Rogue Reformatory: Broken (Supernatural Misfits Academy Book 2)

by Amber Lynn Natusch

  “But what if the dragon...what if he was—”

  “I don’t care either way. It’s dangerous, and it's making you dangerous, so there’s no other choice.” He wiggled his fingers, as if he could will the crystal orb to him.

  “How will you do it?” I asked as I fished it out of my pocket, looking over my shoulder to make sure we were still alone. But that was a stupid concern. Aidan was surely glamouring us in such a public space.

  “However I need to.”

  I swallowed hard, then extended the tiny marble toward him. But as I did, it flared red and began to shake.

  I pulled my hand back. “Aidan, something about this is wrong. It’s…I think it’s freaking out.”

  “Only because you are.”

  “No,” I argued, “it’s not that. It’s something else—”

  “Cece,” he said, his voice calm but demanding, “give me the ball.”

  He took a step forward, and I retreated one to match. “This doesn’t feel right—”

  “What’s not right is your unwillingness to let it go.”

  I shoved the marble back into my pocket, and Aidan’s frustration slammed into me. But underneath it was a current of fear that even his tight expression could not hide.

  “We need to know more about it first,” I blurted out, holding my ground. “What if we really do need it, Aidan? Talking dragon painting aside, we already know it’s linked to the power source somehow—I mean, that’s why the malums were sent to that room, right? We know the headmaster was draining power from you guys. I felt it in that creepy blob downstairs.” He looked utterly unconvinced, but much to my surprise, he didn’t argue. “Can’t you just keep looking through that book for answers?”

  He inhaled sharply, then let it out in a controlled, steady breath. “I’m going to hole up until dinner and see what I can learn, but if I don't find something promising, we’re back to my plan, agreed?”

  I nodded hesitantly. “Agreed.”

  “Then I guess I’d better get at it.” He turned to leave, but didn’t. Instead, he stared at me over his shoulder, his emotions flickering from one to the next too quickly for me to grab hold. “You know I don’t really believe in compromise, right?”

  I wasn’t certain how to respond, so I defaulted to sarcasm. “I mean, I didn’t know that for sure, but it seemed pretty evident—”

  “I don’t really believe in making exceptions, either.”

  The weight of his ice-blue stare pressed down upon me. “But...you just did.”

  “Exactly,” he said, as though that were answer enough. “Remember that, little witch. And try to stay out of trouble until dinner.”

  I watched Aidan stride down the hall and disappear around the corner, book tucked under his arm. I wondered what scared me more: that he might not learn anything helpful and we would have to destroy the ball, or that he’d just bent his rules—for me. Both options made me nervous for different reasons; reasons I didn't feel like unpacking at the moment.

  Lucky for me, fate delivered a distraction.

  “I hear you got the headmaster to let us have a dance.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned around to find Sarah and her squad of fey femme fatales headed my way. And despite their wide smiles, there was nothing friendly about their approach. Hostility slammed into me, nearly knocking me back a step.

  “Yep, sure did.”

  Her serpent’s smile widened. “Wonder how you managed that…”

  Afraid I hadn’t caught her intended subtext, she graced me with a sexual gesture that would have made my mother blush.

  “I asked nicely,” I said, standing my ground. “You should try it sometime. Works like a charm if you can manage it, but I'm not so sure you can.”

  She stepped forward from the group of five and closed the gap between us. I steeled myself for a fight, wondering how I could take all five of them. I had skills, but numbers mattered, and Sarah had them. Me, not so much.

  “And why do you want to have a dance, witch? Don’t tell me you think anyone here wants anything to do with you…”

  “Why do you care, Sarah? Worried that someone might want to go with me and not you? Afraid Aidan might go ‘slumming’ again?”

  She started laughing, a high-pitched cackling sound that grated down my spine. But deep within that awful noise was a wave of uncertainty and brewing anger that could not be denied. I’d hit the nail on the head a little too hard.

  And if I hit it again, she would break.

