When Aaran returned to the Academy, his parents were waiting for him, but not out of love. His elaborate lie was about to be revealed, along with some scolding.
"Call him out," Lucien instructed.
Dread appeared before them in his ape form. Amara shook her head in disappointment, while Lucien kept his poker face, which was worse than disappointment.
"I expected better from you, Aaran," he said. "You did the one thing I asked you not to."
"Technically, that conversation happened between the three of you," Aaran pointed out. "I was unaware of the conditions—"
"Silence!"
Aaran pressed his finger against his lips. Lucien was angrier than he had ever been before. Aaran couldn't understand what the big deal was. Dread got his body, and in return, he saved Aaran's life.
They didn't know about it because he never told them what actually happened with the abbot. In their eyes, Dread had fooled Aaran to get his body back.
