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“What do you mean by that?” Alaric asked as he dropped the plate on the side table.

“I mean exactly what I said. Why are you helping me?” Layla asked again firmly, folding her hands on her lap. “I know I told you to stay, but you could have decided not to be here in the first place. You are an elite professor after all, and I’m sure babysitting a student is beneath you.”

“Well, the parliamentarians insisted I did because they weren’t sure how your powers would be stable despite the choker because of the experiment.” He shrugged.

“Oh, so I’m just a chore for you. A burden that you have to look after because you were told to.” She spat, and his eyes widened.

“I never said—”

“Since that’s all I am, please leave.” She lifted her shaky hands and pointed at the door. “As you can see now, my powers are perfectly trapped in just like you guys wanted. You can tell the parliamentarians that I won’t cause any trouble so they can send anyone in your place. Just leave.”

“What are you saying?!” He