58

Natalya
My phone rings and I glance at the screen, seeing it is my brother.
Mikhail rarely rings me while I’m at the academy, so I pick it up. My heart pounding hard against my rib cage as I wonder if Finn Murphy has already let the cat out of the bag. I don’t trust that Irish scum as far as I can throw him.
If our grandfather were to learn the truth, we’d be in immediate danger.
“Hey,” I say, unable to keep the anxiety out of my tone.
“Hey Natalya, I’m ringing to tell you to get your butt to Boston.”
“Why?” I ask.
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “This might be a bit of a shock, but I’m getting married to Sienna tomorrow afternoon.”
I squeal down the phone, perhaps a little too loud. Thank God he’s calling with good news. It’s as if Mikhail knew I needed some right about now.
“Ouch,” Mikhail says.
I chuckle. “Sorry, that’s just such exciting news! Have you cleared it with Principal Byrne?” I ask.
“Of course. Popov is outside with the car.”
My stomach churns a little as it has come out of the blue, while I’m amid a crisis-a crisis that concerns the entire family, not just me. I swallow hard, knowing that there’s no way I can miss the wedding.
Alexander says he will deal with Finn, so I have to believe him. Even if I don’t trust him, either.
“Okay, I’ll pack a bag and meet him out front,” I say.
Mikhail chuckles. “Don’t take too long. You know how impatient he can be.”
I do indeed know how impatient Popov can be, but it’s not like I’ve had any forewarning. “I’ll try not to take too long.”
“I’ll see you soon, sister.” He cancels the call.
I stare at the wall of my bedroom, knowing that Alexander will wonder where I am tomorrow, especially after the bombshell Finn dropped yesterday evening. And yet, I don’t feel he needs an explanation since he’s the one that needs to make amends with me. I won’t go around chasing him.
If he really wants to make amends for everything he’s done to me over the years, then he needs to prove it.
I push myself up and grab a holdall, chucking a few essential items I need in there. And then head into my closet, knowing I’ll need a nice dress for the occasion, but since my brother hasn’t given me much warning, I’ll have to pick out one I already own.
I grab two of my favorite dresses, a long maxi turquoise gown and a red one, putting them into garment bags and grabbing the hold-all I packed.
The journey to Boston isn’t long, but I’d assume I won’t only be gone for a day. Mikhail will have cleared me to stay home for a few days, at least. Once I’ve got everything, I glance around my room and then head out into the corridor toward Eva’s room, where we were all going to watch a movie.
It took a lot of convincing to get her to leave the cottage for once and hang out with us tonight, and now I’m going to miss it.
I knock on the door, and it opens.
“What’s with the bag?” Azira asks.
“My brother just called, and he’s getting married tomorrow,” I say, shaking my head. “He’s got a car waiting to take me back to Boston.”
“Lucky bitch,” Adrianna mutters, shaking her head. “I’d do anything to get out of here for a few days.”
Eva comes to the door. “Have fun,” she says, smiling at me.
I raise a brow. “You already knew, didn’t you?”
She shrugs. “Oak might have mentioned it.”
“You have a very unfair advantage,” Azira says, glaring at her.
“Perks of being the principal’s wife.” She sticks her tongue out.
I shake my head. “Have fun tonight, but we’ll have to have another movie night next week to make up for me missing it.”
Eva shrugs. “It was hard to convince Oak to let me come tonight. I can’t guarantee it.”
“He’s hoarding all your time,” I complain, giving Azira a hug. I then turn to Eva and hug her. Adrianna stands and hugs me, too.
“See you in a couple of days,” I say, before walking out of the room and leaving my friends to enjoy their night.
I walk down the corridor of the dorm only to run straight into Jeanie Doyle.
Her eyes narrow when she sees me. “Hey Gurin, I hear you are hanging out with Alexander a lot lately.”
I shrug. “Not by choice.”
She makes an odd sound that suggests she doesn’t believe me. “That’s not what he says.”
“I don’t really give a shit what he says, Jeanie. Out of my way.” I try to dodge around her, but she yanks me back with the strap of my holdall.
“Going somewhere?” she asks, glaring at me hatefully. It’s hard to believe that seven years ago we were best friends.
“Yes, my brother is getting married. I’m attending the wedding.”
She lets go of the strap and nods. “Fine, just keep your hands off of Alexander.”
I laugh at that. “Why?”
“Because he’s always been mine.”
I shake my head. “Alexander was never yours, Jeanie. It’s been six years, and he still hasn’t so much as looked at you in that way.”
Her face reddens, and she glares at me. “Not that he’d want you that way.” She drags her eyes down the length of me with a scowl on her face. “He hates you.”
“I used to believe that too,” I say, almost to myself. I dodge around her, managing to make it past this time. “I need to go.”
Jeanie makes a frustrated sound behind me as I slip down the corridor away from her. She’s always been petty and jealous, but it took her reaction to Alexander’ dismissal of me the first day in the cafeteria to realize it.
And yet she always wants to be the center of attention or close to the people who are most talked about.
I mean, it was fucking classic Jeanie when she approached Eva after finding out she was married to Oakley Byrne. She always chasing the hottest gossip.
I try to push the conversation out of my mind as I head out the front door of the academy and find Popov leaning against the town car.
He smiles when he sees me. “About time.”
I shake my head. “It would have helped if I’d been given some forewarning.”
He opens the back door to the car for me. “I believe Mikhail wanted to surprise you.”
“Call me surprised. He hadn’t even told me they were engaged.”
“I believe it was all rather sudden.” He shrugs. “Mikhail will explain everything to you.”
I nod and slip into the back of the town car, glancing out of the window at the academy.
In normal circumstances, I’d be glad to escape this place and Alexander, but right now I can’t help but feel uncertain.
With Finn threatening my family and our fate in my bully’s hands, it’s hard to feel calm. All I can do is hope that Alexander makes it right. It’s out of my hands and there’s nothing I can do about it.