by ERIN BEDFORD
“You think you can beat me?” I cocked my head to the side. “With petty rumors and traps? I mean, I already bested you with magic, something I only learned eight months ago. I guess it shows how desperate you are.”
Instead of fury filling her eyes like I had hoped, Sabrina simply grinned. She hopped off the table, forcing me to move back and then proceeded to wrap herself around Paul. “I don’t need magic to get rid of you, you’re doing a fantastic job yourself. And Paul here,” a manicured hand patted his chest, and her lip poked out, her lashes batting at him, “is just a victim of your siren call. It’s only a matter of time before they realize you for the harpy that you are and when that happens, I’ll be here.” She pressed her lips to his cheek, leaving an imprint of pink lipstick there.
A part of me wondered why Paul hadn’t shoved her out of his lap. Why did he let her paw at him in front of all those people? Did what she say ring true for him? Was I really leading them all to their doom? But one glance down at his hands and I had my answer.
His hands curled around the chair’s handles, turning his knuckles white. With any luck, he was two seconds away from upending her onto the floor in front of all those cameras pointing our way. Give her a taste of her own medicine.
Unfortunately, my hopes never came to fruition. Sabrina stood to her feet, giving Paul one last sultry look before she stalked away.
I gaped after her. She was just going to sashay over her, threaten me, insult me, maul my guy, and then walk away? I don’t think so.
Without saying anything, I stalked after her. My legs did double time catching up, and I half expected my unrequested bodyguard would stop me. The thought of Aidan coming between us spurred my feet forward until I could stretch my hand out and grasp Sabrina’s arm, pulling her to a stop.
“What the hell?” Sabrina screeched loud enough that if the students in the library weren’t already zeroed in on us, they would be now. “Let me go, you freak.”
I tightened my grip until she winced, but unlike her, I kept my voice low. “No, you listen to me. I might have embarrassed you in front of everyone, I admit that, but you started this. I just wanted to be a normal girl. I never asked for a magical education, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world now.”
Sabrina sniffed indignantly. “Of course not, why would anyone want to be normal?”
My nails pinched into her skin, hinting that she should shut up now. “However, if you ever, and I mean ever, try to touch Paul or any of my guys again and I will make you wish you had never met me.” I brought our faces so close that bystanders probably thought we were flirting. “Are we clear?”
Frowning so hard that lines formed around her mouth, Sabrina bit out, “Fine. Now get your grubby paws off me.”
Not quite believing her but satisfied I got my point across, I released her. I didn’t get more than a few steps away before she opened her big mouth again.
“He was mine first, you know. He will be mine again.”
Fingering the necklace around my neck, I sighed, and my head drooped. Why couldn’t she leave well enough alone? Turning back around, I shook my head slowly. “You can’t take a hint, can you? Paul doesn’t want you. You messed up. Own up to it and move on.”
“I can’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin defiantly.
Backing away from her but not turning my back, I said, “I wish you’d just find someone else to hit on. Maybe it’ll help you get over him because this...” I gestured up and down her form. “... isn’t helping.”
The necklace warmed beneath my fingers, and Sabrina straightened like an arrow. Almost zombie-like, her eyes wide and her face slack, she spun on her heels and went up to the closest person, which happened to be a gawking brunette girl, and promptly punched her in the face.
The whole room erupted in chaos over the action. The girl’s nose spurt blood everywhere, causing her friends to rush to her side. They shoved Sabrina back who had a look of confusion on her face before she realized what she had done. Then those blazing blue eyes of her zeroed in on me.
Not waiting for the other shoe to drop, I hurried back to my bag. Shoving everything into it, I ignored the questioning looks from Aidan and Paul, more so from Aidan than Paul. That big lug head had more going on in his noggin than he led on.
“Where are you going?” Paul stood and followed after me. I dashed around the crowd in the middle of the library and zipped around stacks of books. One glance back told me only Paul had followed. I didn’t have to wonder why Aidan hadn’t. If he had precognitive abilities like he claimed, he’d find me before long.
“To lunch. I’m hungry.” My stomach rumbled as if to collaborate my story. I pushed through the library doors with Paul still hot on my heels. A hand slid into mine and pulled me toward the direction of the cafeteria.
“Good.” Paul grinned. “I’m buying.”
Chapter 9
Paul bypassed the cafeteria and led me out through the back of the campus toward a small gated entrance I’d never used before.
“Where are we going?” I shot a curious look at the single guard at this entrance who only gave Paul and me a nod before letting us through. Paul held onto my elbow as he brought me over to a black Jeep Patriot. He opened the door for me, giving me a hand in before rounding the vehicle.
Paul started the car and fiddled with the radio before settling on a popular rock station. He pulled out of the driveway before turning, angling his chin toward me. “What do you feel like?”
My brows scrunched down, and I frowned hard. “I don’t know. Freaked out and a bit confused.”
Paul chuckled, the sound making my insides curl deliciously, as he glanced away from the road to me. “I mean, food. What do you want to eat?”
“Oh.” I sank down into the chair and stared out the window. “I don’t know. Anything is fine. I’m not really hungry.”
