Page 70

Before he could respond, another notification came through, and he tapped on it without thought.

Otosan: You’re safe?

He frowned at the message from his father—the first from either of his parents since the year before. It couldn’t be a coincidence. One of his sisters had already blabbed. They were probably all in the same room, reading his messages out loud to each other.

Niko: I’m safe .

He stared at the screen, waiting, his heartbeat pounding so hard he didn’t even hear the soft footsteps until Isobel was before him, her eyes full of concern and curiosity.

She had taken out the contact, leaving both irises to swirl with a multitude of colours dotted like specks across a starry sky.

He turned his phone just enough to invite her to look, and she immediately edged closer to his side, the warmth of her body washing over him, her sweet scent making his mouth water so much that he had to clear his throat and swallow.

When his hand slipped over her back, she cuddled closer, and Elijah moved to his other side, also staring down at his phone.

“Otosan?” Isobel questioned, a frown in her voice as she mispronounced the word entirely.

“His dad,” Elijah answered.

Typing bubbles popped up, and they all froze, breath halting, waiting for the incoming message.

Otosan: You should show her Yojimbo.

Niko let out a short laugh that almost turned into a sob, his hands shaking.

“Her?” Isobel asked, as Elijah’s eyes flicked up, burning into the side of his face.

“You told them?” Elijah asked.

Niko nodded. “I told my sisters that Isobel is my mate and that she’s also mated to you lot.”

Isobel sucked in a breath, but then said, “Yojimbo?”

“It’s his favourite movie.” Niko’s chest hurt so much, he almost couldn’t breathe. “He’s always trying to get us to watch it. ”

“I’ll watch it,” Isobel said, her hand creeping across his chest absently, pressing her palm directly against where he hurt.

“Yeah?” he croaked.

Before she could answer, his father sent another message.

Otosan: You’re all okay?

Niko’s chest squeezed tighter, and Isobel patted against his shirt soothingly.

All . Not both . His father was deliberately acknowledging the entire bond.

“Guys!” Bellamy called out from down the hallway. “Get in here!”

He quickly tapped out a reply as they hurried to the main room of the bunker, where everyone had crowded around Elijah’s computer.

The faint hum of the ventilation system barely cut through the nervous, uneven breathing of the group, the screen casting a cold, blue glow over their faces, highlighting the anxiety in all their eyes.

Gabriel—sitting before the laptop—had the volume low, but he turned it up until the clipped, precise tone of the news anchor bounced through the room, her French accent sharp as she spoke.

“Breaking news this morning as multiple high-profile arrests have been made in connection with the chilling Ironside Academy scandal that broke earlier. Several officials implicated by the release of damming personal statements and recordings have been taken into custody, including council members, government workers, and law enforcement officers. Early reports indicate that among those arrested is Mei Ito, a famous podcaster, who has been charged with recruiting students into the secret institution known as the Stone Dahlia. Amongst the top Ironside officials taken into custody are: Callum Rowe, Tilda Anderson, Yulia Novikov, Brian Able, Viktor Kovalchuk, Kesi Okafor, Maxim Grant, and Dr Julian Desmarais.”

“Holy shit,” Kilian whispered, leaning in closer, his brows drawing together as he watched the anchor’s carefully composed expression.

“Mei Ito?” Theodore muttered, his mouth twisting in confusion. “What?”

“Shhh.” Gabriel’s hand tightened around the edge of the laptop, his eyes unblinking as he focussed on the screen.

“A representative for the hosts of the Ironside Show , Ed Jones and Jack Ransom, has released a statement to say that they are cooperating with police,” the anchor continued.

“Their lawyer is claiming that both men were blackmailed into illegal activities, and they are hoping for a reduced sentence as part of an early guilty plea bargain.”

Niko could barely breathe, his entire body tight with anxiety as he leaned forward, trying to get closer to the screen.

The broadcast cut to a shot of Ironside’s imposing main gates.

Police vans lined the front courtyard, their lights flashing in the early morning mist. Dozens of uniformed officers moved in and out of the academy, some escorting men and women in suits, their faces obscured by turned collars and bent heads.

A small window appeared in the corner of the screen, showing the anchor as she continued.

