“You wouldn’t behereif you weren’t working on something big. I saw what you did to Halazar—what you’re capable of when you’re not pretending to be a student. You could’ve gone anywhere with that kind of power, but you’re back here.” She studies me like one would a new deck. “I want to work with you and, in exchange for my invaluable assistance, you’re going to figure out a way to get me out of going to Fate Hearth.”
Sighing, I lean against my desk as well, bracing myself on it and thinking. I’m barely keeping my own schemes in order. But she knows who I am. And she’s right, she could prove useful. “I can’t make any promises…and whatever I come up with won’t be easy.”
“I can imagine, since you’re someone who’d rearrange their whole face to escape the law.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “I’ll do my best.”
“Good.” Sorza nods. There’s no arguing or pressing the matter. She takes me at my word because she knows it’s not a lie. That is true power right there.
“Since we’re working together, I need something from you,” I say.
“Already?” She whistles. “You do move quick.”
“I’ve a lot going on.”
“What is it, then?”
“I need Thal. They’re in their third year, and I’m a new professor. I’ve no reason to call them that wouldn’t seem odd, and sticking out is the last thing I need. But you can still access the Majors’ retreat with ease. Can you get them to agree to come here without it seeming weird to any of the other students or professors?”
“I’m happy to.” Sorza doesn’t ask why, she just pushes off the desk with a definitive nod. “Give me time to work it out. Thal and I weren’t exactly close, so it’d seem off if I moved too quickly.”
“Thanks. Time is of the essence.”
She nods and starts for the door, pausing before she opens it. “It is good to see you again. I really am glad they didn’t get you.”
I nod, agreeing on so many levels.
With one more smile, Sorza leaves, and I turn back to my desk. I take the deck I was using to teach and place it into one of the drawers, clearing off the rest of the paper and pens with it. Just as I lock the drawer, the door opens.
“Did you forget—” I’m silenced the moment I lift my eyes. They meet a familiar pair, but not Sorza’s.
Kaelis.
Chapter 34
“Headmaster.” I barely refrain from calling him by his name with the door wide open.
Kaelis is dressed down—by his standards. He wears a pair of simple black trousers cut in a straight line down his lean legs. His shoes are plain leather—not polished or embellished. His shirt, white and crisp, is tucked in under a silk vest in a deep purple that is nearly as dark as his hair. The first button of the shirt is undone, and his cuff links are removed to roll his sleeves up to his forearms. Those two details are hardly anything, yet they have my heart racing like I’ve never seen a fucking forearm before.
“I came to check on my new professor. How are you finding things?” He shuts the door and drags his fingertips across the students’ desks as he stalks over.
“I have everything I could need,” I say, barely able to manage the higher, melodic lilt I’ve been working to keep in my voice as the air in the room thins. I’m not even sure why I’m trying. He knows who I am. But I’m shivering at the idea of what it’d mean if my façade cracks now. “Thank you, Headmaster.”
His eyes dart to mine, and there’s a flash of agitation followed by the ghost of amusement. Neither enough to stick. “You know it’s Kaelis.”
“I…I couldn’t.” I glance around even though I know everyone has left.
“No one else is here. They’re all on their way to lunch. All distracted.” He finally stops right in front of me. The smallest yet smuggest of smirks. “And I locked the door.”
“Kaelis, what’re you doing?”
“Satiating a need.” His dark eyes threaten to devour me as his hand finds my jaw, long fingers curling around the back of my neck. “Finally finishing what I started.”
“We can’t,” I breathe.
“Why?”
“Not here.” My eyes dart around again, but with less conviction. They return to him too quickly. Heart pounding.