  “Aidan doesn’t give a shit about you.”

  “You sure about that? Because he certainly seemed to care a minute ago in the basement…”

  Her laughter stopped short. “If you think for one second that Aidan likes you, you’re high.” She leaned her face toward mine. “You don’t know him like I do…”

  The corner of my mouth turned up. “Of that, I have no doubt,” I said, tossing every ounce of insinuation I could into those words. “I’m sure you’ve spent almost every minute of your time at Wadsworth worming your way into his life. And then I bust through the doors and totally up-end your mission in a matter of days. That’s gotta sting a bit, especially for a spoiled little princess like you. I bet you’re used to getting everything you want, aren’t you, Sarah?”

  Her cheeks reddened and her body tensed, and for a moment, I thought she might explode in a fit of rage. But she didn’t. Instead, with serial-killer-like calm, she moved so close to me that our bodies touched and her lips grazed my ear.

  “Go anywhere near Aidan again and I’ll show you why I got put in here.”

  My chest tightened with what I thought at first was adrenaline, knowing a fight was imminent. Then I felt my throat close and my mouth fly open as I struggled to breathe. My hands shot to my neck to pull hers away, but they met no resistance. She wasn’t touching my throat at all.

  “This is just a party trick by my standards,” she said, smiling while I choked to death. “Can I assume it’s helped me make my point, Cece? Or should I expect to have this conversation again soon? With more force?” A garbled sound escaped me in place of words, and she pulled away just enough to smile at me. “I’ll take that to mean you understand…” Just as quickly as it had come, the crushing force inhibiting my breath dissipated, leaving me panting in the hall. “See you around, Cece. And thanks for getting us that dance. We really appreciate it.”

  A chorus of giggles rang out while I fought to inhale with any sort of control. I looked up to watch the five of them strolling down the hall like one of them hadn’t just tried to kill me. Like everything was normal.

  Like Sarah hadn’t just used her magic.

  While I gasped for breath and spiraled, I heard Maddy call my name.

  “Cece—”

  “Did you see that?” I asked, my voice far too raspy for her not to notice. I turned to find Rhys and her heading my way, looks of concern etched into their faces.

  “See what?”

  “Sarah...her magic...she just tried to choke me to death with her magic.”

  I barked out a cough while my sister stared at me with wide eyes. Then they narrowed with anger, and she made a move to follow them.

  “No, Maddy,” I wheezed, catching her arm, “let them go.”

  Her lips pressed to a thin line to stifle her argument, and she nodded. “Fine,” she sighed before fear started to creep into her eyes and a mirthless laugh escaped. “I guess it’s not just me—”

  “Not just you what?” I asked, Rhys echoing my sentiments. “Did that bitch come after you, too?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. Her cool hands grazed my throat, inspecting it for obvious damage. “I mean it’s not just me who’s seen kids here use their magic.”

  “Wait, what?” Rhys asked, his hand falling gently on her shoulder. “When?”

  “Earlier, in the yard,” she replied. “Didn’t you see it?” The tall boy with the sympathetic eyes shook his head slowly as fear blossomed in his chest and filtered out toward me. �
�One of the shifters. His face began to change, but it happened so fast that I thought I’d imagined it. Then I wondered if maybe it had to do with my shifter emerging...that it called to his.”

  “But now?” I asked.

  “But now I know that’s not the reason.”

  Silence fell between us. “I don't understand, Maddy. They all have their collars on.”

  Her lips pressed to a grim line. “Unless they just look like they do.”

  “Wait,” I said, “are you saying you think Aidan removed theirs like he did ours?” The look in her eyes said yes. “But why? Why would he do that?”

  “There’s a lot we don’t know about Aidan…”

  My eyes narrowed. “What does that mean, Maddy?”

  She took a deep breath. “I found something today when we were in the headmaster’s office.”

  “You were in the headmaster’s office? When? Why?”

  She laid out the details for me, then bit her lip. It was clear that she wasn’t finished. It was also clear that I wouldn't like what she had to say.

