Page 140 of Depraved Boys

“The Board of Governors,” I whispered. “Someone wanted them to see.”

Leopold set me onto my feet and guided me to the leather sofa. He wrapped a warm, comforting arm around my shoulders.

“None of this is your fault, do you understand that?” he whispered.

I bowed my head and wept. It hadn’t occurred to me that the girls would have taken photos of their assault on me. And I certainly didn’t think they would make things worse by showing the photos to the governors.

My shoulders shook. “I’ll never be able to look any of them in the eye again.”

“They’re the ones who should be ashamed, not you,” Prakash murmured.

“Huh?” I asked.

“They failed to protect their best student. If they had any decency, they would apologize and make things right.”

Prakash made me a steaming cup of tea and added two spoons of sugar for the shock. I murmured my thanks and stared at the box sitting on the floor by my feet.

“I’ll get Sebastian.” Prakash strode out of the door.

A moment later, he returned with a barefooted Sebastian, whose eyes bulged at the sight of my weepy, disheveled state. “What’s happened?”

I bowed my head and stared into my drink. In halting, stuttering words, I recounted what had happened, including Mr. Byrd keeping copies of the photos.

Sebastian lowered himself into the seat next to mine and held me to his chest while I sobbed out my anger and frustration until my tears dried up, and my throat went hoarse. Leopold’s mother might disparage me because of the photos, but the thought of Bianca’s father pouring over images of me, naked and helpless, made my stomach churn.

Sebastian growled. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. And we’ll make whoever did this regret hurting you.”

“The question is who,” said Leopold. “My money’s on the jealous twin.”

Prakash rubbed his chin. “But she was expelled last week, won’t have access to the building, and likely doesn’t know anything about Board of Governors meetings. I think Bianca is more likely to have done this.”

“There is someone else who might want Willow gone.” Leopold said in that steel voice. “Do you have any ideas, Seb?”

Sebastian let go of me and stood. “L-leave it with me. I’ll go and investigate.”

Leopold shot out of his seat. “You—”

“I said I’d find out,” Sebastian snapped.

My heart flip-flopped. “What’s going on with you two? You’ve been politely at each other’s throats for weeks.”

Prakash stood and positioned himself between Leopold and Sebastian, as though ready to stop a fight. I clutched my chest, breathing hard. From the grim determination in Prakash’s face, this probably wasn’t the first time the two kings had come to blows.

“Wills asks an excellent question.” The edge in Leopold’s voice could have cut throats. “Perhaps the esteemed Mr. Garraway can elaborate.”

“Fuck off!” Sebastian roared.

A metallic screech filled the air, reminding me of the kind of feedback made by poorly-set up microphones.

Sebastian’s face fell. “What’s that?”

Prakash rose. “It came from under the desk.”

I ducked my head and peered into the corner of the room. It was so tidy, I doubted someone could hide anything there without notice.

Prakash went on his hands and knees. “There’s nothing there.”

“Let me see.” Leopold knelt behind his friend.