Chapter 8: Is he your brother?
Charis
After we walked away from Slater, Kael suddenly stopped and tilted his head slightly, turning to me.
"You were supposed to report for dormitory assignment and orientation briefing. You’re approximately seventeen minutes late."
Any hope that Kael might be a genuinely nice person died immediately. I fought the urge to roll my eyes, instead lowering them to the ground in what I hoped looked like appropriate remorse.
"Oh," I murmured, "I’m sorry about that. I was going to come, but Slater asked to see me."
Kael was quiet for a few seconds, his gaze never leaving my face. "Is he really your brother? Are you two even related? Because I see no resemblance whatsoever."
I felt my mouth go dry. For a few seconds, I was completely at a loss for words. My mind was scrambling to come up with a believable explanation.
"Wh—what!" I finally managed, the word coming out as more of a squeak than I’d intended. "Of course, we’re brothers – I mean, stepbrothers. We have different mothers, but I think my mother’s genes are... stronger, so Slater looks more like our father."
I was gaining confidence now, falling into the lie smoothly "Besides, I’ve never been close to him, I guess he was surprised to see me here."
Kael cocked his head slightly, a mannerism with him that seemed often. "But he said in the Assembly Hall that he has seen you only once."
I muttered a curse under my breath, wondering when the interrogation would stop. I forced myself to meet his gaze and plastered on what I hoped was a convincing smile.