I hope you get to finish another sculpture, but at least we get to keep you at Raventhorn for a little longer.”

“I guess so.”

“You’ve been a good friend to Annika. And everyone else.”

“I try.”

“I know you do. So allow us to try for you, too, if you need us.” He nods and gives me an easy grin.

“Thanks, I will.”