Page 19 of Siren’s Secret

Wave chuckled. “It’s not a debut.”

“Yes, it is, and everyone is watching, so look regal and self-assured.”

“Uh-huh,” Wave hummed as they neared her classroom. “And you’re sure Jarred is not teaching today?”

“I’m sure,” Ginny said.

“Fine. Good. Okay. I’ll see one of you after the class? And I need to swing by the library to talk with Mrs. Riverson and plead for my job.”

“Salis will be here,” Diana replied. Ginny’s plan demanded that Wave didn’t walk anywhere alone so that the rest of them could run interference. “And I already emailed Mrs. Riverson on your behalf.”

“You did?” Wave’s eyes rounded as she pulled up her email and found one from Mrs. Riverson. Quickly, she scanned it and sighed in relief. “She’s expecting me back next week. Thank you, Di!”

“I guessed you were stressing out about it. It’s not a big deal, Way. Now quit stalling and get to your class.” Diana used her stern voice that made Wave smile.

“Thank you!” She suddenly hugged the druid. Di returned the hug and then pushed her away gently.

“Now go.”

“I’m going!” Wave slipped through the door into the classroom, feeling like a kid whose parents had walked her to school. It was a pretty nice feeling, considering that her parents had never done such a thing.

Professor Kilkenny was early for once and glared at Wave, singling her out immediately.

“How gracious of you to join us, Lady Stormwell,” he remarked snidely.

Years of etiquette training under her grandmother’s unforgiving eye came to her rescue. Wave inclined her head slightly and her voice came out breezily. “Oh, it’s no bother, Professor Kilkenny. I do enjoy your expertise.”

The man harrumphed but didn’t have anything else to say until everyone was seated. Clearly, something had crawled up his ass because he motioned at Wave.

“As some of you may know, we have a new student in class. Please rise, Lady Stormwell. Let’s all give her a warm welcome to the Tracthesia Academy.”

Inwardly groaning, Wave plastered a wide smile on her face and rose. She half turned toward the class and tried to find Tulias’s eyes, but she evaded her gaze. Wave debated giving a little wave but decided against it and after a small nod, sat back down.

“Most of the class missed the excitement a couple of weeks ago, since we were actually studying the Hell Moon. Would you like to give a little recap of those events for the class, Lady Stormwell?”

“No, thank you,” Wave stopped him before he could rattle on. “I find it quite distasteful to refer to an attack on the neutral ground as ‘excitement.’ Lives were lost, and the campus is still recovering. As a member of the faculty, I expected better of you, Professor Kilkenny.”

That shut the man up and he didn’t quite meet Wave’s eyes. Wave crossed her arms and waited him out. She might excel at holding her opinions to herself, but that didn’t mean she didn’t know how to express them and if this little man thought he could trample all over her, he had another think coming. Grandma ate men like him for a snack.

“Right, right,” Professor Kilkenny said after a long, awkward silence. “Let’s get to today’s lesson, then. I expect you to keep up and not disturb the class anymore, Lady Stormwell.”

“By all means, proceed, Professor Kilkenny,” Wave replied and enjoyed immensely the red color rising to his cheeks.

Originally, she had wanted to ditch the title, but Ginny had pointed out the power it held. After this interaction, Wave agreed. She would never allow the dear old professor to drop her title when addressing her. It might be petty, but damn if it didn’t feel good to push back.

“So, how was class?” Salis asked as soon as Wave was through the door.

“Fun.” Wave huffed. “Kilkenny made a whole show about ‘new girl in class’. Asshole.”

Salis groaned sympathetically, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and pulled her along. “Let’s go find out what Dr. Johanson has to say about it.”

While they walked, whispers followed. Ginny had prepared her for the fact that her friends would probably have to run interference for her, but it didn’t look like anyone wanted to approach.

Dr. Johanson motioned Wave over the moment she walked into the class.

“I got word that your schedule will be changed, Ms. Spin—Lady Stormwell.”

“Ms. Stormwell is just fine, Dr. Johanson,” Wave hurried to say. She actually liked the woman and her no-nonsense attitude. “If it is all right with you, I’d like to stay in this class.”