Page 5 of Twisted Elites

I blew out a frustrated breath. There was no point in sticking around. That time the knights had tormented her in the snow, she had implied to the police that I was making up the complaint to get attention.

Turning on my heel, I pulled the smartphone out of my pocket and made my way to the exit. Leopold would tell me where to find Prakash.

* * *

By the time the taxi pulled into the police station opposite Heysham Park, the sun had set, making me wonder where the day had gone. The police station was a vast, victorian building extended around the front with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, making it easy for me to spot Leopold sitting in a corner with his head in his hands.

I rushed into the building, my heart in my throat. Someone placed a hand on my shoulder, and I whirled around to meet Sebastian’s green eyes.

“Where were you?” I asked.

He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Sorry. One of the cleaners told me about a storeroom that’s as big as the Room of Requirement. She said it would make a good hiding place.”

“Didn’t you notice us calling you?”

He shook his head. “There’s no signal in the basement. How is your sister?”

My shoulders sagged. “Awake. She kicked me out of her hospital room to give a statement to the police. Any news?”

Hatred flashed in Sebastian’s eyes. It happened so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it. His expression smoothed out, then he placed an arm around my waist and guided me to the bench where Leopold sat.

Lowering myself in the space next to Leopold, I asked, “Have you contacted his parents yet?”

Sebastian and Leopold exchanged glances but didn’t reply.

“What?” I turned to Sebastian, who lowered his gaze, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “Why haven’t you told them?”

Leopold’s face twisted into a grimace. “Last year, Corrine accused all three of us of raping her,” he said it so quietly, I had to strain to listen. “Kash’s father flew down with an entourage of uncles, cousins, and fuck-knows who else. They were ready to burn him alive.”

“What?” I whispered. “Even though he was innocent?”

Sebastian shook his head. “The Kashaayah clan don’t mess around. They blamed him for taking Corrine’s virginity and said he might as well have raped her because he didn’t offer her marriage.”

“Kash was traumatized by the entire ordeal.” Leopold ran his hand down his face. “Shit, those Kashaayah men scared the hell out of me, and I didn’t even touch her.”

I gave them a slow nod. “And that’s why you’re not getting in touch.”

“His father laid out what would happen if he got into that level of trouble again,” said Sebastian.

My brows rose, a sign for one of them to elaborate.

Sebastian raised his broad shoulders. “Neither of us knows Hindi, and Kash didn’t care to translate.”

Leopold shook his head. “From the way he walked around like a zombie for the next few weeks, I’m guessing it was the equivalent of getting his balls cut off.”

“We’ll deal with it ourselves.” Sebastian threaded his fingers through mine and pressed a kiss on my temple.

A door next to the reception desk opened, revealing a harried-looking Mrs. Benazir. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and they looked bloodshot from crying.

All three of us shot out of our seats. “What’s happened?” I asked. “Are they going to release him?”

Her face twisted into a what-are-you-doing-out-of-school-look, then her features slumped, as did her posture. “They’re holding Mr. Kashaayah for another day.”

“Why?”

“The evidence against him is overwhelming, he has no alibi, and the doctors are still trying to work out the extent of Miss Evergreen’s injuries.” She pressed her trembling lips together and walked past us. After opening the glass door, she turned her head a fraction in our direction. “Go back to the Academy.”

“Come on,” said Sebastian. “I know where we can go.”