CHAPTER 120: FOUNDER’S PROVISION...

Rhett

It took exactly sixty-four minutes for everything to fall into place.

My father moved like he had spent his whole life preparing for this kind of thing. By the time the courier sprinted up the steps of the administrative block of Ravenshore Academy with our sealed envelope, my father had managed to complete all the requirements needed for the ’Founder’s Provision’

"Dad, are you sure this will work?" I asked, taking in a shaky breath.

"I don’t know yet," he said truthfully, but it’s worth giving a shot, and since we’re here already, we might as well follow through with our previous plans."

I nodded and we got out of the car. The Deputy Registrar Pallas met us at the door. If I thought Headmistress Vale always rocked a severe bun, Pallas wore hers so tight that I was worried she might be having a headache.

She was carrying a clipboard, which was angled at the crook of her elbows as she rose to greet my dad.

"Alpha Thatcher," she said formally, "Vale just finished from a meeting, but she has agreed to see us. Are you ready?"

My father nodded and motioned to me.

Three of us entered into Vale office. She looked up from her desk when we walked in—my father, Pallas and one Sentinel from our pack to satisfy the requirements of the handover. I saw the letter which we had sent earlier already opened on her desk.

She was skimming through the items in the envelope.

"What is this?" she scoffed. "This is bare 24 hours. I thought I told you that, Rhett? Why are you dragging your father, who I know is busy, all the way to the academy because of Eamon, and what’s with this ancient law?"

Vale turned to my father with a pleasant smile on her face. "Alpha Thatcher, I assure you, this is not as serious as Rhett is making it look. We can handle what happened, don’t worry."

"Rhett is worried that his friend might have been accused wrongly, and the ’Founder’s Provision’ still works. Just because something has not been used for a while, doesn’t mean it no longer works."

"But Alpha," Vale was on her feet now, flashing me a cold smile. "I told you..."

"You read the request," my father interrupted her before she could say anything. "Emergency transfer of Eamon Riggs into House Thatcher custody, on the grounds of a credible and ongoing threat to the student’s welfare and public safety, should the leak cause violence against first-years. We’ve also attached a medical advisory." My father said, tapping at the second page. "It was signed by a reputable doctor."

Vale flipped to the other side of the book, and I watched as her eyes widened in shock. "Maxwell?"

"Yes," my daddy confirmed pleasantly.

"Vale, if you would allow me read out the clause in case you do not have a clear understanding of what is going," Pallas said.

Then cleared her throat and began reading the clause in a careful tone. After she was done reading it, she looked up to Vale, who had a quirky smile playing on her lips. "Is there anything you don’t understand?"

Vale’s gaze shifted to me, and she stared for a long time before sighing and shaking her head. "No, well understood, and I agree."

Vale turned to me, she wanted to say something but decided against it. Then she reached for the phone on her desk and dialled.

"Bring Eamon Riggs," she said to the other end. "Also, tell them to work his transfer of Custody to House Thatcher under the Founder’s Provision. Effective immediately."

I swallowed hard, feeling instant relief. For the first time since the wall screen had shown me a girl at a computer that could have been my girl and might not have been, I let myself believe we might be able to get her out, and now it was happening.

We waited for an extra thirty minutes. By that time, Pallas had left, so it was just my dad and me, and the Sentinel.

The door finally opened, and Charis was brought in. When she saw me, her face lit up with a smile, and then she stopped cold in her tracks when she saw Vale hunched over her desk typing on her keyboard. She didn’t bother to turn around and see who had come in.

"Hey," I said softly, going to where she was wedged between two sentinels. When I reached them, I ordered them coldly. "Take the handcuffs off her wrist."

The Sentinel looked past my shoulders to Vale, who waved before unlocking the cuffs. Now free, Charis threw her hands around my neck, nestling her face at the crook of my neck.

I could feel her body shaking with tremors, and I knew she was crying.

"Hey, it’s fine," I said soothingly, patting her back. "You’re safe now."

***

A few minutes later, we arrived at my house. My father murmured something about leaving with Lydia before it got too dark. Although I saw Lydia off, I could see her gaze lingering on Charis while she got into the car with my dad.

Finally, we were alone. I got her inside and shut the door before the chill from outside would follow us in.

I led her straight to my room, not trusting myself to go slow, not when I needed to feel her safe in my arms. The moment we entered, I kicked the door closed with my feet. At this point, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I cupped her face and kissed her with all the desperation I’d been holding in since her arrest.

Her lips were soft against mine as I pressed against her. I felt tears rolling from her eyes, towards the point where our lips met, and it made me tighten my grip. I just wanted to protect Charis and keep her out of harm’s way.

But I was glad she was safe and here; that was all that mattered.

When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, I saw the emotions in her eyes and on her face, and I felt helpless again, just watching her cry."

"C’mon, now, Charis," I sighed, wiping her face with my hand. "I hate seeing you this way. Everything is fine now, okay, and soon, I promise you, soon it’ll be over."

"I swear, I didn’t do it, Rhett," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don’t know how—"

The pain in her voice cut straight through me. How could she think, even for a second, that I’d doubt her?

"Shhh..." I pressed my index finger gently to her lips, "I believe you. Don’t worry."

And I did believe her. Completely. Whatever had happened, whatever evidence they thought they had, I knew Charis. I knew her heart, her soul.

In a world that has been cruel to her, all she has ever done is navigate through it with kindness, no matter her situation, and I knew she was incapable of whatever they were accusing her of.

I kissed her again, deepening the kiss. I let my hands run through her form, hating the barrier the male body suit causes. My wolf howled with satisfaction as her scent—our mate’s scent—filled me.

She must have noticed what I wanted to do and tried to pull back.

"Rhett, I still stink of the holding cell. I need to—"

I didn’t let her finish. I didn’t care if she smelled; she was mine, she was home, and nothing else mattered. I deepened the kiss, my hands tangling in her hair, and felt her resistance melt away as she kissed me back with equal fervour.

The sound of my bedroom door opening made us spring apart like guilty teenagers.

Slater burst into my room, panting wildly as his eyes searched for Chairs. His usually perfect hair looked dishevelled. The relief on his face when he saw Charis was so beautiful to behold.

"Charis," he breathed, crossing the room in three quick strides to wrap her in his arms.

I watched as she melted into his embrace, saw the way her shoulders finally relaxed for the first time since this nightmare began. Slater held her like she was made of glass, his face buried in her neck, and I could imagine the peace he must feel now, the same way I’d felt when I’d first touched her.

But even as warmth spread through my chest at seeing Charis finally relaxing, I noticed her eyes drifting to the still-open doorway.

Her brows were knitted in confusion.

"Why is Kael not here?" she asked.

"I don’t know," I admitted, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "His phone is switched off."

I’d called him at least twenty times after Charis was released.

Every call had gone straight to voicemail, and that wasn’t like Kael. Even when he was in one of his moods, even when he was pulling his ’I want to be left alone’ act, he always answered.