Then the bathroom door flies open with a bang, Kat cries out, and before I know what’s happening Brom’s grip on my neck is loosening.I’m staring up at those black eyes, watching as the darkness in them fades a little, no longer taking over his whole eyeball but just turning his brown eyes obsidian, and then he suddenly rolls over and to the floor, as if someone just hit him.
And then a most peculiar thing happens.
He starts sliding backward as if he’s being dragged from behind, until he slams against the wall and moans in pain, his limbs contorting.
I look over at Kat.
My heart leaps.
She’s holding out one of her hands toward Brom, palm out, and I can see the crackle of lightning and fire forming there, like she’s birthing a thunderstorm.That same energy flows outward toward Brom, the lightning fading as it goes until it becomes invisible, but the force is apparent from the way she’s holding Brom back against the wall.
Her face is growing paler, dark circles forming under her eyes, and she’s growing visibly weaker as the seconds tick by.She won’t be able to do this for long.
I quickly get to my feet, ignoring the pain in my throat, the tightness of my breath, like I’ll never get a full lungful again, and grab the gun from the bed.I whirl around, wondering how else to keep Brom contained, but then Kat’s arm drops and she wavers on her feet.
I have her in my arms before she hits the floor, my gun aimed at Brom.
But he’s on his side and he’s barely moving.Everything is back to normal, including his pretty face, and it’s not lost on me that he’s still naked and his cock is still hard, even after all that.Or, perhaps, because of all that.
The two of us are more alike than I thought.
I glance down at Kat in my arms, holding her tight.“Are you all right?”My voice is tight and ragged.
She makes a weak noise but nods.“So tired,” she manages to say.
I lead her over to the bed and place her there gently, then I go over to Brom, the barrel still pointed at him just in case.
“Brom?”I ask carefully, my finger on the trigger.
He wheezes, his eyes pinched shut, but he’s nodding too.
“Will you try to keep that horseman under control for the rest of the night?Because I don’t think we can all keep doing this over and over again.”I wince at the sight of the blood running back down his shoulder, then look over at Kat, who is lying on the bed, her eyes flickering shut.
Shame pinches my heart.I’m supposed to be the one keeping them safe.Yet both of them are spent and worse for wear and no thanks to me.
I run a hand down my face, trying to think of the next course of action.Brom is incapacitated for now, but the horseman could return and Kat needs to rest before she can try to stop him again.That was an impressive display of magic, more than I’ve ever seen from anyone, let alone one of my students, and as much as I want to see her use it again, I now know the cost.
A knock at the door brings me out of my thoughts.
Oh,fuck.
I glance at Brom and Kat, but neither of them seems to notice.Then I slip the gun into the back of my trousers and head to my door.
I open it a crack and peer out.
Daniels is dressed in his pajamas, wearing a nightcap and holding a flickering candle.
“Crane,” he says in a gruff voice, eyes sleepy.“What the devil is going on in there?”
I clear my throat, trying not to grimace at the pain.“Nightmare,” I tell him hoarsely.
His brow crooks up.“A nightmare?You mean to tell me all the thumping around and screaming is because of a nightmare?”
“This school plays tricks on you,” I say by way of explanation.
Realization comes across his face.“Ah.Don’t tell me you think you’re being haunted by Vivienne Henry.Or Desi, now that he’s nowhere to be found.”
I need to play into this, though Vivienne Henry has become the least of my concerns tonight.“I have a susceptible mind,” I tell him, tapping my temple.