“The Préfet de Police has revealed that authorities have been aware of the Stone Dahlia and have been building their case, though it remains unclear just how much they knew, and for how long. In another significant development, Callum Rowe, the former director of both Ironside Academy, the Ironside Show , and all labels and brands associated with Ironside, has reportedly struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to provide evidence against Yulia Novikov, a powerful figure believed to be the true mastermind behind the Stone Dahlia. Rowe’s testimony has already led to the arrest of several high-profile figures, though it remains unclear whether he himself will face a prison sentence or be released on bail as part of his cooperation agreement before what will inevitably turn into a lengthy legal trial. ”

“Of course,” Cian muttered under his breath, his teeth audibly gnashing together. “He’s going to sell that bitch out to save himself.”

Maya and Sophia threaded their fingers together, both glaring at the screen. Bellamy claimed Sophia’s other hand, and Luis hung off Maya’s leg, attempting to peer between the bodies of the Alphas.

The image on the screen had changed to a headshot of Sloan.

“Susan Sloan, an employee at Ironside, has come forward as a key witness, providing crucial evidence that has implicated a range of officials.” The anchor’s voice rose slightly as the magnitude of the story crept into her tone.

“Sources indicate that Sloan’s testimony has directly linked the scandal to governors, council members, government employees, and law enforcement officers in multiple countries, including police officers and even high-ranking military personnel, though names have not yet been released to the public. ”

The screen cut to a grainy shot of Sloan being escorted into a police station, her shoulders hunched beneath the harsh glare of the flashing camera lights, her expression stony and unreadable, her dark hair fuzzier than usual, harried spirals fluttering into her eyes.

The air in the bunker seemed to thicken, the tension in the small, enclosed space becoming almost unbearable as the full weight of the words sank in. Gabriel’s grip on the laptop tightened, his knuckles turning white.

“What is happening?” Bellamy whispered in shock, his eyes wide, flitting across each of their faces.

“Callum Rowe is going to get away,” Isobel answered, melting the shock from Niko’s limbs and replacing it with dread .

She was likely right.

Isobel couldn’t believe what she was seeing and hearing.

Her phone had been vibrating nonstop in her pocket ever since she had woken up, but she had been too focussed on Niko, at first, and then too struck by the events unfolding on the screen before her.

She was still too numb to reach for it to check who was calling her so obsessively.

Amina Al-Fahim had dropped the mother of all bombs—though of course, nobody had even spoken her name.

The New York Times was the publication behind the article—it was scrolling across the bottom of the news screen. Nothing about Amina Al-Fahim.

Officials. Celebrities. Governors. Council members. Government employees. Law enforcement.

They were all being hung out to dry.

Everyone except Callum Rowe, who was somehow managing to shift all the blame to Yulia Novikov.

Isobel’s hands slowly curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms as the anchor continued to speak.

“The recordings revealed in the article appear to directly correlate with many of the personal statements released by the survivors. These statements, written by the Gifted whistleblowers, paint a deeply disturbing picture of abuse, coercion, and exploitation at the hands of powerful figures within the Ironside group and the Official Gifted Governing Body. The statements detail years of systematic grooming, forced performances, physical and sexual violence, and attempted sex trafficking, all concealed behind the academy’s public image, and all beginning in the settlements, before students even arrive at the academy. ”

The image cut to a split screen, one side showing a sleek, marbled hallway scattered with the mottled pattern of chandelier lighting, evidence boxes lining the walls, an agent halfway through the door to one of the rooms. The image on the other side of the screen was a picture of Isobel, a still taken from the music video for their song, “Flicker in the Crowd.” Behind her was a festival, but the faces in the chaos of the crowd weren’t happy, and at first glance, the red flash of streamers didn’t look like decoration.

Just like the faces in the background, Isobel’s expression didn’t match the seemingly happy atmosphere.

Her features were tight, her eyes watery.

She swallowed as she looked at the image on the screen.

It had been Cian’s idea to secretly write a tribute to the students lost in the Consolidation Day shooting, and most of the music video had been directed by him.

She had felt so powerful that day. Not untouchable , but quietly proud of what they could accomplish despite the shackles the officials had hobbled them with.

She tuned back into the news segment as her phone began vibrating again .