“Goddess, nowthat’sa vampire.”
Even Merlin the red-tailed hawk hopped down a few branches to turn his beady bird eyes toward a closer look at this new, improved Oakley Riddle. Her crimson streak was more brilliant and impressive than his, after all.
“People are staring,” the vampire whispered, eyes as big as celestial black holes.
Embry patted herself on the back because the way the thin sweep of liner augmented the natural shape of Oakley’s eyes was just incredibly flattering.
“Yes, they are.” Embry winked, full-to-bursting with pride. “Smile, nod, and keep that chin up. Forget yesterday—this is your true first day at Raven’s Head.”
With that, they set off. No longer did Oakley need to hoof it to first-period gym. When they transferred her into Jonesy’s drama class, they’d started a domino effect that meant a total rearrangement, including the shift to the same day-ending gym class Embry and Ames had.
The overall effect of the physical and schedule makeover was marked. Gone was the tentative acceptance of attention from yesterday, replaced by enthusiastic embracement. The girl even had her fangs out, peeking over her pale lips. Embry hadn’t even realized they were retractable andcouldbe worn out. She’d just figured Oakley’s fangs hadn’t come in yet and, perhaps, that it wasn’t exactly nice to poke at a deficiency like that. Also, Ames was correct—the refectory kitchen would indeed “do” blood for the only vampire in residence. They’d sorted it out at dinner last night, and now Oakley’s clear to-go cup wasthetalk of the lunch period.
All in all, the reintroduction of Oakley Riddle made Embry feel even taller in today’s five-inch heels, and by sixth period, the magical warmth in her chest flared to new heights as they arrived at Marlow Theatre to a whole new Jonesy. Yesterday’s panic had dissolved into pure joy on the young teacher’s face, her entire empathic body lighting up like the traditional Samhain bonfire as soon as the trio walked in, Fairfax and Alistair in tow.
“And you three make five! Five girls instead of two. More than double. I could die.” Jonesy struck out a placating hand. “But I won’t. I won’t.”
“Good,” Embry agreed, and gestured to her crew, “because we obtained verbal commitments at lunch from three Bitches who did not realize that playing football might requirethemto get plowed into the turf. They thought they’d do all the tackling or whatever.” Embry waved a hand. Shedidknow a thing or two about football because Daddy had played and was currently the president of the Raven’s Head Booster Club, but she didn’t want Jonesy to speculate on her loyalties. She also decided not to mention that two of the Bitches in question were the shifters she’d helped during room assignments, so they owed her one. No need to brag. “One more and we’ll have the bare minimum for feminine parts forInto the Woods.”
“And if not, we have enough wigs to go the Shakespeare route and make it work.” Jonesy smiled, stars in her eyes. Her hand was still out, so Jonesy lowered the apologetic appendage and offered it to Oakley, who grinned accordingly. “I’m Miss Jones, but you can call me Jonesy. And you are?”
The makeover had done much for Oakley’s self-confidence, her bright grin sliding easily across her face under the full force of Jonesy’s magnetic interest. She accepted the teacher’s hand with all that newfound pluck and introduced herself. “Oakley Riddle.”
Impossibly, Jonesy’s thrilled eyes grew bigger. “Oh my! Thesenior vampire! Yes! So nice to meet you, Oakley.” Jonesy cast around wildly and yelled, “Knighton, that piano sounds great—stop fiddling with it and meet our new students!”
Embry sort of loved that Rye would have to literally come face-to-face with her handiwork while introducing himself to the newest members of the class.
“Who’s the hottie?” Oakley whispered. Embry had to follow her line of sight to realize she’d meant Rye, who’d popped up over the open piano lid, his hair a mess from tuning.
“Call him Rye,” Embry told her, deciding to avoid discussing Rye’s handsomeness quotient at all costs.
“Like the whisky?”
Embry was mildly surprised a vampire would know anything about the inside of a liquor cabinet. But she also hadn’t known they ate actual food until last week.
“Exactly.”
“Is he a teacher?” Oakley asked.
“Not exactly.”
“Oakley Riddle,” Jonesy said, well, theatrically, “please meet Rye Knighton, distinguished graduate of the Raven’s Head drama program and my assistant director.”
Rye gave a nod—and Embry pounced with a perfect grin and an excellent suggestion.
“Wouldn’t she make just the best Baker’s Wife with those big, sad eyes?”
Oakley presented those big, sad eyes to Rye.
Jonesy made a cooingooooohsound at the exchange, and Rye barked out a laugh but, as usual, was completely immune to Embry’s powers of persuasion. “If she can sing, she sure would.”
Embry opened her mouth to assure him that she could, when a quicksilver smile spread across Oakley’s face. “Oh, I can sing well enough you’ll want to give me top billing.”
Well, that was…nothow Oakley had characterized her interest or talent the day before. But even if her personal characterization of her talent were accurate, it wasn’t as if she were going to steal the plum part of the Witch from Embry. It’d be best not to get Oakley’s hopes up. So, with a spark of inspiration, Embry grabbed Alistair by his solid shoulder and smooshed the pair of them together like mannequins to pose. “And wouldn’t Alistair make an exceptional Baker? Look at them together. All they want is to grant the Witch’s requests and live happily ever after.”
“I think Embry’s onto something.” Alistair caught Embry’s gaze, and, watching her watch him, he smoothly slipped one arm over Oakley’s slight shoulders as if it belonged there.
And itdidlook wonderful there. So wonderful that Oakley bit her lip, one sharp fang slicing down over newly applied lipstick. Forget that stuff about Rye—there was definitely something heart-shaped in the vampire’s feelings when it came to Alistair. The diviner was still watching Embry, but he had to have noticed. These two needed to be an item, on-stage and off.
