He was dead serious when he said it and went all alpha male on me. There weren’t many times he got dominant with me, but when he did, I didn’t test him. Not that I was afraid of him. We were equally matched in power and strength.
And come on, it was only hair! It wasn’t worth fighting over.
I met the bubbly blonde and it clicked. Her voice. She was the one to call me up here. Smiling sweetly, I stepped closer and said. “I think your hair is prettier.”
She straightened her back, which made her ample breasts stick out and twirled her hair. “You think so?”
I nodded just as a door to our right opened. A dark-skinned, muscular-built demon stuck his head out. “Ms. Brevins, has Ember…Never mind.” He opened the door wider and motioned for me to go in.
After sitting in a chair in front of his desk, I watched him walk over to Natalia and talk to her softly. She giggled and blushed. Then he kissed the back of her hand. Um, alrighty then.
Tearing my attention away from the Dean and his play thing, I picked at the hem of the blazer that everyone in the House of Phoenix wore. It was hot and heavy and I was glad I didn’t have to wear them on our personal time.
A few seconds later, Dean Aero entered his office and shut the door behind him. “Hello and welcome to Wicked Reform School.”
“Hello.” I had a feeling this semi-warm welcome would be the only I got while in here. “I don’t belong here. I was set up.”
He stared at me, tapping a pen on his desk. “Well, since you killed the person who allegedly set you up, you have no proof. You are here to reform. If you don’t pass, then you die.”
Yeah, I got that much from Cordea. I’m pretty sure each teacher will also remind me today, but I kept my thoughts to myself. “I plan to pass. I generally don’t have a problem with people or my attitude. The person that could make me snap was dead.
A little piece of my heart cracked at the thought of Stacia. There was too much unresolved between us. Maybe I did belong there, to be punished for killing someone who was once my friend.
“Can you believe they stuck us with Calculus first thing in the morning?” Lucent complained as we made our way to our second-period class.
“I think it’s supposed to be a punishment. They clearly don’t know me very well.” A smile lifted my lips. I’ve already taken Calculus in high school. I could do the problems in my sleep.
Lucent snorted. “Well, it is! Not for you though. I believe you were a math genius in a past life.”
I shrugged and tugged at the black blazer with our house logo on the left breast pocket. The heavy material was hot. It also had a spell woven into the threads of the fabric that dampened our powers. Cordea said all the magical breeds wore them or similar uniforms with the same spell. It was to keep all us heathens from using our powers while in class. The spell also kept me from shifting which wasn’t a huge deal for phoenixes. We didn’t need to let our birds out as much as other shifters.
Since I was half ice phoenix—thanks to dear old Dad—I didn’t like to be too hot. So the jacket and I were going to have issues. Maybe I’d ask Cordea if I could have a lightweight version.
She’d say no, but it didn’t hurt to ask.
“Lucky for you, I’m a math genius. Stop complaining. You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t kill me and took the blame.” I slid my hand into my pants pocket and breathed out a curse. I missed my cell phone. I’d searched for the thing every ten minutes all morning.
Ugh. I never knew I was addicted to my cell phone until I couldn’t have it. I had no one to blame but myself. There were other ways to stop Stacia without killing her, but my temper and impulsiveness got the better of me. The sudden feeling that everything Mom fussed at me about was for good reason.
“What I really need is a class on not being so impulsive.” I shot Lucent a glare as he snickered.
“Your impulse comes from being an alpha female, a natural born leader.” He shrugged and stopped as they came to the classroom. “It’s also what’s gets you into trouble.”
I snorted and walked through the door when he opened it. “I have help getting into trouble.”
Something tugged at my awareness as I entered the classroom. A feeling of heat, desire, and darkness swirled around me, making me stop in mid-step. At the front of the class a man who appeared too young to be reform school teacher lifted his gaze to mine.
His black hair was tied back at his nape. Dressed in a black button up and black slacks, he looked like he was ready to drag us all to Hades. Focusing back on his face, I took in his strong jawline, high cheekbones, and violet eyes ringed in silver.
A mage.
Mr. Foster was a powerful one too. His power fanned out around him in a take-no-shit essence.
Behind me Lucent crashed into me. One of his hands landed on my hip while the other snaked around my waist. Mr. Foster tracked the movement and I swore his eyes darkened.
“What is it?” Lucent whispered, his lips almost brushing my cheek.
Snapping out of whatever charm the mage must have casted out, I shook my head and moved out of Lucent’s embrace. “Nothing.”
What the fuck just happened? I’d never had a response to anyone like that before. And having that kind of reaction to a reform school teacher was asking for death. I was sure they had rules against teachers and students. If not, then they might want to consider it.
Taking a seat in the back row, I sank down in my seat as Lucent took the one in front of me. He faced me, narrowing his gaze. “You alright?”
No. “Never better.”
He frowned and went to say something when a set of twins caught my eye. Lucent followed my gaze. At the same time the twins locked onto me as if an unseen force drew them to me.
They were identical and demi-gods. I knew that because I was also part god and recognized the soft hum of divine magic radiating off them. Although theirs was darker than the power I kept hidden in my core. Underworld gods? Maybe. Although some gods who turned bad had darker powers.
Both had short blond hair that was a little longer on top while the sides were shaved. One had lighter blond while the other was more of dirty blond. The lighter blond male wore tinted glasses. I doubted that he needed them unless he was injured in some way that made his eyesight less than perfect.
“Em.”
I broke the visual connection with the twins and met Lucent’s stare. “What?”
He frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t know. This place is weird.” I nudged his shoulder. “Turn around before we draw attention or something.”
I glanced back at the twins and stiffened as they advanced toward me. That was when I noticed the only two seats left were on either side of me. Great!
The twin with the glasses smiled are me and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Karn. And that’s my evil twin, Zelphar.”
Zelphar let out a growl as he sat in the seat to my left. I stole a peek at him and noticed the scowl on his face. Frowning I looked straight head, focusing on Mr. Foster, who had moved to the stand in front of his desk to address the class.
Lunch couldn’t come soon enough. At least the twins weren’t in the two classes after Environmental Magic. Thank the gods for small blessings.