Page 71 of Reckless Witch

“What about your grandmother? Are they friends of hers?”

I frown. “I don’t recall anyone by those names.” I want to say that it’s strange that the names appeared on the Stone before mine and stranger still that I’ve been associated with all four clans, but it’s clear she’s as much in the dark about those names as I am. It’s also clear she’s troubled by the appearance of the names. Does she think I had something to do with the names or maybe that I’m lying? Does she, too, think I’m a dark witch?

“If you recall anything, you will let me know?” she asks.

I nod and hope my confusion doesn’t show.

She waves toward the Watchman. “Stay close to your protector. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

Frustration supplants my confusion.

She lifts a brow. “I have displeased you.”

She read my mind. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Of course, she’d read my mind. She’s the Grand Witch.

She laughs softly. “I am old, my dear, but not so old that I have forgotten the look of frustration from a young person who feels an older person of authority has dismissed her.”

I search her gaze. “Grams and I had our differences, but she was no black witch.”

“That is a hard case to make. She died while casting spells using Shadow power.” Before I can reply, her eyes slide past me and I turn to see her assistant waving at her. Her gaze returns to me and she smiles. “I must go. We will talk more. Until then, you are to do as Raith commands.”

I stiffen.

She laughs again. “I know. He can be a complete prig.”

I blink.

Her eyes twinkle. “But he is very nice to look at. Still, it’s a shame his parents taught him how to speak.”

A laugh bursts from my lips. I clap a hand over my mouth. Warmth spreads across my cheeks.

“He is very good at what he does,” she says. “Do as he asks, at least until we find the person who tried to kill you.” She sighs. “If I do not attend to Franklin, he will have a stroke. I will see you again soon.” She brushes past me and she and her assistant walk away.

I turn toward my dorm, then reconsider and veer right. I want to have a talk with Raith. The Watchman steps in my path.

I stop short and frown up at him. “What are you doing?”

He nods toward Penncarrow Hall. “You’re supposed to go to your room.”

I narrow my eyes. “Says who?”

“Raith.”

A group of girls pass us and stare as they ascend the half dozen steps to the door. No way do I want gossip getting around that a Watchman tackled me and dragged me back to my dorm room.

I’m going to find a way out of my room and hunt down Raith. And not to talk.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

LEILAH

Tweens

I lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling of my room. A little less than a week at The Academy and I’ve managed to get myself imprisoned in my room—with no tree outside the window. Grams would love that.

I glance at the Excalibur sword on its rack in the closet. At least, I was able to work off a little energy this afternoon during the war games training. Ethan allowed me to spar only with him and at some distance from the other students. I should have been embarrassed by being singled out but, at this point, what difference does it make? It’s clear he drew the short straw and has to protect me from flying weapons, teenage and twenty-something angst, and the occasional psychopathic Academy student who’s got a hard-on for killing Crowes. On the upside, Ethan is a superb warrior, and sparring with him was the most fun I’ve had at The Academy. I would never tell him, but I know he went easy on me. If I’m lucky, maybe he’ll continue sparring with me and I’ll actually learn something in my time here.

His protection should be enough, dammit. So why am I recalling him telling Miss Mack he isn’t available, and hating the mystery woman who holds his affection? His attitude during sparring had been as intense as usual, but without a hint of the dragon fire I touched that first day.