The Arcane Rebellion- The Arcane Series #1

Chapter 14

Layla

The Sanctuary was buzzing with the news of the dead knights.

Breakfast was hectic. All I could hear was talk about the break in into the Knight club. There was at least a dozen people that came to tell me we did a good job. It didn't feel that way though.

"Someone's brooding.", Xavi commented as he sat down across from me. I looked up at him from my cup of coffee.

"Sorry.", I chuckled awkwardly. "Just thinking.", I said.

"Amir and Uriah told me you ordered them to take some time off. They told me they're passing on the message, that I should also take some time off. What's that about?", he asked.

"I just thought we all deserved some time off.", I explained with a shrug.

"Layla, you haven't given someone time off since that time you accidentally shot Iry when you were trying to shoot that thief..."

He sighed in realization . "What's wrong?", he asked me.

"Nothing.", I lied and he looked at me with a 'don't bullshit me', face.

"Get up.", he said, also getting up and pointing for me to do the same.

"What?", I scoffed.

"Get up, come on.", he said and pulled me up to my feet, taking my hand and making me follow him.

"Where exactly are we going?", I asked him and he smiled knowingly, but stayed quiet as he made me trail behind him.

He ended up taking me to our common room. Xavi sat me down on the couch and made two cups of tea, staying silent the whole time. He handed me a cup of my favorite tea- lavender and citrus. He sat down across from me, staring deep into my eyes.

"It's not your fault Uriah and Amir got hurt. It's also not your fault Andy's dead.", he said, a serious expression on his face, so serious I wanted to laugh. "You have to stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over.", he said.

"Xavi, it's not that simple.", I told him.

"It is that simple, Layla. I know you're still grieving over Andy. I know that you miss him. But you didn't purposely send us into a trap. You didn't know. You didn't make those knights follow you yesterday. You didn't think they would. You didn't know they'd get violent.", he spoke quickly but passionately and I didn't know whether I should laugh, or cry, or just nod. I wanted to do all at the same time, but I also didn't want to do anything.

I didn't know how to act so I just kept looking up at him, looking into his deep brown eyes that were looking down at me with concern.

"Layla, say something.", he pleaded with his brows furrowed.

I sighed. "Xavi, I don't know what you want me to say. That I suddenly don't feel guilty? That I one of a sudden don't feel like it's my fault?", I asked, a new kind of pain growing in my chest.

"No, Layla. I just want you to realize it isn't your fault. You don't have to accept that now. Just understand what I'm telling you.", he said, getting up and coming over to me in two strides then crouching down and putting his hands on mine that were currently sitting on my knees.

"Tell me you understand, little raven.", he begged.

I took a deep breath. "I understand.", I whispered.

"Okay.", he whispered back, getting up and then sitting down beside me. "Layla, about yesterday-"

I interrupted him with a groan. "I knew it. I knew you were going to regret it.", I told him, looking deep into his eyes.