Page 80 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

“Yes?” I could feel my eyes flooding with tears. Frustration. Anger. Fear.

“Everything’s going to be all right, sweetheart. I promise.”

“Okay.” The word was barely a whisper. The line went dead and I tucked my phone away.

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly desperate for the safety of Axel’s cabin. For the warmth of his arms and the protection of his magical ward. For the one place Ambrose couldn’t reach me.

“Ah, here they are,” Idris said as two campus security officers emerged at the end of the hall dressed in full uniform. I expelled a breath.

The two officers introduced themselves—Officer Reyes and Officer Drummond. Reyes was a shorter woman with kind eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor. Drummond was a younger Black man, fresh-faced, already pulling out a notepad.

“Professor Miller?” Reyes asked. I nodded. “Can you tell us what happened?”

I explained everything. Arriving to find my lock tampered with, Idris opening the door, the state of my office. My voice sounded distant to my own ears, like I was reciting facts about someone else’s life.

“Did you touch anything inside?”

“No. I stepped in a few feet, but I didn’t touch anything.”

Reyes nodded approvingly. “Good. We’re going to need to call the Redding Sheriff’s Department. This is beyond a campus matter—breaking and entering, vandalism, and that message on the whiteboard suggests targeted harassment.” She exchanged a look with Drummond. “Possibly stalking.”

The words hit me like a slap. Harassment. Stalking. Because that’s exactly what Ambrose was doing.

“Do you have any idea who might have done this?” Drummond asked, his pen poised.

Before I could answer, heavy footsteps thundered up the stairwell. Axel appeared at the end of the corridor, his expression murderous. He covered the distance in seconds, immediately positioning himself at my side, one hand settling on my lower back. The feel of his touch immediately released the tension I held.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was low, rough.

“No. I… I’m okay. Just a little shaken.”

His jaw tightened as he took in the destruction through my open office door. A low growl rumbled in his chest—quiet enough that the officers might have missed it, but I felt it vibrate between us.

“Sir, and you are?” Reyes asked, her posture shifting slightly.

“Axel.” He didn’t offer a last name. “I’m with her.”

“He’s my—“ I hesitated, unsure what word to use. “He’s with me,” I finished lamely.

Idris cleared his throat. “If you don’t need me any longer, I should go inform Professor Miller’s students that her morning lecture is canceled.”

“Of course. Thank you, Professor Najjar,” Reyes said. “We have your contact information if we need a statement.”

Idris gave my arm a gentle squeeze before heading down the corridor. I mouthed a silent thank you as he disappeared around the corner.

“Now,” Drummond continued, “you were about to tell us if you knew who might be responsible?”

“It was Ambrose Blackthorn.” Axel’s voice cut in before I could speak. “Her ex, bloody bastard. He’s been harassing her for weeks. He—“ He stopped himself, jaw clenching. “He’s been following her. Sending threatening messages…”

Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “Is this true, Professor Miller?”

“Yes.” I swallowed hard. “Ambrose and I... We were involved. I ended things and moved here to get away from him.” It wasn’t exactly the truth. But close enough. If this was how Ambrose wanted to play, I’d get the local authorities involved. Eventually, it would get back to him, and I knew how he was about maintaining public appearances. He wouldn’t want any stains on his family’s pristine record.

I cleared my throat. “He didn’t take it well. He’s sent me texts from random cell numbers. Flowers to my classroom. He showed up at The Roost and threatened to drag me home. He even broke into my rental and took photos from my bedroom.”

Drummond was scribbling furiously. “Do you still have those texts? The photos he took?”

“I blocked the numbers and deleted the messages.” I felt stupid admitting it. “I didn’t think to screenshot them.”