“Very well,” Headmaster Irwin said, releasing us from his bonds. “I expect better behavior during our next session.” That last bit was aimed at me before he disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
Shade stood and stretched, his impressive bulge inches from my face.
He wasn’t lying about thehardpart.
“My tutoring offer still stands for whenever you decide to consider logic over emotion,” Shade said, then caught my chin and lifted my gaze to his. “As does my shower and bed offer.” With a wink, he turned toward the door. “I suggest you follow me, little rose. Or you’ll end up lost in the building until thestudents start arriving tomorrow, which will throw off your schedule completely.”
He disappeared through the glowing doorway, not giving me a second to gather my thoughts or my things.
Except they were all gone.
Headmaster Irwin had passed out a class text and notebook during the class, along with pens. The others had left with them. But mine were nowhere to be found.
I chased after Shade and found him waiting against the wall, his books and mine tucked under his arm. “How…?”
“As I said, conjuring is my specialty.” He canted his head, causing his dark hair to fall over his forehead and into one eye. “They’ll be in your room when you get back. Consider it my version of an olive branch. Accept it at your own peril.”
He didn’t allow me to reply, merely continued down the corridor. I stayed close to his side, pausing when he did to allow the walls to shift. Then breathed a sigh of relief the second we exited into the dark evening.
Until I found Zephyrus waiting with a scowl beside the gargoyle.
“What the fuck took you so long?” he demanded, scowling first at me and then at Shade.
“Detention,” Shade replied. “She attacked me with green fire. Impressive, really, but does make me wonder where she’s getting that Warrior Blood influence from.” He cocked a brow at the headmaster. “Any ideas?”
I frowned at Shade. “It wasn’t green. It was blue. And you deserved it.”
“I think you might be color-blind, babe. Maybe we’ll check that out later.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder, apparently deciding this conversation was over despite his question to Zephyrus. “See you in your dreams tonight, little rose.”
“Stay out of my head!”
“Blood, baby,” he reminded me, the words a whisper against my ear despite the distance his legs had put between us.
I batted at the vacant space, trying to get rid of whatever residual presence or spell he’d left in his wake. And found Zephyrus staring at me with an arched brow. “Blue fire?”
“Yeah, blue.”
“Can you show me?” he asked.
Sighing, I held out my hand, calling the power to my fingertips. And of course, nothing happened. “I think Shade sucked out all my energy for today,” I muttered.
Zephyrus considered me for a long moment, then nodded. “Perhaps tomorrow, then. We’re late for the dining area anyway, and you need to eat.”
“Is it your job to feed me now?” I wondered out loud.
“No. I just want you to survive,” he replied. “Follow me if you feel the same way.”
Unable to fight that logic, I did what he asked.
Ate a disgusting humanlike dinner in silence.
And found my books waiting for me on my bed when I returned to my room. Beside them was a black rose and a note that read:Sweet dreams.
Daytwo of my schedule centered around Warrior Class.
Because apparently Midnight Fae enjoyed fighting.
At least the wardrobe worked for me—stretchy black pants, a T-shirt, and my hair thrown up into a ponytail. I even had on tennis shoes. All the guys were similarly dressed, including Kols and Shade. Only the Malefic Bloods wore black T-shirts instead of white.
