Page 39 of Reckless Witch

We walk in silence to the dorm, then up the stairs to my room. Ethan opens the door and I step inside before he catches my wrist. The warmth of his fingers sends a shiver through me and I yank my eyes up to his face. Memory flashes of his darkening eyes the day he found me in my thong. I’m suddenly sure he’s remembering that moment, too, and I’m tempted to pull him into my room. But I remember him telling Miss Mack that he’s spoken for and I yank free.

“Have a care, Leilah.” He steps back as I swing the door shut. The last words I hear are, “The school grounds are dangerous at night.”

Chapter Seventeen

LEILAH

Headmaster Domini

An hour later, I lay awake in bed. I had wanted badly for Ethan to stay with me…make love to me, but confusion had—still—muddles my brain. Memory jumps from Blade to Ethan and, damn it, to Raith. Blade’s easy charm, Ethan’s gallant but off-limits protectiveness, and Raith’s…whatever. He’s done nothing but specialize in being a jerk. So, why can’t I get him out of my head?

Vague images hover like déjà vu in the back of my brain. Stark beauty, a desert, maybe. I hate déjà vu. Grams always said déjà vu meant we were on track, but the elusive sense of familiarity leaves me off balance. I snort. I guess it’s not strange that thoughts of Raith should confuse me. But then, all three men confuse me. My feelings for them confuse me. If Stony were here, she would know what to do. How can I feel so strongly about all of them—even if my feelings for Raith aren’t that charitable.

I wonder…

An alarm blares and I jolt.

Sunlight streams through the window and my pulse skips a beat when I don’t recognize the gray curtains hanging at the single window.

“Stony,” I rasp, and push up onto an elbow before I remember.

Fuck. I drop back onto the bed. I’m at The Academy. I must have dozed off. The alarm still blares. I slap the top of the old-fashioned alarm radio and blow out a breath. I consider staying in bed, then remember I’m supposed to see Headmaster Domini this morning. I can’t have Raith thinking I’m afraid to see the headmaster.

With a groan, I roll out of bed. A hot shower does little to revive me and I’m still yawning when I stumble into the dining hall and grab an apple for breakfast. I eat it on the way to the Headmaster’s office and barely finish it before I reach his receptionist’s desk. No one is manning the desk. I toss the core into her trash can and take the four steps to his open office door.

The place is utilitarian, without even a plant to soften the starkness. Just a clean desk with a pen holder and an old-fashioned lamp placed on opposite corners. A black leather office chair sits behind the desk and three armchairs for guests face it. Except for a few framed portraits gracing the walls, that’s pretty much it.

On the far left wall, two French doors lay open to a balcony. Who leaves doors open in winter? Headmaster Domini steps into view on the balcony, his back to me. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt with dark slacks. The man must be freezing. Why— He turns slightly and I see the tip of a cigarette glow. A smoker. That’s why he’s outside.

He turns and his eyes lock onto me. A tiny smile curves his lips. He takes a final puff of his cigarette, then exhales smoke as he crushes the butt in a crystal ashtray on a small table to his left.

“Ms. Crowe, is it not?” he says in a slight Italian accent.

The sexy smile hovering about his lips sets off a spark of attraction, so I’m not prepared for the wash of despair that follows.

I realize I’m gawking and clear my throat. “Commander Vanderkoff ordered me here, sir,” I say. I wince inwardly. God, did I just call Raith by his title and address the Headmaster as ‘sir’? Grams would be thrilled.

“Ordered you here, did he?” Domini murmurs.

“He didn’t tell you?”

“He didn’t.” The headmaster brushes past me into his office and I can’t shake the odd impression that he’s pulling away from me as I watch him walk to his desk, sit, then relax against the back of his chair.

“Perhaps the question is why the commander ordered you here, Ms. Crowe.”

“I…broke curfew.”

“Why?”

I’d considered a host of excuses on the way over, but had finally settled for a half truth. “It’s my familiar. I’m worried about her. I didn’t know she couldn’t come, so I brought her onto school grounds. Long story short, she flew off and I’m worried.” Most likely, Stony has established a royal lifestyle as a mouse in a Chinese Restaurant, but until I have proof, I am going to search for her.

“Admirable.” Headmaster Domini smiles.

I want to melt into a puddle of soppy goo.

“Your feelings are quite natural, Ms. Crowe.”

My heart jumps before I realize he’s not talking about my attraction toward him.