Page 95 of Reckless Witch

Chapter Forty-One

LEILAH

Lessons

Overhead, geese too stubborn to have flown south when winter set in a month ago, honk against a cold wind. Two days have passed since the blood pact and I’m headed to Raith’s for my first Friday night lesson, the Watchman, Joseph, at my side.

The curiosity I’d felt at the prospect of seeing what Raith has in store for me is gone. I haven’t seen the vampire since we picked up Stony that night, and I would be glad never to set eyes on him again. He has maintained that Grams killed herself while practicing Shadow magic. That, as they say, is that. How naive I’d been to think I could get information from him. Then again, a blood pact with one of the oldest vampires alive hadn’t been part of my plans, either.

Gooseflesh skims atop my arms. The Three have been pointedly silent about the way the ritual ended. But we all know something unusual happened. No ordinary wind snatched the contract from Blade’s hand and blew it outside the circle.

I didn’t tell them about my dream—and don’t plan to tell them anything in the future. I did tell Stony what happened, and she didn’t like the weirdness any more than I do. That’s why she insisted on sticking with me today. The weird dream had to be due to the blood pact. I straighten. Wait a minute. Might I be able to use lucid dreaming to capture elusive dreams?

A prickle of fear tingles my spine. Can I afford for the connection among the four of us to be brought into sharper view? My pulse quickens. Blade isn’t one of the young wolf bikers I dated in Chicago. If I get too close to the Fae… I’m not sure just what will happen. Given the way Ethan touched me that first day in school, he—

He hasn’t made another overture since that day, I realize. The other woman he mentioned to Miss Mack must be the reason why. I blow a strand of hair that’s escaped its ponytail and fallen across my eyes. Ethan sure as hell didn’t hold back that day. Why, if he had someone else, did he come on so strong? God, men love to talk about how deceitful women are, but men are so without honor. Unless… Maybe the someone came into his life after that day? I jam my hands into my hoodie pockets. Good, it’s not like I care about the three of them.

The three of them?

When did I say I wanted Raith?

Just what the fuck are my plans? I made a blood pact that will keep me here for six months. Can I stand to see them every day, knowing they hid the truth from me? A thought occurs. The blood pact demands I ask permission to leave. I made no promise to stay if they refused that permission. Is that a loophole I can really use?

I spot Chelsea, the young girl I sparred with the day I met Raith. She’s with two male students at least four or five years older than herself, all of them walking toward us. As the students approach, Watchman Joseph steps up to my side the students will pass. I shoot him a you’ve got to be kidding look, but he ignores me. I swear, the guy’s a sphinx.

Chelsea watches me from the corner of her eye. The dumb kid probably doesn’t realize I know she’s watching me. They pass and I wonder if The Academy allows underage students to fraternize with older students. So far, I haven’t noticed a great deal of fraternizing. Then again, I haven’t been included in a damn thing. Not even by Fran. As if summoned, Fran emerges from a path to our left, waves, and hurries to catch up with us. The Watchman tenses.

“Relax,” I say. “I know her.”

He doesn’t reply, but his hand casually rests on what looks like a small pepper spray can on his belt.

Fran reaches us, spares a glance for the Watchman, then says, “Some of us are going to Silwood Hall for a party. Want to come?”

I’m startled—and touched—that she’s asking, but before I can reply, Joseph says, “She can’t.”

“She can, if you come with her,” Fran says. “Plus, she’s got her familiar.”

I barely suppress a gasp. The little tattletale knows too much for her own good.

Joseph shakes his head. “She has an appointment with Raith.”

Fran’s eyebrows shoot up. “Have to see Raith, huh? Maybe you have a party of your own going on.”

“Not hardly,” I blurt. “His Majesty has decided I need tutoring.”

She grins and I realize my mistake. “Tutoring?” Her grin widens. “You clearly don’t need a party.”

“It really is just tutoring,” I insist.

She tosses her hair and laughs. “Promise to give me the juicy details later.” Fran starts away, then faces us and walks backward. “It’ll be our secret.”

I groan inwardly, pretty sure that’s code for I’m going to tell everyone the moment I get to the party.

I watch as she turns around and continues toward Silwood Hall and wonder what it would be like to be go with her to the party instead of to Raith’s. Grams said that men were a nice thing, but to never underestimate a woman’s need for the friendship of other women. I haven’t had a lot of female friends. Women tend to avoid the company of pretty women. Too much competition. Fran said she wanted Blade, but that clearly doesn’t stop her from being my friend. She disappears around the science building and I return my attention to the walkway.

Joseph and I reach the administrative building and I get glances from a group of students as the Watchman and I head up the half dozen steps to its oak door. I’m relieved to enter the building.

The Watchman halts inside the door and nods toward the sweeping staircase directly ahead. “Take the stairs to the top floor. If you’re not up to the climb, there’s an elevator there.” He nods right.