I shake my head.“No.I don’t think so.She knew I was going to see you and she didn’t seem to care.But she did tell me I needed to be careful or I would face repercussions.”
“And that’s what I’m talking about,” he says in gruff annoyance.
“Then she told me that she’s a Van Brunt.”
Crane does a double take.“Come again?”
I’m nodding.“Sister Sophie is related to Brom.She wouldn’t say how.Which, I suppose, means that Sister Margaret is too.And she said that my mother was supposed to marry Brom’s father, Liam, but obviously that never happened.And now I’m supposed to marry Brom because…because…”
“Because Goruun said so,” he says.
“I didn’t get that far,” I say warily.
“But I did.”He gives his head a shake and then looks off with a pained expression.“We need to talk.But not here.Not tonight when I know they’ll be watching closely.”
“So then you’re going to leave Brom on his own tonight?”
“No.He’ll be with me.They never said I had to stay away from Brom, only you, and if they make me explain why I have Brom chained up in my room, then I’ll be quick to tell them it’s either that or he’s going to be unleashing the headless horseman on campus.”
“Chains?”
He looks chagrined as he brushes a strand of his hair behind his ear.“The custodian lent me some.”
Why does the idea of Brom in chains make my core grow hot?
“So what am I supposed to do?”I say, trying not to whine but failing, hating how powerless I feel.I’m seconds away from stomping my foot like a child.“You can’t just leave me.”
“My, you’re stunning when you’re being a brat,” Crane muses.
“A brat?”I repeat in shock.
He grins at me.“Yes.Impatient and petulant.Not used to it when things don’t go your way.”
I glare at him.“I don’t think I deserve that.”
“You deserve my ruler on your pretty pink cunt, that’s what you deserve,” he murmurs, his eyes darkening.“Swatting you until you come so hard you’re spraying me with it.”
Heat floods through me, flaming my cheeks and gathering between my legs.“You’re not being fair,” I manage to say.
“I never said I was a fair man, did I?”he says, clearly enjoying this.“Not to worry, darling, it’s just for tonight.Tomorrow morning come meet me in the library.Nine o’clock.It should bequiet then and there’s no rules about a teacher tutoring his student in public.”
“Will Brom be there too?”
“If he wants to be,” he says begrudgingly.Then he leans in, placing a fast kiss on my forehead.“I’ll see you then.In the meantime, try to make some friends.”
He turns and walks off toward his door.“Oh, and,” he says over his shoulder, giving me a cold smile, “stay away from Brom.”
11
Crane
One year ago
“What are these?”comes Abe’s groggy voice.
I step out of the bathroom, completely naked, to see him standing by my desk, already dressed, and fingering the stack of tarot cards beside the glass of water I left out for him this morning while I was in the bath.I’d wondered when he’d notice since I made no attempt to hide them, but I guess we’ve been doing nothing but fucking for the last few days, ever since he came home with me from the opium joint.
“Tarot cards,” I tell him.
