Tick. Tick. Tick.
The tree clock was starting to become more of a comfort to me than it used to. I think that meant I spent too much time in this office.
It was nearly midnight and I should be taking off my formal dress and crawling in between the sheets with my shifter.
Instead, I was waiting for my parole officer.
Talk about a mood killer.
The door opened and I turned to see Dr. Green, followed by Professor Halifax and both of the Obscura twins. Nobody made eye contact with me.
All of them looked the way I felt. Exhausted, a little broken, and really ready for this night to be over.
The twins settled in on a bench in the back of the office. I wondered if it had been added recently as I didn't remember it being there before.
Professor Halifax settled into the chair next to me. She looked over at me. "It's going to be fine."
"Don't argue," Dr. Green said from behind me. "I know that will be a challenge, but you need to trust us."
My brow furrowed. "Trust you?"
"Raven, please," Matt said.
"Just for once," Zach added.
Something was going on and I was missing it.
Before I could ask another question, the door opened again and Officer M walked in.
An involuntary chill ran though me at the sight of him. Despite our weekly meetings, he still made me uncomfortable.
"We've got quite the crowd gathered tonight." He set his briefcase down on the desk and settled into Dr. Green's chair as if he owned the place.
I pressed my lips together to keep from scowling at him. Everything about him put me on edge. Tonight, he was wearing a button-down shirt but he'd left the first several buttons open. Tufts of chest hair filed the gap in his shirt. It looked more like fur.
What the fuck was he?
Whatever it was, it wasn't attractive.
He dabbed his sweaty bald head with a handkerchief then turned his beady little eyes on me. "I guess tonight's the night, isn't it darling?"
I winced at darling. Ew. "The night I stop worrying about the thief?"
He grinned, showing his yellow fangs. "No, the night I arrest you and pull you away from this cushy existence and toss you into a cell."
Ice cold fear filled my veins. "What?"
"The time magic used here tonight is so thick I could feel it just walking into the door." His smile didn't waver. He was enjoying every second of this.
"That's why we're here, actually," Matt said. He stood and walked toward the desk.
"Officer, I'm afraid I have to make a confession," he said.
Officer M gave an amused smirk. "Oh?"
"Raven didn't use the time magic," he said. "I did."
"What?" I asked, staring at him in disbelief.
"Please don't try to cover up for me," Matt said.
Professor Halifax squeezed my leg and I glanced at her. She gave me a tiny nod and I held my breath, remembering what they had said when they entered the room.
"Young man, that's a heavy confession, and I have to say I don't buy it for a minute," he said.
"It's true," Professor Halifax said. "The three of them completed a magic meld and I'm afraid some of her time magic was transferred to them. We've been working after hours to remove it as you'll see from my classroom logs."
She kept classroom logs? That was news to me.
"Dr. Green, can you confirm this?" Officer M asked.
"I'm afraid so," Dr. Green said. "We've kept it quiet as you know how the Obscura family prefers to avoid the spotlight with unfavorable news."
"Quite," Officer M said. "Though, I'll have to investigate this, you realize?"
"I understand," Dr. Green said. "Ms. Obscura was here not long ago to discuss the additional training sessions for her sons. I'm sure she'll be happy to speak with you about it."
Officer M tensed. I sort of knew how he felt. Thinking about Ms. Obscura did that to me too. She wasn't a woman you crossed.
"Son, are you prepared to accept a punishment for what you did?" My parole officer wore a look of concern on his face. "You realize that if she takes the blame, she goes to prison. If you do, you're on parole and anything you do will get you tossed in prison."
I glared at him. Was he really giving Matt the option to throw me under the bus? What an asshole.
"We Obscuras hold to a strict code of honor," Matt said. "I must take responsibility for my own actions."
The room was silent for a moment and I could hear my heart beating.
"Very well," Officer M said. He turned to me. "Ms. Winters, you are dismissed. We will convene our meetings after the holidays."
I hesitated, not ready to leave the others in this room with him. But he wasn't taking his gaze off of me.
"Ms. Winters, you may go back to your dorm room," Dr. Green said.
I glanced over at the twins, torn over what they were doing. Matt was going to be stuck in here with meetings every week. He was going to have this on his record, the same as me. Why would he do that for me?
Part of me wanted to argue. To take responsibility. I was the one who had used the magic.
But then again, I really, really didn't want to go to prison.
"Ms. Winters," Professor Halifax said, "Makayla asked me to pass along a message."
I turned to her.
"She asked if you can sneak some real food into the hospital for her so she's not stuck with oatmeal."
I laughed. "I doubt they'll let me in."
"No, they won't, but I assured her I'd pass along the message so you knew she was safe." Professor Halifax's words were exactly what I needed to hear. It wasn't about oatmeal. It was about the fact that I'd made the right choice. Because I'd used my magic, Makayla was alive and the Thief was dead.
It wasn't just me they were protecting. They were standing up for the good my magic had done.
Finally getting it, I stood. "Thank you for letting me know."
I glanced at Matt and Zach, giving them a small smile before I left the room. I had no idea how I was going to repay them for this.
As I walked back to my room, a rush of gratitude washed over me. I had passed the practice trials, survived another thief attack, and successfully used and controlled my time magic.
Things were looking up for me.
But there was always next semester to consider. And I knew better than to get too comfortable when things seemed up.
It was only a matter of time before the next crisis arrived.
For now, though, I had a wolf to find. Or maybe a demon. Or maybe, if I was really lucky, I could have both.
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XO, Alexis
About the Author
Alexis Calder writes sassy heroines and sexy heroes with a sprinkle of sarcasm. She lives in the Rockies and drinks far too much coffee and just the right amount of wine.
Academy of the Elites: Broken Magic Page 17