“Well, I am, and using magic like that?” Paul whistled and laughed once more. “That kind of power can work up an appetite.”
I ignored Paul’s little dig and clutched my necklace closer to me. The first two wishes I had made, I had blown off as coincidence.
I wanted someone to kiss me at midnight. Callie called Dale. Easy, right? That’s what I had thought.
Then there was the whole thing with Steph. I’d like to think it was my charm and wit that had her giving me her phone when I asked. However, wishing she’d just tell me pretty much killed that idea.
Now in the library, I couldn’t even pretend I had caused Sabrina to have a change of heart. Maybe my words had gotten to her? I made her have some kind of mental break, and she lashed out at the first person she saw. However, that look of surprise that showed up on her face said that was no truer than anything else I’d thought up.
I didn’t know why I didn’t believe the amulet would actually work. My parents wouldn’t give me something that wasn’t real. I shouldn’t have played with it like it was some toy. It was magical. Magic had consequences. Except it was the student in the library with a bloody nose that ended up having to pay for my carelessness.
“So, are you going to tell me? Or is it some big secret?”
Paul’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts, and I shifted in my seat. I dragged a hand through my hair and leaned against the door. “It’s not a secret, I guess. And it wasn’t me. Well,” I fiddled with the amulet and glanced over at Paul, “maybe a little bit.”
“That’s new.”
The moment his eyes landed on the necklace, I dropped it. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Come on. You’ve got me interested now.” His lips quirked up on the corners. “Gift from Callie? A boyfriend?” Paul’s voice held a hard edge to it.
I smirked. Jealous much?
“More like my parents.” I shoved my bag under the seat as we parked in the parking lot of one of the many sub shops near the school. The scent of freshly baked bread filled my senses the moment I opened the car door. My stomach rumbled. Guess I was a bit
hungry.
“That’s nice of them.” Paul met me at the front of the car and took my hand, leading me toward the shop. His hand was warm and slightly damp in mine but still made something in me squeal with glee. Paul was not so subtle, telling people I was his. Kind of like how Dale had but with less tongue.
We stopped at the back of the line, waiting to put our order in. Paul released my hand so that he could lean against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest. “Do your parents give you a lot of presents like that?”
I shook my head. “No, this is the first magical gift they’ve given me. Of course, it was the first holiday we’ve celebrated since I found out I’m a witch.”
We shifted further in the line. Paul tucked his hands in his pockets and ducked his head. “Our parents don’t really do the whole holiday thing, not since we were kids. Even then, our nannies were the ones who woke us up for presents they’d picked out for us and wrapped for our parents.” The sadness in his eyes made me want to wrap my arms around him and hold him tight.
“It’s a wishing amulet.” I spat out for no reason other than he was sad and I wanted to change the subject. Paul’s eyes shot to me as well as the teenager behind the sub counter. I fingered the amulet and leaned in closer to him. “My parents got it for me in Cairo.”
Paul raised a brow but didn’t comment. He told the teenager what he wanted and then glanced over at me. I mumbled my order, and we shifted further up the line. He grabbed my hand once more bringing me close to his side. A weird feeling overcame me, kind of like when you’re in a plane and your ears needed to pop. It made all the noise in the shop faded into the background.
“So, a wishing amulet.” Paul turned to me with a smile. “Like one of those you have ten wishes kind of wishing amulets?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly, cocking my head to the side as I realized no one was paying any mind to the fact that Paul was talking nonsense. “What did you just do?”
“Privacy spell.” Paul brought our hands up in front of us as he turned to face me. “Have you been making a lot of wishes this month?”
I shook my head. “No, not really. I mean, not on purpose.”
“How many are we talking about then?”
My shoulder reached my ears as I stared at the ground. “Three.”
“And one of those was for Sabrina to punch someone?” The way Paul’s mouth curled up at the thought of Sabrina hitting that girl made my heart beat faster. What was it about these guys that had my hormones going haywire?
“No,” I scowled. “I didn’t wish for Sabrina to hit someone. That was just a side effect of my telling her to stop hitting on you.” My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Really now?” The male satisfaction that was on his face made me want to hit him at the same time as I wanted to lay one on him. Before I could decide which one I was going to do, my phone went off.
I glanced down at my phone and saw Dale’s name flash over the screen. “Uh, hold that thought.” I held a finger up as I pressed the answer button. “Hello?”
“Hey, where are you?” Dale’s voice had a sense of urgency to it.
“I’m having lunch with Paul.” Paul shot me a grin and wink just as the person behind the counter called our number.
“Well, you better cut it short. The headmaster wants to see you. Now.” There wasn’t any jealousy or irritation in his voice, like Dale wasn’t happy I was out with Paul. It was more like worry, worry for me.
I swallowed thickly and nodded. When I remembered he couldn’t see me, I said into the phone, “Okay, yeah. I’ll be there in a few.” Dale started to hang up, but I stopped him. “Hey, Dale. Is it bad?”
The frustrated rush of air that came out was not encouraging. “I’m not sure. You should just get here. Soon.”
He hung up before I could ask anything else. I frowned at the phone as Paul came up to me with our food in his hands. “Better get that for the road, my quick getaway was not so discreet as I hoped.”
