Page 3 of Monster's Mistake

Cethin chuckles. “I don’t think I could dropCharms and Potionseither.”

“All right, I don’t need to know anything else,” I say, cutting them off before they talk about whatever they’ve been getting up to in theCharms and Potionsclassroom on the nights Anja disappears from the dorm room. I haven’t asked any questions, mostly because it’s better to stay in denial about these things in case any of the academy staff start asking the wrong questions.

Or the right ones as the case may be.

I glance at the big clock on the wall and turn my attention back to my food when I realise that I only have another fifteen minutes or so to eat before I need to leave to go get to class. And being late isn’t an option.

CHAPTER 2

Nati

I both loveand hate havingDivinationso early in the morning. Sometimes I think it’s helpful for not having too many thoughts of the day clouding my mind when I try to see what’s in store for the future. Other times, I’m barely awake enough to think straight, even after having a coffee or two at breakfast.

The classroom is already full, with only a couple of seats left at the end of the second bench. I’m not sure why that one is the one no one wants to sit at, but it’s the same every time I come into this classroom.

I make my way over and set my bag down on the bench so I can start unpacking my textbook and other materials so I’m ready for class to begin. I wish I had more coffee with me, that would be really good for my concentration because right now it feels like I’m going to spend the whole day struggling to pay attention to what my teachers are actually saying.

Hopefully, none of them will be teaching us anything integral to the end-of-year exams, or I’m going to be in real trouble.

The door swings open, and Professor Bishop enters the room. He sweeps to the front, looking as suave as ever. That’s a man who knows how to draw the attention of the room. Several of the other students murmur behind me and I know they’re admiring how handsome he is. Which I guess is true, but he’s ourteacher. That’s not my thing.

“Good morning, class,” he says. “You, in the end, put the kettles on.” He gestures to the students he wants to do the work.

A couple of the students at the other end of the benches jump up and go to do as he asks. I flick through my textbook to the section about reading tea leaves, presuming that’s what we’re about to start learning about. I suppose it makes sense while we’re still first years. There are probably a lot of people in the class who don’t have any real ability for divination, so this is something they can still learn about.

The door opens again, and I look up in time to lock eyes with Meic as he enters the room. Even though I’ll deny it if anyone asks, I take a moment to admire him. His uniform is in slight disarray but does nothing to hide the strong physique beneath, and his horns twist up from his head, parting the dark curls of hair that anyone would be jealous of.

It’s a shame someone so hot is so infuriating because otherwise, I would totally go there.

“You’re late, Mr Davies,” Professor Bishop says, looking down his nose at the ghoul.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Meic responds.

He sighs. “Just take a seat, next time it’ll come out of your exam mark.”

“I won’t let it happen again,” Meic says as he heads over to the only spare seat.

The one right next to me.

It would be much better if this were a class with assigned seats, at least I’d be able to ignore him then. But instead, I’mnow going to have to spend the rest of the class trying to ignore how close we’re sittingon topof the fact I’m struggling to focus anyway.

I may as well kiss goodbye to any chance of paying attention today, because it just went completely out of the window.

“Nati,” Meic says as he sits down, his voice going up a little higher than it should, almost as if he’s nervous. He clears his throat.

“Meic,” I say without looking at him. But it’s hard not to.

“Morning,” he says, his voice deeper and full of the bravado that’s the other side of the coin. Sometimes, I just want to ask him what it is about me that makes him either a nervous mess or a bit of an ass.

Franks slips out of the nest of snakes and hisses loudly at him.

“What did I do to him?” Meic asks.

“He’s a good judge of character.”

“Maybe I can win him around,” Meic responds, an impish smile on his face that shows off his pearly white teeth. Somehow, they shine even brighter now I know he’s a ghoul. Maybe because I know what they’re supposed to be used for. Not that I think Meic is a threat to anything other than the institution of good flirting.

“Mr Davies, not only were you late to class, but you’re now distracting Ms McKay from her studies.”

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