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“Oh, no, a demerit, whatever shall I do?” Rook laughed. “I’d just hate to be kicked out of this fucking place.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t appreciated, Chesley,” Professor Hecate hissed. “I’ll be reporting this to your father. If you think your life is unpleasant now, imagine what it will be like if you cross Headmistress Aurea. I assure, you, things can get much worse.”
“Looks like we’ve been caught,” Rook said in faux disappointment as he faced me and gave me an amused smile. He released my waist and pressed a kiss to my burning cheek, which only made me blush harder. “Totally worth a demerit though. See you later… babe.”
“Later,” I agreed, cursing the butterflies rioting in my stomach. Babe? He’d called me babe? What did that mean? Did it mean anything? Regardless, I liked the way the word sounded. And, furthermore, he hadn’t fought it when Hecate had called me his girlfriend. Did that mean anything?
It was stupid to have this reaction. Rook was obviously acting, just playing his part. He’d be back to his asshole self the moment we were clear of these bitches. I watched him go, disappointment washing through me when he was swallowed by the darkness. It left me seemingly alone with two older witches, both of whom looked scandalized by my behavior. Vivian’s glee had dimmed a little when Rook had nipped my ear. Maybe she’d thought he’d actually bite me, and then she was probably worried they’d have a Blood Witch on their hands or something.
Professor Hecate leaned forward, jabbing a finger at me. “This ends now, Depraysie, or there will be consequences.”
I lifted my chin and met her eyes defiantly. “I read the Academy literature, Professor, but it’s been a month. Maybe you can refresh my memory. Where in the student handbook does it say that the staff can dictate who I date? Because I’m pretty sure that falls under my purview, not yours. I’m out of bounds and wandering after curfew, so that first demerit is warranted. But if you pile more on because you don’t like the fact I’m dating a vampire, I will take the case up to Headmaster Thorne. There’s a non-discrimination policy in this school, right?”
I could sense the violent energy building in the air around her. There was a hex on the tip of her tongue meant for me. But in the end, she shoved the urge down and contented herself with a ferocious scowl.
“End this now,” she said in a deadly whisper. “For your sake and his. If he turns you against your will, it’s a death sentence for him and catastrophe for the rest of us. Don’t start a blood war over a schoolgirl crush.”
“It’s only war if it’s involuntary,” I pointed out.
That wiped the smirk right off Vivian’s face. Even her shriveled black heart couldn’t rejoice at my words. The prospect that a witch would willingly become undead was unthinkable. In their minds, even Wanda hadn’t gone there voluntarily. She’d been coerced into turning by the machinations of a morally bankrupt vampire and his cronies and left with only two choices: turn or die. What I was suggesting just... well it wasn’t done. No witch would bare her throat willingly to a vampire. It was the ultimate act of submission, putting your life in the hands of another, knowing they could kill you but trusting they wouldn’t.
“Out!” Professor Hecate half-shouted, jabbing her finger back the way I’d come. “We’ll be having an in-depth conversation about this travesty tomorrow morning. Until then, I suggest you go to bed. Maybe a little sleep will help you hear how insane you sound.”
I turned obediently on one heel and marched in the direction she’d indicated, my head held high. I saw Vivian and Professor Hecate retreat down the opposite hall, muttering the whole way, no doubt about my degeneracy. A fierce sense of pride swelled in my chest. I’d done it. I’d kept them from working out what we were really there to do. I’d kept Morgana and Oleander hidden and safe, for now. We’d made progress toward our goal, and they were none the wiser. All I’d had to do was kiss Rook in front of a professor and my worst enemy.
Rook was right. It was totally worth the demerits.
***
“Well, that was distasteful,” Morgana said, falling into step beside me about two minutes later. “But it was spectacularly effective, so kudos to you, I guess. Vivian and Hecate were definitely too shocked to think it was anything more than you and Chesley making out. I couldn’t have done it. Wouldn’t have thought of it, really, and Hecate wouldn’t have bought it, anyway.”
“Come on, Morgana,” Rook drawled, stepping out from behind one of the hallways’ many statues and surprising us all.
“Aren’t you supposed to be gone?” Morgana asked.
He chuckled. “Since when do I follow directions?”
“Since never.” Morgana gave him a pointed look, lip curling in disgust. “If our stupid ancestors hadn’t slaughtered each other, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I’d be traveling the world, and you’d be tearing into the necks of vapid women in clubs across the nation.”
“But we aren’t so what’s the point in wishing?” Rook demanded.
“My point is: You need to be careful. If we can solve this whole mystery, we might be allowed free rein of the castle. They’d owe us that much.”
“You’re assuming they aren’t involved,” Rook muttered darkly. “From the sounds of it, Aurea is hiding something.”
“Maybe something that has nothing to do with the missing students,” Morgana said.
Rook cocked his head to one side. “If it’s not the faerie crisis she’s hiding, then we have a lot more questions and no answers. And if it is the missing faeries, then we’re in deep shit because this extends way further than we thought it did. All this time, we’ve been assuming the Fae were being taken by an outside source, not being preyed on by our own people. How the hell are we going to free them if the Grimsbanes are behind this? We’re outnumbered, outgunned, and what’s worse? We can’t escape. If the Grimsbanes find out we’re onto them, we’re as good as dead. They can always slot more hostages into our place.”
Morgana’s expression darkened as we turned a corner. “That might be preferable, at this point. Maybe precious Vivian will get a taste of what it’s like to be me.”
“Um, hello? Is anyone going to address the enormous, sparkling faerie in the room, or is it just me?” Oleander asked, jogging to catch up with us.
“What are you talking about?” Morgana snapped. “Talk sense, Ollie. You’re more gibberish than usual.”
“What Astrid did back there,” Oleander pressed. “We weren’t anywhere near that closet, and then in a flash, we’re suddenly inside it? And only seconds before those witches could turn the corner and spot us!”
“So?” Rook asked, shoving his hand into his pockets. He looked as confused as I felt. “You said she’s a powerful half-Fae. It was magic.”