Paul sighed and turned back to the counter. He got a bag for our food, and we headed back to the car. The ride back to the school was tense. What did the headmaster want? Had Sabrina tattled on me? Or was it something else?
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” Paul reassured me with a squeeze of my hand. I gave him a weak smile before he hopped out of his side of the car and came around to help me out. He led me back through the special entrance I could only assume was for teachers and faculty, teacher’s assistant apparently counted for something more than extra work, and then through the quad.
I should have been used to the feel of eyes on my back by now, but it was just as bad as this morning. Whether they were staring and whispering because of what happened in the library or because of my new infamy on social media, I didn’t know or care. They didn’t have a say in my continuing attendance at the school.
Paul came with me as I walked into the administrator’s office. Thankfully, for once, there was no line at Dale’s counter, but a few people were sitting in some chairs off to the side. Dale approached me the moment I came through the door. His eyes darted to Paul, and the guys exchanged a look of male understanding before he drew me toward him.
“What exactly happened in the library?” Dale’s hushed tone made me know that I had not gotten away scott free.
My eyes moved to the people sitting in the waiting area and then back to Dale. Lifting a shoulder, I shook my head slightly. “Nothing really, just Sabrina’s usual ‘I’m the queen of the campus so I can do whatever I want’ bullshit.”
“So, you didn’t cast a spell on her to make her punch the headmaster’s niece?”
I winced. The headmaster’s niece? Fuck me. As much as I hated to kill the hopefulness in his voice, I couldn’t beat around the bush with this. “I didn’t put a spell on her.”
Dale’s shoulders sagged.
“But I did wish she’d hit on someone else.”
A curse escaped Dale’s lips just as the door to the headmaster’s office opened. Sabrina came striding out with a cat that ate the canary grin on her lips. She took one look at me, and my guys and an evil glint was added to that grin.
“Well, well, look who it is. The Mancaster Whore and her lap dogs.” She shoved her way between us until she could brush her hands against Paul’s chest in passing. “You let me know when you’re tired of playing second fiddle to, well ...” she giggled, her eyes going to Dale. “Everyone.”
I glared daggers into her back, praying that she would trip over her own feet. However, the gods were not listening to me today. I had a feeling they hadn’t been listening to me for a while now, or I wouldn’t be in this mess.
Before I could comment on Sabrina’s nasty comments, the headmaster’s voice came over the intercom at Dale’s desk. “Send Miss Norman in, please.”
Dale touched my shoulder, his lips pressed thinly into a line. Paul held onto my hand, bringing it up to his lips. His mouth brushed against the top of it. In normal circumstances, I’d have been hot and bothered by the action. Right now, though, I was more worried about saving my own ass than getting some.
I nodded at the two of them and let out a hard breath. It was now or never.
Headmaster Swordson sat behind his desk, a somber expression on his aged face. He seemed to have aged quite a bit since I had last sat in here, talking to him about what last name I wanted to go by. The grey in his hair was a duller shade and the lines on his face had deepened considerably. I hoped the stress he was enduring was not from me and something else entirely. I clung to the fact that he still called me by Norman rather than my grandparents’ last name. I thought it told me he still respected me and if that were the case, then I couldn’t be in that much trouble.
“Please have a seat.” Headmaster Swordson glanced up from his desk to gesture weakly toward the chair in front of him.
I did as he asked, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I waited for the headmaster to start in on me. Accusing me of whatever Sabrina said I did, which by
Dale’s words, I’d put a spell on her. However, the headmaster didn’t look like he wanted to be here any more than me, and when he didn’t say anything for several moments but stared at a picture frame on his desk, I cleared my throat.
“Headmaster?”
His eyes darted up to me, and he looked at me like he had forgotten I was there. “Miss Norman. The semester has barely started, and already you are the talk of the school.”
“About that,” I scooched forward in my seat, determined to get my side out before he could slam down the punishment. “I didn’t do—”
The headmaster put his hand up, cutting me off. “I’m not interested in knowing the details. Miss Craftsman already painted me a very ugly picture. One that I’m sure has a different hue coming from you.”
I gaped at him.
He smiled slightly, a bare twitch of the lips. “I didn’t get the position as headmaster by not being good at maneuvering the politics and the students with those politically inclined parents.” Meaning Sabrina and the rest of the privileged crew, which would also include me had I cared about my grandparents’ crap.
“So, if you don’t care what’s going on then why am I here?” My leg bounced as I started to get nervous for a whole different reason.
“I asked you here because I have found myself in the position of mediator. One that I do not mind being in but would like to remind you that your family matters should stay that way. In the family.” Before I could respond the door behind me opened, and Dale ushered in my grandparents.
The apologetic look on Dale’s face told me he didn’t know anything about it. I begged him with my eyes to get me out of this, but unfortunately, my grandmother not so subtle shoved him out of the room, clear disapproval in her frown.
My grandfather thankfully didn’t seem as peeved as she was, and boy, was my grandmother pissed. If I thought she had a rod up her ass before, nothing compared to the tightness around her mouth as she pressed her lips so tightly, they were nonexistent. When she turned her hawk eyes onto me, I had to force myself not to shrink back.
