Page 48 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

“You’re both suspended for the remainder of this week.” Chandrashekhar Sir’s eyes flashed fury as he stared at them. Varun gave an exaggerated yawn that had the Head of School clenching his jaw. “Stay in your rooms except at mealtimes. No other exceptions.”

Virat nodded, keeping his gaze trained on the wall behind the Head of School. “Yes, Sir.”

“Dismissed,” Chandrashekhar said curtly, looking away from them with disgust.

Virat was out of the room before Varun could even react. The minute he stepped out of the Head of School’s cabin, he saw her. She was hovering in the corridor outside the Admin Assistant’s room. His gaze dropped to her feet, noting the grazed, dirty skin that hadn’t been tended to yet.

Varun spoke from behind him. “Sweet little thing, isn’t she? So innocent, so loving, so loyal…”

“If you speak of her again,” Virat turned to face the other boy, allowing his fury to rise to the surface. “I will rip your tongue out and strangle you with it.”

Varun tsked. “So violent.” He stepped closer, dropping his voice. “Does she like it rough?”

He was gone before Virat could react leaving him to vibrate in impotent fury. Celina threw herself at him the minute he walked out of the office door.

“Are you okay?” Frantic with worry, she kept patting him like he was a puppy that had gotten into a dog fight.

“Yeah.” Virat caught her hand and towed her out of sight of the Admin Assistant’s office. “Let’s go.”

“Vir, your face,” she whispered, as he hustled her out of the building and towards the school garden.

“Virat!” The Admin Assistant stood at the door. “Where are you going? You’re suspended. In your room except for mealtimes, remember?”

“Suspended?” Celina whispered under her breath.

“Ma’am, I just left something by the gardening shed. I’ll collect it and –“

“No. To your room. Now.” The woman was watching him like a hawk.

Virat struggled with the helpless frustration choking him. “I’ll see you tonight,” he murmured to Celina. “Same place. Same time.”

In a louder voice, he said, “Have your feet looked at.”

Hours later, post dinner when he made his way to the back of the Chemistry Lab, the first thing he did was slip her flip flops off and check her feet. There was one graze in particular that looked a little deep.

“Did you put antiseptic on it?” he asked, checking it closely.

“Vir.” Her voice was gentle as she cupped his cheek with one soft palm. “Have you had any of your wounds checked out? Your face, your hands, anything.”

“I’m fine,” he told her, exhaling hard as he tipped her foot up to get more light on it.

“Vir.” She slipped her hand inside his shirt, lifting it as she went. “Oh God!” she breathed when she uncovered the large, purpling bruise on his ribs.

“It’s fine.” He tried to brush her hand aside and pull his shirt down. “It’s not broken or anything.”

“How do you know?” Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Because I can breathe easily. It will be fine, Celi. I will be fine.”

“I hope so,” she murmured. “Because you’re certainly not fine now.”

He hung his head, unchecked emotions battering him from every side. “I’m not,” he said finally. “But I will be. Are you okay?”

“I will be, if you are,” she said softly. “What happened today, Vir? What happened to you?”

Virat squeezed his eyes shut, his heart pounding in his chest as he thought back to the day.

“Celi, I need you to listen to me about something.”

“Tell me.”

“I can’t tell you much but I need you to believe me when I say it’s important you do what I tell you.”

She stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“From now until graduation, you need to stay safe. I will try to be with you as much as I can. But when I’m not, keep yourself surrounded by people as much as possible and the rest of the time stay in your room.”

“Vir, you’re scaring me.”

“Good.” His intense gaze bored into her. “Being scared will you keep you safe. Promise me, Celi. If you love me, promise me that you’ll do as I say.”

She worried at her lower lip, gnawing at it with her teeth. “I promise,” she said in a small voice.

“You don’t meet anyone alone unless it’s me. Not even Majid. I know,” he said, forestalling her protestations of Majid’s innocence. “I know you think he’s a great guy but his friends aren’t and just please, I’m begging you, just this once don’t fight me on this. Please Celi. Just this once.”

“Okay. Okay,” she hastened to reassure him, his agitation getting through to her like nothing else had. “I promise. Can’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“I can’t right now because I don’t have all the facts. But I know they’re up to shit, crazy, scary shit. I don’t want you getting caught in the middle of it. Not even by mistake. Okay?”

“Okay. But once you know-“

“I’ll tell you everything,” he swore. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets.” She traced the black eye forming on his face with a gentle finger. “I can’t wait for graduation when this will all be over.”

“Me neither.” He turned his face, kissed her finger. “Me neither.”