I caught up with Kael just before he turned into the eastern hallway, breathing hard as I tried to match his long strides.
"Kael—wait! Please!" I called, reaching out to grab his arm.
But he shook it off and continued walking.
"You’re not being fair to me," I called out breathlessly. "You know how Marcus has been acting toward me, and—how he won’t stop. That mentorship program is just a façade to abuse me—"
Kael stopped walking so abruptly that I nearly collided with his back. When he turned to face me, his pale blue eyes twinkled with cold amusement that made my stomach clench.
"I know you enjoy all of this attention," he said with a leering smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "You’ve managed to keep the entire school entertained since your arrival—drama with your step-brother. Drama with Rhett, getting dragged like a rogue agent to the admin block, and now you’ve managed to make Marcus obsessed with you. Honestly? Well done, Eamon."
"How is any of this my fault?" I queried. "It’s not like I have control over these things. I can’t tell Marcus who or who not to like."
His eyes flicked over me. "But like I’ve said before—and I’ll repeat it. You need to be careful in Ravenshore. This popularity will put you in trouble."
With that, he turned and continued walking.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and hurried after him. "You know I’m not doing any of this on purpose. How do I get Marcus off my back? There has to be something I can do."
Kael didn’t respond. He wouldn’t even look at me.
"I’m serious!" I cried. "He’s acting like a maniac, Kael. He’s not going to stop!"
"That sounds like a you, problem, Eamon," he threw over his shoulders. "I’ve exhausted my talking energy for today."
I followed after him, trying to engage him in conversation, asking questions about the academy’s policies and whether the academy had any student protection policies, as well as anything that might help my situation. But Kael ignored me completely, treating me as though I didn’t exist.
When we reached the hallway that led to his living quarters, he was still ignoring me. Finally, he stopped in front of a dark oak door, similar to Slater’s, with a small brass placard that read: Kael Winters – First-Year Coordinator.
He opened the door, still ignoring me, stepped inside and shut it. Right in my face.
I stood there for a long moment, fists clenched at my side. I thought about knocking. About kicking the door. About collapsing right there in the hallway, but with someone like Kael, it wouldn’t work.
Instead, I turned away, biting down the scream stuck in my throat. Marcus’s video message kept replaying in my mind. The boy was out for me, and it seemed nothing else would stop him. Just like what Kael said, he was obsessed.
For a minute, I contemplated going to Headmistress Vale and asking for help dealing with Marcus’s unwanted attention. But after everything the headmistress had done for me today—managing my admission crisis and keeping my secret safe—going back to ask for additional help would make me sound ungrateful and demanding.
I turned and started walking back toward Slater’s room, which was in the same section as Kael’s, but I stopped myself. No. Not after what happened. I wasn’t ready to face him again.
I thought of going to the dorms—then remembered Peter’s smug grin when he dragged me out and Marcus’s hungry eyes. The thought of that incident repeating itself left me shivering with fear.
My eyes drifted back to the door that had just closed on me.
Sighing, I walked to the end of the hall, circled back, and stared at the placard again. I hesitated, then pressed the doorbell.
Time passed... ten minutes, twenty minutes, and I rang again, but there was no response. I nearly gave up and was turning to leave when the door finally opened and Kael appeared, trying his hair with a towel, clearly fresh from a shower.
He was wearing a simple t-shirt and pyjama pants, looking more relaxed and human than I’d ever seen him.
When he saw me standing in his doorway, he stopped mid-motion, his expression shifting from surprise to annoyance.
"What are you still doing here?" he asked bluntly.
I raised my chin, hugging my arms. "Can I stay here tonight?"
"No," he said immediately and tried to close the door.
I held the door with my hand, pulling back with all my strength. "Please," I begged. "I just need one night. Things aren’t good between me and Slater right now. I can’t go back there, and I also can’t go back to the dorms. I need somewhere safe to sleep for one night, and then I’ll figure something else out tomorrow."
"You will build your own house or what?" he scoffed. "Do you think here is like your fucking pack house?"
"I know that, but please... I’m not asking to sleep on your bed..." He looked mildly flustered as I mentioned that. "I’ll take the couch," I said hastily. "I’ll sleep on the floor. I need a place where Marcus or Peter won’t find me."
"No," he replied again. "No, No, No... Eamon. No, for the thousandth time."
I sighed, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "I know you don’t owe me anything," I continued quickly, "but as First-Year Coordinator, don’t you have some responsibility for student welfare? I’m asking for help in your official capacity."
"My official capacity," he repeated slowly, "doesn’t extend to providing overnight accommodations for students who can’t get along with their roommates."
"This isn’t about getting along," I said, my voice growing more urgent. "Marcus Webb announced to the entire academy that he’s going to be my personal mentor. After what happened some days ago and the way he’s been looking at me... I’m scared, Kael. I don’t feel safe in the regular dormitories."
Kael’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—perhaps recognition of the genuine fear in my voice.
"There are proper channels for reporting harassment," he said after a moment. "File a formal complaint with the administration."
"Even if that works, it cannot be solved tonight. Besides," I replied, "he’s the Student President. Who’s going to believe me over him?"
"Then perhaps you should have considered that before becoming the centre of attention," Kael said coldly.
The cruelty of his words made my chest tighten. "I didn’t ask for any of this attention. I didn’t ask to be put on some honour list or to have Marcus obsessing over me."
"Didn’t you?" Kael asked, his voice carrying a strange edge. "You certainly seem to enjoy collecting protectors. First Slater, then Rhett, now you’re here trying to add me to your collection."
I stared at him in shock. "That’s not what this is about."
"Isn’t it?" Kael stepped closer, and I could smell the clean scent of his soap and shampoo. "You flutter around this academy like a lost little bird, and somehow every male student falls over themselves trying to rescue you. It’s quite the talent."
"I’m not trying to manipulate anyone," I said, my voice shaking with hurt and anger. "I’m just trying to survive."
For a moment, something in Kael’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. But then his walls went back up, and he stepped back from the doorway.
"Find somewhere else to spend the night," he said firmly. "I’m not running a shelter for students with housing problems."
And with that, he closed the door in my face, leaving me standing alone in the empty hallway with nowhere left to turn.