Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha novel Chapter 117

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Chapter 117: Chancellor Richard Vale

Thornhaven Academy.

My stomach twists. "Don’t I have a choice?"

Logan’s lips tighten; his grim expression is my only answer.

I’m sure the man can’t be so openly negative toward the people who have helped him save me, but it doesn’t stop the urge I have to kick at the glass panels keeping me captive in this treatment room.

"Why would they enroll me anywhere?" Switching the subject, I probe as best as I can. It isn’t like Logan can’t say anything; there will be lines of communication that are open and unaffected by his magical contract.

"Control," he says simply. "You’re a magic-user without any official magical instruction. I’m sure it will be weird to attend classes with people much younger than you, but there are always a few of you around. You’d be surprised how many people fly under the radar with their level of magical amplitude."

Going to go out on a limb and guess that they aren’t usually Catalysts, though.

Logan must be able to read my thoughts on my face, because his lip quirks. "Maybe they’ll give you private lessons. It would be less embarrassing, I’m sure."

The thought of being forced into magical school makes my skin crawl. I push myself up from the bed, needing to move. The IV line catches, limiting my range.

Without a word, Logan unplugs the IV pole from its socket in the wall so I can wheel it along to follow my restless steps as I pace. The room isn’t large, but my body’s too filled with anxiety to let me sit around much longer.

"Am I safe here?"

Logan’s jaw tightens. He chooses each word with careful precision, each syllable clearly enunciated. "This is your safest option at the moment."

The calculated response only solidifies my uneasy feelings toward this place. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to contain the trembling that threatens to overtake me.

"I feel like a pawn instead of a person." The words come out barely above a whisper. "Just another piece to move around on a board I can’t see."

Logan’s silence fills the room. The steady beep of monitors marks the passing seconds until he finally speaks.

"I’m sorry." The raw pain in his voice matches the ache in my chest. "I couldn’t find you on my own."

Logan steps forward and wraps his arms around me. I lean into his embrace, breathing in his familiar scent.

"You know what’s funny? A few weeks ago, I thought being questioned for murder was rock bottom." A bitter laugh escapes my throat. "Now I almost miss those simpler days."

His arms tighten around me. "It won’t always feel this way. Once we get you out of here, I’ll make sure you’re comfortable."

The promise in his voice sounds genuine, but it’s hard to believe him. Not because I doubt his intent, but because I can’t trust this power he’s allied with. I pull back, needing to change the subject before my thoughts spiral further down that dark path.

"About Thornhaven. You guys all act like I’m completely ignorant about magic, but I’ve worked with it for years. Anti-magic security isn’t exactly finger painting."