Page 54 of Rogue Witch

“Don’t force me to use magic,” Cromwell says in a calm voice that belies his power. The short, portly man is not the pushover he appears.

“I want to speak with my father,” Ariel snaps.

“Don’t worry,” Raith says. “We will both be speaking with your parents.”

She doesn’t move and Cromwell steps toward her. Ariel shoots him a dagger filled look, then starts walking. David waves Chelsea to follow, and the three head toward the infirmary.

Raith addresses the three teachers, “Please take the students to the auditorium and begin debriefing. Blade and Ethan will get the other instructors.”

I want to tell Raith to go to the devil, that I plan to debrief Leilah, but he’s right. We have to attend to the students. The two martial arts instructors start walking and the students follow.

Leilah starts to follow, but Raith says, “Ms. Crowe, you’ll stay here, please.”

Her mouth thins, but she doesn’t argue.

Jonas looks from us to her and says, “Can I stay, too?”

So, their friendship grew while they were in the Reaping.

“Go along,” Ethan says. “You can see Leilah tomorrow.”

He looks at Leilah, who nods, then he follows the rest of the students with Linda taking up the rear.

Raith locks eyes with Caleb and says, “Hello, Caleb.”

Leilah frowns. “You know him?”

“Quite well,” I reply.

She narrows her eyes at the wolf. “I should have known.”

Ethan sends Raith a warning look, then heads toward the retreating students.

I hesitate, but I can’t show favoritism, so start after the students. Our first order of business is a roll call to make sure everyone returned. I’m glad Leilah’s familiar is with her. The creature won’t let Raith abuse her. Neither will Caleb, I suppose. I glance over my shoulder to find they are halfway up the stairs. I turn away and realize Olympia isn’t here. How could she miss the commotion of the students’ return? I catch sight of Delta Winterling standing on the steps to the admin building, a strange smile on her face.

Chapter Twenty

LEILAH

Stony and the wolf flank me as I follow Raith up the Administration building’s steps. The vampire is the last person I want to talk to about an Academy student’s murder. Once again, I see the guy’s body making a slow turn as he hangs from the tree. I stumble but catch myself. Stony looks at me, but I keep my attention on Raith’s heels as we cross the foyer and start up the stairs to his office.

Were we really in the Reaping only two days? How did students became so quickly infected by Shadows that they hanged a fellow student? I’d heard stories of people infected during the war committing atrocities. Despite the millions that died, I had no idea how bad it really was. I blink against a sting of tears.

The wolf still walks beside me. I’d like to know how he knows The Three. I should have known they had a connection. He is just too skilled a shifter. The wolf protected me in the Reaping. He saved my life.

I resist an urge to look at him. Why did he single me out? Why did The Three single me out? Had they sent him into the Reaping? No, that wasn’t possible. Was it? I recall the night of the War Games. As we broke into the crime boss’s house, a wolf had howled. A chill prickles my arms. A wolf howled right before I was taken in the Reaping? That’s weird. This time I can’t help but look at the wolf. He looks up at me, eyes intent. I step onto the second floor hallway. A woman emerges from his office. I remember her. Raith’s assistant, Rebecca, is in love with him. Raith gives her a curt nod as we pass her and enter his office.

He’s such an ass.

Suddenly, I’m exhausted, I wonder if I can keep my eyes open. I need to go to my dorm room. No, I need to go to the home that’s mine now that Grams is dead. She might not have wanted me to have the house but, legally, it’s mine. I have the right—

Gram’s spell book. Oh God, what if they found the book? No, I’ve been gone only two days. Not enough time for anything to have gone wrong.

Two days? How is that possible?

I’ll fill Raith in on what happened in the Reaping, then Stony and I are getting out of here. Seton is around and he knows I’m back. Maybe he can help me decipher Grams’ spell book.

Raith points at the chair in front of his desk as he circles to his vacant chair. I drop into the chair. Stony plops down onto her stomach to the left of my chair and the wolf sets his butt on the floor to my right. The walls feel as if they’re closing in on me.