“We have to go,” a man says running out of the library and stopping in front of the snake girl. The man is older, with black hair and wearing a black cloak with the hood down. He is holding a blue box, which looks old and covered in marks. He seems to realise we are all looking at him as he turns and lifts his hands. A white ward spreads from his hands, until there’s a wall between us and them.
“Stop playing with the kids, I got it,” the man says holding up the box, and the snake turns, slithering down the corridor. The man looks back at me once as I push between Logan and East. He doesn’t say anything, but he gives me a strange look, like he knows me before pulling his hood up. I watch as he turns and runs off after the snake.
“Can we break the ward?” I ask after they both disappear. I need to get to Kelly.
“Yes, we can do it together. I’m the only one out of us guys with the ward power, but between us two, we can overload it,” Locke tells me. He takes my hand and walks us up to the ward.
“Imagine the ward cracking, breaking into tiny parts and call your protection mark into your mind, Kenz,” he tells me and I nod, doing as he asks as he places our joined hands on the ward. I close my eyes as I feel the power from it spread down my arm, it’s slightly painful. I imagine it breaking, and falling into little, white bits. When I open my eyes, Locke is smiling down at me and all around us are little bits of the ward. It’s like snow falling, and we lower our hands.
“Kenzie,” Kelly shouts, and I turn to see her running out of the library. She throws herself into my arms, and I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. Thank Gods she is okay.
“What happened?” I ask, but she doesn’t get a chance to reply as I hear Mr. Daniels shout behind us.
“What are you doing out of your rooms?”
I turn to see him storming down the corridor, and aiming straight for me as Kelly steps away. He looks angry, and it’s a bit scary. It’s also a good look on him, it’s hot.
“Kelly called, and I–” I get out before he interrupts.
“No. I don’t care. Do you not realise what they wanted, Miss Crowe? How much danger you were in?” he snaps. I take a step back, surprised he would speak to me like that. I’m not stupid, and I know how dangerous it was running here, but I would never forgive myself if Kelly died while I sat in my room hiding. That’s not me.
“Don’t speak to her like that,” East says protectively, and it seems to make Mr. Daniels even madder. East comes to my side and links his fingers with mine.
“You all have detention, and get to your goddamn rooms now!” he shouts, his voice echoing down the corridor. The guys all glare at him but start to walk away with Kelly following. East tugs on my hand, and we start to follow Kelly.
“Not you, Miss Crowe, the headteachers want to see you. Now,” Mr. Daniels says.
“Fine,” I say stopping.
“Good luck,” East whispers to me and squeezes my hand before walking off with Kelly. Locke and Logan shoot me worried glances as they go up the stairs.
“Let’s go then,” I say, walking away from him and towards the stairs.
“Fuck, wait,” Mr. Daniels says, catching up to me and grabbing my arm to stop me.
“Why? Do you want to shout at me more for trying to save my friend? I’m not saying sorry for it,” I tell him, he looks down at me, and then to his hand on my arm. He doesn’t move his hand like I expect him to.
“I’m sorry. I was scared you were hurt. I went to your room, looking for you and panicked when you weren’t there,” he tells me softly. I move my hand, placing it on his chest before I say anything. I’m surprised he doesn’t stop me, and I can feel his heart beating fast under my palm.
“I’m okay,” I tell him gently, watching as his eyes search my own.
“Mackenzie,” he says my name slowly as he moves closer, and his hand slides up my arm.
“Mr. Daniels,” a voice shouts down the corridor, and he jumps away from me. What the hell just happened between us? I turn to see Miss Tinder walking towards us from the stairs. She doesn’t look impressed and flashes me a disgusted look. I try not to chuckle when I see her red hair is now short, cut into a bob, and I know it’s because of our lesson. Serves her right.
“Mr. Daniels, the headteachers are waiting for Miss Crowe, and you are needed in the gym. We have caught some of the rogues, and we need you to make them shift back,” she says. I didn’t know he could do that. I know that it’s a sign that his transmutation mark is extremely strong and makes him an alpha over most animals. I wonder what he shifts into?
“No problem,” he says and walks away. I watch as he looks back at me once, a confused look in his eyes, and I know it’s not just me that felt something then. These kinds of feelings could get him fired and me kicked out of the academy. As much as I like him, I don’t want that for him or me.
“Come now, Miss Crowe,” Miss Tinder says, and I follow her down the stairs, feeling sad that I didn’t meet Mr. Daniels somewhere else.
Chapter 19
Kenzie
I’ve been at The Marked Academy less than a week, and somehow this is my second visit inside the headmasters’ office. Just my luck. I tap my fingers against my knees, and glance over my shoulder every so often, waiting for someone to join me in the room. However, they appear to be letting me stew.
I don’t see why I should be in trouble, I was just trying to help my friend. Surely, they should understand that? And, it’s not like I was the only one out of their room. They just don’t like me, that’s gotta be it. The sound of the door opening behind me cuts off my inner rambling.
I turn around and watch as all three headmasters of the school enter the office, followed by Mr. Daniels. I swear that man is everywhere. One of the headmasters takes the seat behind the desk I’m facing toward. The other two push their chairs over as well, either side of him, so they are all facing across from me. One united front against Kenzie. Because that’s not intimidating at all. A chair scrapes against the floor next to me, I turn my head and notice Mr. Daniels sitting beside me. A warm feeling runs through me as he shoots me a reassuring smile.
“Miss Crowe, what on Ariziadia were you thinking?” one of the headmasters, Mr. Lockhart, asks.
“She wasn’t thinking, clearly,” the headmaster to the left, Mr. Layan, adds.
“Hey!” I exclaim, lurching forward slightly in my seat. A hand rests on my forearm, reminding me to keep calm. I sit back in my seat and glare at the men across from me. “I was just—”
“Being foolish?” The third headmaster, who’s name I can’t remember, says cutting me off.
“That’s not fair, let me explain,” I reply, trying to curb the whine in my voice. This fucking sucks.
“Life isn’t fair, Miss Crowe. Just because you have twelve marks, don’t expect life to give you special treatment,” Mr. Layan says, flicking a strand of his blond hair from his face.
“I’m not expecting special treatment, I’m asking for fair treatment,” I mutter, but he catches it.