Untouchable

0.40

Adrian’s POV

I storm into Nathaniel’s dorm without knocking.

Alistair and Sebastian are already there, lounging around like they don’t have a care in the world. Nathaniel, as usual, is seated in the corner, his sharp eyes watching me the second I enter.

“Alright,” Alistair drawls, tilting his head at me. “Who pissed you off this time?”

I don’t bother answering right away. My hands are still clenched from my conversation with Lynne, my mind racing with everything I just overheard.

Nathaniel leans back in his chair, unreadable as ever. “You look like you’re about to kill someone.”

I exhale sharply. “Maybe I am.”

That gets their attention.

Sebastian, who had been flipping through a book, closes it with a snap. “Alright, what happened?”

I look at them, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “Lynne isn’t who we think she is.”

Alistair narrows his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“I mean she’s been playing all of us this entire time,” I grit out. “She’s not Ivy’s friend—she never was. She’s planning to ruin her.”

Silence.

Then—

Alistair scoffs. “You’re joking, right?”

I glare at him. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Sebastian leans forward. “What exactly did you hear?”

I roll my shoulders, the anger still simmering beneath my skin. “She was talking to Kennedy,” I say. “She practically admitted she was never Ivy’s friend. That she wants to turn everyone against her. That she’s been manipulating us this entire time.” I pause. “She also convinced Kennedy that you,” I look at Alistair, “wanted her back.”

Alistair goes rigid. “What?”

“She set Kennedy up on purpose,” I confirm. “She knew damn well you’d never take her back, but she fed her false hope just to humiliate her.”

Sebastian exhales. “That’s messed up.”

Nathaniel, who has been quiet this whole time, finally speaks. “Why?”

I look at him. “I don’t know yet.”

Nathaniel’s gaze darkens. “We need to find out.”

Alistair scoffs. “You actually believe this?”

I shoot him a sharp look. “Of course you don’t. Because if it’s not about you, then it doesn’t matter, right?”

Alistair’s expression tightens. “That’s not what I said.”

“No, but it’s what you meant.”

Sebastian holds up a hand. “Enough,” he says, voice calm but firm. “If Adrian is right, we have a serious problem.”

Alistair lets out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. “So, what do we do?”

I cross my arms. “We warn Ivy.”

Nathaniel nods. “Before it’s too late.”