Page 32 of Deposed

“Isn’t there a waiting list?” I stepped out of the exit into the gravel path and inhaled lungfuls of cool, spring air.

“That isn’t the point!” Edward grabbed my arm.

“What is?” I drew closer to him, meeting his cold, blue glower with a heated one of my own. “The three of you are keeping me close to you and exacting a strange kind of retribution. How exactly does that benefit the academy?”

His eyes flashed, and his breathing grew heavy. “We’re punishing you.”

“You’re getting off on it.” I jerked my arm out of his grip.

Edward advanced on me, his gaze lingering on my lips. “What if we are? You hurt us the most.”

I stepped back, but the wall of the main building blocked me from moving further away. “And you all hurt m—”

Edward grabbed both forearms, pinning me against the wall. A gasp caught in the back of my throat, and before I could protest at the manhandling, his lips descended onto mine in a kiss so soft and aggressive and full of hunger, I couldn’t tell if this was a reconciliation or the progression of our fight.

Every nerve ending in my body sang with desire, and my heart pounded with an intensity I felt in my ribs, my breasts, and my nipples. Edward Mercia was kissing me. His beautiful, lips were caressing mine, as though he wanted me, the girl who had left. After everything I had done. After I’d lied to his face and tricked him into handing over files that had gotten his father arrested. The hands holding my arms in place slid down into my blazer and wrapped around my waist, and with a soft moan, I let my eyes flutter closed and shut out the rest of the world.

Melding myself into his hot, hard body, I surrendered further into the kiss, and let his tongue slide between my lips and meet mine. The sensation sent my knees buckling, and I was suddenly glad the wall was at my back to stop me from collapsing like a broken marionette.

He drew back and brushed strands of hair off my face. The pupils of his blue eyes were blown, and he said between panting breaths, “Stay with me tonight. Just the two of us. You won’t have to do anything you don’t want.”

My throat dried, along with all my resentment about not having been forgiven. “A-alright.”

A high-pitched cough sounded from behind. Edward glanced over his shoulder, stiffened, and stepped away, keeping his back to the interloper. It was a little first year, dressed in burgundy P.E. clothes, whose flush clashed with her strawberry blonde pigtails.

“Umm…” Heat rushed to my cheeks. I slowed my breathing and fastened the button on my school blazer. “Can I help you?”

“Are you Emilia Hobson?” she squeaked.

“Yes?”

“Miss Shinty says you’re to report to the hockey field after lunch.”

* * *

The hockey uniform consisted of items I already had in my cases: a white polo shirt, burgundy gym knickers, a burgundy hockey skirt, long socks, and black sports shoes. I walked over to the hockey field, past the now empty International House building, and around the back of the tuck shop. A group of girls were already running from one end of the pitch and around the goals, guided by a tall hockey coach clad in a 70’s style burgundy tracksuit with two white stripes down the sides.

I jogged up to the woman. “Miss Shinty?”

She turned around, revealing buck teeth sent within a gaunt face. “Miss Hobson, I presume?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Your housemaster has already explained your enthusiasm for the game. If you haven’t played before, I expect your teammates will get you up to speed.” Miss Shinty jerked her head toward the jogging girls. “Run a few laps. When I blow the whistle, put on a blue vest, and you’ll join us for a practice match.”

I jogged over to join the girls and spotted Patricia, who shot me a nasty glare and ran ahead as though it was a race. It wasn’t as if I cared what she thought, so I jogged at a steady pace behind her.

A voice from behind hissed. “What did you do to Henry?” Charlotte appeared from behind and jogged at my side. “He and the others wouldn’t spend so much time with a trollop unless you performed some kind of trick.”

I shrugged. “If I told you how to ensnare him, what would you give me in return?”

“You’re disgusting!” she hissed.

“Says the girl who only knows one type of currency.” At her blank look, I added, “According to video evidence, it’s not pounds sterling.”

Her cheeks turned the color of a baboon’s ass. “You pig!”

“You’re the one whose mind keeps going to the gutter, not me.” I continued around the goal post and quickened my pace. My longer strides should have created some distance between us, but Charlotte sprinted at my side and glared up at me as though I’d taken something that was rightfully hers.