Page 172 of Depraved Boys

I wrinkled my nose, trying not to picture a furious Miss Claymore on top of my boyfriend. “Why didn’t he stay with you?”

Leopold raised his brows. “The big dipper comes out at night, where it shines both strong and bright.”

“Is that your way of telling me you’re a man-whore?”

He pressed a hand on his chest. “Reformed, unpaid man-of-the-night. Now I’m faithful to one-third of a woman and still awaiting my smothering.”

“Mr. Brunswick?” Mr. Fisher stormed across the room. “Would you like to share your conversation with the rest of the class?”

“Why, certainly, my good sir.” Leopold stood. “I was reciting a composition I made. An ode to man’s best friend: his penis.”

Laughter broke out across the room, and I slid down my seat. That wasn’t even funny, so why was I laughing?

“Get out!” Mr. Fisher roared.

Leopold shrugged. “A man can’t be faulted for doing as he’s told.”

The next class of the day was English. An elderly man took the place of the previous teacher who had stuttered and shaken throughout the lesson. While he didn’t have Miss Claymore’s flare or enthusiasm for the subject, he knew what he was talking about and could make himself understood.

I explained to the kings why I wanted to spend a bit of time with Cormac. Surprisingly, they understood, and no one made any disparaging comments about my best friend.

Mr. Blunt wandered into the lecture theater with his flat cap in his hands. His gaze swept around the room until it landed on me.

He addressed the new teacher. “Excuse me, sir, I have a message from Mrs. Benazir.”

“Go on,” said the old man.

The caretaker’s eyes rolled upward as though he was memorizing from a list. “Miss Evergreen, Miss Byrd, and Miss Hill are wanted at the headmistress’s office.”

Cormac stood. “I’ll escort the ladies.”

Dread rumbled through my belly, and I pulled myself to my feet. Sebastian grabbed my arm and asked if I wanted him to come, but I shook my head and wrapped my arms around my middle.

If Mr. Byrd was here, complaining about the bonfire of his blood money, I would report him to the police for bribery and harassment.

The caretaker scampered out of the lecture hall and around to the other side of the building. As we stepped out, I turned to Cormac and whispered, “I don’t think I can be polite to Geraldine if she snipes at me.”

“And I fully expect you to fight your corner. She might be the love of my life, but she’s wrong about you on several counts.”

I glowered at the pair of self-styled queens walking ahead of us with synchronized steps. How could Cormac tolerate such a vicious little poser?

“Do you know what it could be about?” he whispered.

I shook my head. “There are so many things going on, it could be anything.”

When we reached Mrs. Benazir’s office, Cormac motioned for me to follow Geraldine and Bianca inside. I gave him a grateful smile and stepped through the doorway.

The headmistress sat at her desk, opposite two familiar-looking police officers. Geraldine and Bianca stood to one side with their arms linked.

“Go on.” Mrs. Benazir waved her hand at the female officer. “Tell them.”

“Neither of your DNA matches the samples we took from the forensic medical exam. We need a list of girls who were at this…” She glanced down at her notepad. “Initiation.”

Bianca batted her lashes. “It was just the two of us and Ashley.”

“There were about twelve girls,” I snapped.

“Their names, please?” asked the officer.