  Best to just rip the Band-Aid off.

  “What?” I asked, eyes darting back and forth between them. “What is it? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Maddy took a deep breath before delivering the blow. “I found Aidan’s file.”

  I felt my chest tighten. “And?”

  “He has no listed reason for being here—no magical crime. That spot on his paperwork is totally blank.”

  “That doesn’t prove anything.”

  “Maybe not, but it makes him suspicious—even more suspicious than he already is.”

  Rhys shifted his attention to me. “You have to admit, Cece, it would explain why someone like Sarah was able to use her powers.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head, “there has to be another reason. I just...I just don’t—”

  “Want to think Aidan would do that?” Maddy said, finishing for me.

  I swallowed back my hope. “Yeah.”

  “Looks like you’re going to have to try to feel him out,” Rhys said, “because if he didn’t do it, then we’ve got an even bigger problem.”

  I let that reality sober me up.

  “Hey, speaking of problems, did you guys find the portrait with the dragon?” I asked. But a quick search of their faces told me they hadn’t. “Shit.”

  “Wait,” Maddy said, confused, “didn’t you?” I shook my head.

  “Then where did you go when you bailed?” Rhys asked, a hint of frustration in his tone as well as his aura.

  “Umm, I told you guys we were heading up to the attic when you went on your little side quest. Remember? You told us to go ahead, Maddy. That you’d meet us there.”

  My sister paled a little, and my heart began to race. “I never said that, Cece. I never said anything because I never heard you speak.”

  “I didn’t, either,” Rhys added, which did nothing to help the sickening cold sensation slithering down my spine.

  “Then…who did?”

  The downturn of Rhys’s mouth did little to comfort me. “Maybe Aidan glamoured that, too.”

  Maddy stepped forward and looped her arm around my shoulders. “He’d be capable of it, right?”

  “Right, except it doesn’t make sense at all, Maddy. What purpose would it serve? To get me away from you? I’m alone with him all the time.”

  “Maybe he didn’t want us to get to the attic?” she offered.

  “But we didn’t even get there!” I all but shouted before regaining my composure. “We opened the door, and it spat us out somewhere else altogether. Then we took a little side quest of our own…”

  “To where?” Rhys asked, eyes pinned on mine.

  I took a deep breath and told them about the malevolent energy, the creepy furnace door in the basement, my outburst, and what Aidan had learned about the crystal ball. The two stared at me intently, absorbing every single word. When I finished, they shared a look that didn’t inspire confidence in what either would say next.

  “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well,” Maddy said softly, “we have a ‘holy shit’ of our own to share.” She cast a wary look at Rhys, and he smiled at her in encouragement. “The Council is here…”

  Fuck.

  “The special guests…” I mused. “That’s who the headmaster was talking about.” She nodded. “We can’t escape with them here.”

  “I know,” she replied. “It’s too risky.”

  “The question is, why are they here?” Rhys added. And damn, was he right about that. The Council was bad news, at best; at worst, a total nightmare. To my knowledge, there were none more powerful—and none who could stand against them.

  “What’s the plan?” I asked, hoping they had a head start on that one.

  “We need to find Wolfy,” Maddy said. And though she sounded matter of fact, I could see a stitch of worry in her expression and feel the dissonance emanating from her.

  “And we need to keep the rest of this to ourselves until we know more,” Rhys said, the subtext of his message loud and clear. Aidan couldn’t know what we knew—not until we were certain he wasn't involved somehow. But how could I confirm that without tipping my hand? Too bad the marble wasn’t a diviner of truth. “Can you do that?” he asked with a pointed look.

  “Yeah, I’ll keep it business as usual. He won’t suspect anything.”

  “We’ll figure it all out,” Maddy said, giving me a squeeze.

  “Yeah,” I agreed, though I clearly didn’t. “I’m sure we will.” Or die in the process… To avoid that outcome, we definitely needed help, and the mini-wolf had proven himself useful and loyal. He was the ally we needed.

