Page 78 of Twisted Elites

“Alright then,” said Leopold. “What time’s the trial?”

Rupert cleared his throat. “Youth courts don’t allow the general public.”

“What?” snarled Sebastian.

Mr. Pinkerton’s assistant shrank. “You’ll have to wait until after Mr. Kashaayah’s sentencing to be eligible for a visit.” He gulped. “Or he might be acquitted.”

Without a word, Leopold stormed out of the meeting and slammed the door. I jumped at the sound and clutched my chest, as though to stop my heart from flopping lifelessly onto the table. Neither lawyer seemed to think Prakash had a chance, and there wasn’t a thing we could do to help him.

“Perhaps now’s a good time to break. Is there anything you can add to help Mr. Kashaayah’s case?”

“Corrine’s twin brother thinks he’s innocent,” I said.

The lawyer’s gray eyebrows rose. “Will he be willing to submit a character reference to that effect?”

My shoulders slumped. While Cormac knew Prakash didn’t tie a noose around his sister’s neck, he also knew that her spiraling into depression was a direct result of the pull-a-pig game.

A lump formed in my throat, and I gulped. “It’s doubtful.”

“No matter.” He gave me a bracing smile. “We’ll do our best to refute the Crown’s evidence against Mr. Kashaayah. In the meantime, keep him in your prayers.”

Rupert and Mr. Pinkerton gathered their folders and left the room. Sebastian helped me to my feet, and we walked in silence through the empty hallway. Parquet floors stretched out for what felt like an eternity, with white walls looming closer, seeming to close us in. I exhaled a long, shuddering breath. If I felt like this, I couldn’t imagine the extent of Prakash’s torment.

Leopold joined us at the stairwell and followed us in silence. I glanced at him over my shoulder, but he stared down at his feet. I turned back and focused on the climb. It wasn’t like I could say everything would be alright, because right now, things looked hopeless.

When we reached Sebastian’s room, he sat me on the sofa and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“Everything.” I stared down at my hands. “Nobody believes in Kash’s innocence, and I feel like I’m overlooking a vital piece of evidence that could change everything. And all this preoccupation with Kash makes me feel strange.”

Leopold leaned against the door with his arms folded. “What kind of evidence?”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed my temples. “Maybe something from my missing memories?”

Sitting next to me, Sebastian took my hand and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “What’s wrong with worrying about Kash?”

I shook my head. Why was I even thinking this, when I’d already come to terms with my estrangement from Ashley? Maybe not hearing from Uncle Trevor made me believe that I was unreasonable.

Since Sebastian kept staring at me with those curious, green eyes, I huffed out a breath and said, “While everyone’s mourning their twins, I got mine arrested, and all I can think about is my boyfriend.”

Sebastian wrapped strong arms around my shoulders and pulled me onto his lap. “Remember the second time we met?”

“The Danny and Sandy moment?” I asked.

Leopold snorted. “What?”

Sebastian smiled. “There’s a scene in Grease—”

“For fuck’s sake,” Leopold snapped. “Not that bullshit again.”

Sebastian ignored him. “After Summer Lovin’, Sandy tells Rizzo that the boy she’s singing about is Danny Zuko. So, Rizzo arranges a little reunion. Danny acts like a twat in front of Sandy to maintain his cool image.”

“The ‘I wish I’d never laid eyes on you outburst?’” Leopold snickered. “I only remember that because one of the T-Birds say ‘I bet that’s not all she’s laid on.’”

I drew back and smiled at Leopold. At least all this Grease talk was distracting him from being upset about Prakash.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Back to my point. Bianca and Geraldine revealed that you were a scholar, and said that I had pigged you.”

My skin prickled with annoyance at that moment, and I pushed myself off Sebastian’s chest. Now that I knew about the whole Prakash and Corrine situation, I could understand why Sebastian had freaked out. Especially since Miss Claymore seemed to haunt him at night like the Ghost of Christmas Fucks. But I still wished things had happened differently.