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“Spill,” she says, smiling encouragingly.
I hesitate for a moment before nodding. It feels like the floodgates open as I tell her about the doctored photo of the janitor and me and how my parents went crazy. I tell her I’d never even spoken to him, let alone slept with him and that it had to be Casey Hogan behind it, as she’s always hated me.
Natalya listens until I’m finished. Her brow furrows as she glances at her watch. “Not such a long story, after all.” She smiles. “That sucks, though, that your parents wouldn’t listen to you.” She shrugs. “I’ve only just met you, and I can tell you’re telling the truth.”
“You can?” I ask, surprised to hear she believes me.
Natalya nods. “Yeah.” She glances around briefly to check no one is listening. “If I were you, I’d be on alert. Someone wanted you here at this academy. That’s my bet.”
My brow furrows. “I assumed it was a prank by Casey at my old high school.”
Natalya shakes her head. “Sweet, Naïve, Eva.” She sighs heavily. “The world we operate in, coincidences like that don’t happen. Someone wanted you to attend this school.” She places a hand over mine and squeezes. “Be careful, is all I’m saying.” Her brow pulls together. “I get the sense you aren’t like other girls here.”
We are going to get along well. “Okay, I will.” I smile at her. “Thank you for sitting with me.”
She laughs. “It’s nice to have someone new to speak to. The people here are so boring and predictable, except my two best friends, Adrianna and Camilla.” She smiles. “I’ll introduce you to them tonight at dinner if you’d like.” She pulls her class schedule out of her bag, groaning. “I’ve got combat class next with Archer. How about you?”
I pull mine out too and glance at the next period. “Snap.” I smile.
Natalya shakes her head. “It’s not something to be happy about. Archer is a harsh trainer. Even if he jokes most of the time, he pushes everyone to their limits.” Her brows pull together as she glances at my crutches. “Although, I’m pretty sure you’ll have to sit this class out.”
“I guess I’ll have to watch then?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, lucky bitch.”
I laugh at that. “Most people wouldn’t call me lucky for being stabbed.”
“Touche.” She chuckles. “But you’re lucky to get out of combat training.” She stands and shoulders her bag. “We should get a move on, as we don’t want to be late.”
I nod and grab my bag, hoisting it over my shoulder. And then reach of my crutches, which are in Principal Byrne’s hands.
My heart stops beating in my chest as he stares down at me intimidatingly. I don’t know what it is about this man, but he has a way of stealing all the oxygen from the room he’s in.
“Sir, can I have my crutches, please?” I ask.
Natalya’s eyes are wide as she glances between him and me.
“You’re in no condition to participate in combat training yet.” His grip stiffens on my crutches as he makes no move to return them. “Your mother reiterated the importance of you learning discipline.” He fixes his pale aquamarine eyes on me with an intensity that makes me shudder. “It’s a lesson we teach in the earlier years, but I’ll give you one-on-one tuition on it while you’re not fit for combat training.”
My cheeks flame at the thought of having one-on-one time with this god of a man.
Natalya’s mouth drops open as she stares at him. I guess it’s not standard for pupils to be given one-on-one training. Her gaze moves to mine. “Looks like I’m on my own for this one.” She smiles. “See you later?”
I nod in response, feeling too embarrassed to articulate a response.
Natalya walks out of the cafeteria, leaving me alone with the principal, who looms over me. He’s still holding my crutches in a vise-grip.
“Can I have my crutches, please, sir?” I ask again.
A muscle in his jaw flexes every time I call him sir, but I can’t figure out why. Perhaps he’s not used to southern students at this school, as I haven’t picked up many southern accents.
“Of course.” He passes one crutch into my right hand and the other into my left, his skin brushing mine momentarily as he does. Heat coils through me as I try to ignore the electrical spark that zaps through my body.
It’s crazy how his touch affects me.
“Thank you.” I struggle to my feet clumsily, peering at him once I’m steady. “Shall I follow you?”
His nostrils flare as he nods. “Yes, we’ll go to my office.” He turns his back on me, ready to walk out.