  “So, when does the wolf hunt start?”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Maddy

  Rhys gave me a lingering kiss, then took the stairs two at a time, eager to find a quiet place to hide where he could study the book about guardians without interruption.

  Cece paused outside the cafeteria, and she scanned the room to make sure we weren’t being watched before closing her eyes. Her brows knit together. When she opened her eyes again, she nudged her head toward the hall leading into the older part of the building. “Let’s start in this direction. I think...there’s something about Wolfy I can pick up with my empathy. Like the feel of where he could be.”

  “Okay.” I hurried to catch up and walk beside her.

  One hall led to another, and we strolled past the suits of armor, casually stopping to check them out to make it look like we were actually interested in the historical aspects of the campus. This gave Cece a chance to get a better fix on Wolfy.

  “I think…” She pointed back in the direction we’d come from.

  While I did my best to hold back my frustration, a grumble still slipped out. “We just came from there. You said he might be this way.”

  Arms splaying wide, she huffed. “I can’t quite get a read on him, okay? This is hardly an exact science.”

  “Okay. Sorry.” My shoulders curled forward. “I’m just worried.”

  She rubbed my arm, and her voice grew soft. “I get it. I’m concerned about him, too. But we’ll find him.”

  “Hope so.”

  She started back toward the central part of the reformatory. “Maybe he’s off doing dog stuff—like chasing squirrels.”

  “He’s a vegetarian,” I said as we strode past the cafeteria and into the open area outside our rooms.

  “So maybe he doesn’t eat them?” she said over her shoulder as we passed my room.

  “He doesn’t do the usual dog things like hunting and eating rodents and bugs.”

  Her lips twisted and she swallowed. “Can’t say that I’d want to, either.” Tilting her head, she indicated that we should cross the room and take the hall leading toward the teachers’ offices.

  “So, about the folder and Aidan…” I said, edging into the conversation carefully.

  “What about it? I thought we agreed that
we have other things to worry about right now.”

  “If you want my advice—”

  Her finger poked her chest. “Big sister.” Jutting out, the digit hit me in the ribs, though it didn’t hurt. “Little sister.”

  “You’re not that much older than me.”

  “I don’t need to have this talk, Maddy,” she sighed.

  “I just think…don’t go too soft on him, or he’ll take advantage of it.”

  She held open the door at the end of the hall for me to pass through. “I’d think less of him if he didn’t. But no worries. I’ve got the situation under control.”

  “In what way?”

  “Just leave him to me.”

  “Glad to.” I crinkled my nose. “He’s much too spicy for my taste.”

  She snorted. “And I’m too spicy for him.”

  I tipped my head, studying her face that gave nothing away. “But he’s not too spicy for you, am I right?” When she didn’t say anything but kept walking ahead of me, I skipped past and blocked her passage. “I was sorta kidding. Please don’t tell me you actually like him.”

  “I don’t like him.”

  “Are you sure? Because—”

  “Because what? Because he’s hot? C’mon, Maddy. I’m not that superficial.”

  “He is gorgeous,” I said. “If only his pretty fairy appearance sunk beneath his skin.”

  She pushed past me. “That’s not entirely fair. He’s complicated. I know him better than you do.”

  “Perhaps,” I said softly. “I just…” I remained in place, watching her walk away, until she did as I expected and stopped.

  Her growl rent the air, though she didn’t turn. “You just what?”

  Joining her, I nudged her around to face me, forcing her gaze to meet mine. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Aidan’s…” Her eyebrows lifted. “…dangerous.”

  Her curt nod acknowledged my point. “I know he is, Maddy. But he’s more than that. I’ve seen parts of him that he doesn’t share with anyone else.”

  “That’s what most girls say before they get burned.”

  She tugged me close and hugged me. “I’m not one of those girls. But if it makes you feel better, I’m aware of who and what Aidan is, and I know what I'm doing. Promise.” Her words brushed past my ear.