Montgomery’s thin lips curved up in a sinister smile that had me recoiling in my hard leather chair. I’d always seen the headmaster as a fairly benign mage. He floated around the campus, rarely interacting with students.
The only time he’d ever addressed me directly was on that first day.
“Relax, Miss Blackstone. I analyzed your magic when you arrived at the school. Back then, I felt there was more to you than met the eye, so I’m curious to know whether your powers have unlocked now that you have gained several consorts.”
“Everything okay, pet?”Zane’s comforting voice helped calm me down. I knew he’d appear if I called him. Perhaps not in Montgomery’s office, but certainly outside.
“Yeah, all good.”I forced myself to remain calm as the headmaster fixed his creepy eyes on me. A cold slither of magic prickled across my skin, different from the previous time he assessed my magic abilities.
His aura darkened from a deep royal blue to near black. I tried to move as the pressure inside my skull increased, but my limbs locked in place. Zane’s voice echoed through my head before a barrier came down and he vanished.
Was that Montgomery’s magic?
“Well, well, Miss Blackstone. How interesting.”
Nothing in that statement gave me a good feeling.
51
Alaric
My father was the last person I expected to see as I crossed the campus for my Advanced Tarot class with Professor Rain. Reading tarot cards didn’t interest me, but it pissed Dad off that I’d chosen a bullshit class aimed at witches.
Anything that pissed Dad off was worth doing in my book.
“Why are you here?” I no longer cared enough to mince my words.
Dad gave me a tight smile. “Now, now. That’s not the attitude I’d expect from a loving son.”
“Love?” I snorted derisively. Dad didn’t know the meaning of the word love. He’d sure never shown me any.
A pair of witches heading our way simpered at the sight of my father, and his smile became more genuine. He lived for the adulation he received from those who looked up to him. I’d once read a book on malignant narcissists and discovered Dad ticked all the boxes. It explained a lot over the years.
As the witches got closer, he took hold of my arm and steered me away, no doubt concerned I might misbehave and show him up.
Once we reached the entrance to my apartment, he pressed the thumb pad to open the door. It annoyed the shit out of me that Montgomery had given him access to my personal space, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I trudged upstairs, my shoulders tense. No doubt a fucking lecture about family commitments was incoming. It had been a while since I’d been home.
The minute we entered the apartment, he turned on me.
“Need to get anything off your chest, Alaric?” His barely concealed rage said I’d be wise to confess my misdeeds, but I smirked anyway.
“Such as?” Damn Arron for fucking off to the gym. If he’d been here, Dad would have had no choice but to leave. Jamieson had not returned after the Solstice Ball massacre. His parents didn’t trust the academy to keep their precious son safe and had elected to transfer him to a different magical school.
I didn’t blame them.
Montgomery was my father’s stooge, which made him fucking useless at the best of times.
“Care to explain why you stole dragon scales from my personal store?”
I pasted a bored expression on my face. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Dad cast an ice dagger and held it to my throat. “Try again.”
Did he honestly think his stupid ice dagger would frighten me into submission? It worked when I was younger, but not now.
With a flick of my wrist, I shoved him away. The ice melted into a puddle at my feet, a reminder I was more powerful than him.
