Page 79 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

You don’t get to have him.

Cold dread pooled in my stomach, spreading outward until my skin went clammy. I was vaguely aware of Idris’s voice in the background. His words a low murmur as he phoned RCC’s campus security. But I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene.

My breath turned shallow, each inhale sharp and insufficient. The letters were blocky and angry.

Ambrose had been here. In my office. In the space I’d carved out for myself. The professional life I’d built that was supposed to be separate from all of this. He’d touched my things, torn through my papers, destroyed my photos of Basil and Sage—of my siblings.

First the photos in my bedroom. Now this? The violation made bile rise in my throat.

Anger sparked beneath the fear, hot and defiant. How dare he?! This was my place of employment! A professional setting. Whatever personal issues he had—how dare he bring them into my work life?

But even as the fury flared, that old familiar helplessness crept in—the same suffocating vulnerability I’d felt when he’d shoved me against the wall at the gala. I’d run across the country. Changed my number. Hidden away in a small mountain town.

In the end, none of that had mattered. He’d found me. And he was watching.

“Campus security is on its way. They said not to touch anything.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

“Is there anything I can do? You have a lecture this morning?”

My brain was a mess of scattered thoughts. I’d forgotten that class started in a few minutes. But how was I supposed to teach this morning?

“At... Yes. At nine.”

“What room? I’ll head over there for you as soon as security gets here and let them know class is canceled.”

I gave him the details.

“Good. Now, what else? Do you want to sit down? Can I get you something to drink? What do you need?”

He was so kind, this older gentleman. Some of his calm rubbed off on me, allowing me to think straight. “I need… I need to call someone.”

“Of course. Why don’t you step out of the room? We can wait in the corridor.”

‘Thank you. Yes.”

My phone was out of my pocket and at my ear a few breaths later. Axel picked up on the first ring. “Rebecca.” He sounded surprised, possibly confused.

“Axel? There’s been… Something happened⁠—”

“Where are you?” His tone instantly changed, turning sharp and concerned.

“I… My office. Someone broke in. Campus security is on its way.”

“You are safe?”

“I… I think so.” I glanced around, half expecting Ambrose to dart out of the shadows. I was never more grateful for Idris Najjar’s presence than I was now.

“Where are you? The science and mathematics building?”

“Y-yes. Upstairs. The faculty offices.”

“I’ve already turned around. I’ll be there in two minutes.” I could hear his truck’s engine revving in the background. “Don’t go anywhere until I get there. Understand?”

“Okay…”

“Becca?”