I woke up in my room alone. It was still daylight and the spot on my bed where Asher had been sitting was still warm. He couldn’t have been gone for long.
But he was gone. I wondered where he went, and why.
I rolled into the warmth he’d left and tried to quash my swelling anxiety.
I was still mortified by what had happened. I had disrobed in front of Coach, and if Asher hadn’t shown up when he did, who knew how far Coach would have pushed it.
Asher had saved me. He had plucked me from that terrible situation, brought me home, and then made sure I was okay physically and mentally. I was so grateful to him.
Yet despite Asher’s efforts, I knew that I would likely have to leave the Academy after this. Even if Coach somehow found it in himself to forgive and forget, he would only keep
