“The headmaster?” I frowned. “What for?”
Those dark orbs lifted to lock onto mine. “Your dad is here.”
“My dad?” I blinked at him and then blinked again, not quite understanding what he meant. “Which one? Why?”
“Your phone kept saying it was out of service.”
“I lost it during the fight,” I interjected.
“I figured that happened. But, at the time, we didn’t know what else to do. Julian couldn’t find a GPS location on you with your phone out of service. We had no clue where you’d gone.” He pulled on his lip ring a few times. “Antoine is waiting for you to wake up then he wants to see you in the headmaster's office.”
There was a bad feeling building in my stomach. I’d already wanted to talk to my dad before, but he hadn’t answered the phone. Now it looked like he was coming to deal with me face to face, but not for the reason I expected.
“Guess it’s too late to pretend I’m still sleeping.” I let out a nervous chuckle.
Tate gave me a pointed look. “I can give you a little more time before letting them know you’re up, but I don’t think he’s going to wait long.”
With Tate's help, I got out of bed and into clean clothes. He then walked me from the Vampire's Crypt all the way to the headmaster's office.
I winced and sat down in one of the waiting chairs. Tate took the seat next to me, his hands hanging between his legs.
“You don’t have to stay with me,” I told him, placing a hand on his back. “I’m sure you want to check on Kyren or have classes.”
Tate shot me a dry look. “And risk you getting hurt again? I don't think so.”
I sighed, letting my hand slide off his back. Clearly, my latest reckless action has given me permanent bodyguards. I supposed that was better than being pulled out of the academy all together.
A few minutes later, the office door opened, and Julian stepped out. He looked down at me for a long moment before walking away without saying anything.
“He’s really mad, huh?”
“I think he’s more upset you got hurt than anything,” Tate said, helping me to my feet.
I stared after where Julian had gone, a fist squeezing around my heart. I hated that I worried them, especially Julian.
He was always on my case about being reckless, doing things outside of protocol. The fact that he wasn’t in my face yelling at me or telling me I told you so told me how he felt so much more than any words he could say.
“Jaquelynn,” a stern voice called to me through the open doorway.
My eyes locked with Tate’s, who gave me a sad smile.
“I’ll wait here for you,” he said, releasing his hold on me.
Sighing heavily, I turned to face the consequences of my actions.
The headmaster’s office — which I’d never been to — was eerily similar to the one Antione kept at the house. Heavy brocade drapes covered the windows. Someone had lined up shelves of books around the room, giving it more of a wooden, homey feel than that a castle. An unlit fire place sat to one side and, in the middle of the room, sitting behind a large oak desk, were two of my dads.
Antoine with Darren at his side.
“Have a seat,” Antoine instructed, his face as smooth and expressionless as a piece of marble.
“I’m surprised mom isn’t here,” I commented, moving further into the room.
“Your mother is beside herself, and it took everything in me to convince her to stay home,” Antoine explained with a cool tone. “As did the others. So as not to feel like we are ‘ganging up on you,’ so to speak.”
I nodded and winced with each step until I reached the chair in front of the desk, then eased myself down into it. My gaze flickered up to Darren’s. He had as much of a poker face as Antoine did the majority of time, except in this instance, his brows furrowed slightly, concern written in his eyes.
“I’m fine,” I offered him a weak smile. “Just a bit bruised.”
