<h4>Chapter 74: Worried Roomies</h4>


    <strong>****************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 76</strong>


    <strong>~Valerie’s POV~</strong>


    The hallway leading to my dorm room felt strangely distant, like I was walking through a dream I’d once had a long time ago.


    My boots clicked softly against the tiles, and even though I was back, even though I was technically safe now... nothing felt the same.


    I reached for the doorknob.


    The second I opened the door, voices filtered out—low, tense, hurried.


    I stepped inside quietly, not ready to announce myself just yet and find out for myself what was truly going on.


    The dorm’s shared living room was lit, but I immediately spotted I pacing by the bookshelf, one hand raking through her hair as she muttered something about maps and blind spots.


    Emerald was at the counter, scribbling on a notepad with intense focus. Astraea, curled up in the armchair with her knees pulled to her chest, looked pale and shaky, her hands clutched tightly around a half-empty mug of chamomile tea.


    "We can’t wait another day," I said sharply, whirling back toward Emerald. "If we move tonight, we might still find a trace of her scent. I can hack the outer perimeter alert rune and scramble it for seven minutes—long enough for a search."


    Emerald didn’t look up. "And what if we get caught? It’ll trigger a breach alert if we’re off grounds for too long."


    "I don’t care," I snapped. "I’m not just sitting here while Valerie could be out there—hurt. Or worse."


    My heart clenched.


    They were nning an escape... for me.


    Before I could say anything, Astraea’s soft voice broke through. "But what if she’s already..."


    "Don’t," I interrupted firmly. "Don’t say that."


    "She’s strong," Emerald added, finally meeting I’s eyes. "She’s not gone."


    They hadn’t noticed me yet. I just stood there in the doorway, watching them fight for me, worry for me, n for me—and for the first time in what felt like days, my chest tightened with something warm.


    Not fear or anxiety, but awe. In my life, although I had those who cared for me, I had no friends.


    And then I spun around—probably to snap again—and froze mid-step when her eyes locked with mine.


    The others noticed her pause and immediately turned in my direction.


    The silence hit instantly and all three pairs of eyes widened.


    A second passed and then—


    "VALERIE!"


    They rushed me like a tidal wave.


    Arms wrapped around me from all directions, half-tackling me backwards into the doorway. Someone nearly knocked the air from my lungs. I couldn’t even tell whose arms were where.


    "Oh my gods—"


    "—We thought you were—"


    "—When the dome—"


    "—You disappeared—"


    "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?!"


    Their voices ovepped like a chorus of panic and relief.


    Iughed, actuallyughed—breathless and overwhelmed as I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, wait! Let me breathe! One at a time!"


    They finally backed off just enough to let me inside.


    I didn’t let go of my arm, though. "It’s good to see you. Gods, it’s good to see you."


    I gave her a tight smile. "It’s good to be back."


    But then I tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly with a glint of curiosity. She looked me over, head to toe, then she smirked.


    "So," she said slowly, "Dristan saved you, huh?"


    I blinked. "What?"


    A beat of silence passed. Emerald’s eyes widened and Astraea’s jaw dropped.


    "How... how did you know that?" I asked, my voice quieter now.


    I raised her eyebrows, clearly pleased with herself. "You went to the house on the hill, didn’t you?"


    I froze.


    My mouth opened to say something—anything—but I had no words. Several thoughts crossed my mind. Did she know about Dristan and me and the kiss?


    No. She couldn’t possibly have known. She was still thinking I was missing.


    I burst intoughter. "I knew it."


    "But—how?" I asked again,pletely stupefied.


    She gesturedzily to the outfit I was still half wearing. "The tank top you’re wearing? That’s mine<i>.</i> I left it there a year ago when we visited his family’s mansion during winter break. And the buttoned-down shirt over it? That belongs to his mother."


    Emerald half gasped. "Oh my goddess..."


    I wanted the floor to swallow me. Dristan had given me something so valuable. I did not know how to feel about it right now, considering he had kissed me.


    "Rx," I said, still chuckling. "I’m not mad. I’m just d my cousin got there in time."


    I blinked at her. "Well..." I hesitated, tugging at the shirt self-consciously. "Actually... Xander was the one who saved me from the rune trap first. Then Xade came. Then Dristan helped me escape."


    "You’re kidding." Emerald stepped closer. "You mean even after the explosion, they still came after you?"


    I nodded solemnly, thankful for the change in topic before it wound down to our kiss.


    Astraea finally stepped forward, her voice was quiet. "Come sit. You look like you’ve walked through fire."


    I let them guide me to the couch, grateful for the chance to finally sink into the cushions. I hadn’t realised how exhausted I was until I stopped moving.


    Astraea sat on the floor in front of me, legs crossed. I perched beside me, and Emerald grabbed an extra pillow and sat at my other side.


    And then Astraea, who hadn’t said much all night, looked up and asked the one question that finally made my throat tighten.


    "Tell us everything."


    I inhaled slowly. The words caught in my chest, heavy, tangled with too many emotions.


    But I owed them the truth. At least the pieces I could give.


    "I was paired with a weaker cadet during the simtion," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that wasn’t the real problem. The environment started glitching. There were masked attackers. Not students. Not part of the school. The rune—it wasn’t supposed to be there. It wasced with dark magic."


    Astraea leaned in closer. "So it was a trap."


    I nodded. "Xander sensed it. He arrived just before it detonated. He tried to shield me... but we were both pulled into the st. It didn’t kill us—it moved us," I lied, not wanting to expose Xander’s weapon. "Somewhere outside the city."


    "What happened next?" Emerald asked softly.


    "We found our way through the forest. We were tracked."


    I swallowed, ncing at I.


    "Then Dristan and Xade found us while they chased us. Dristan took us to a club, from there we found a way to trick the attackers and then took me to his family’s house to wait out the threat."


    "And then?" I asked, more curious now than anything else.


    I hesitated.


    "Then we came back."


    I didn’t mention the kiss.


    Not yet. That was...plicated.


    Astraea looked down at her hands. "You could’ve died."


    "But I didn’t," I said quickly. "I’m here."


    I watched as silence fell again, but this time it wasfortable.


    I was back. And they were here. And for now, that was enough, even if the storm was only beginning.


    "I am d you are back and all, Valerie, but I have a question." I lifted my gaze to Emerald.


    She was always one who could sense a loophole and I wondered if there was any in my recounting. "Do you have any idea who attacked you?"