Page 37 of Moon Kissed

I clenched my jaw, stopping me from saying something stupid. Orion was smarter than I gave him credit for. That was a problem. “Paranoid much?” I said when I found the words. “I just wanted some red-hot detention sex. Maybe the next—”

“Ahhh!”

A scream ripped through my sentence.

We spun toward the window where something large fell and landed with a thud that resounded through my chest.

We didn’t hesitate.

Leaping over the chairs, we raced to the windows and stuck our heads out.

“Fucking hell,” Orion cried.

Lying in a broken, crumpled heap on top of the rose bushes was Mr. Hall. We didn’t need to check if he was dead. The wrong-ways limbs and unseeing eyes told that story.

“What happened!” Orion twisted his neck looking up. “Did he jump? Why would he do that?!”

“Eh, who knows. But good news.” I breezed by, patting his incredulous, bug-eyed self on the shoulder. “Detention is over.”

THEY CAME FOR ME THREEbites into my steak and potatoes. I was groaning before they stepped up to the table.

“Get up.”

“Oh, come on. Can I get through one meal without interruption? At least let me finish.”

Dagem bared her teeth, still managing to look intimidating while holding Nia out in front of her like a human shield.

Standing right beside her were two of her staff and my fates, each exhausting all the ranges of emotions.

“Get up now!”

“All right, all right.”

The mess hall was mostly empty. The rest of the students had long since blown in, gotten their food, and went off to enjoy their little bit of free time before bed.

That left few people to witness them frog-march me through the building, out into the courtyard, and through to the administration building. I chattered the whole way.

“So what’s up with you guys?” I asked. “Having an eventful first day?”

Silence.

“I sure have. This new back-to-basics curriculum has shown me how rusty I am. I almost said ow when I punched the dummy during martial arts. I know, I know,” I sighed. “You have to practice every day. Can’t let those skills slip, but everyone needs a cheat day. Or fifty.”

The stony-faced group didn’t even look at me. Only Dagem’s ticcing jaw proved she was listening.

I swung to Nia. “What about you? How was your first day?”

“Uhhh...” Nia looked to Dagem for help as we rounded the corner out of the great hall, but the headmistress stared straight ahead. “It... uh... It actually wasn’t so great. I found out today that they took landscaping off of the approved omega job list. It’s for betas only now.”

“Oh no, that sucks. What did you like about it? Being outdoors, the creativity, or both?”

Again Nia looked to Dagem for cues. Dagem was giving her nothing, so she replied, “Both. Believe it or not, I was excited about it. I’m an earth wolf, so being a part of making nature even more beautiful is my dream.” She looked away. “Or it was.”

“Hmm.” I dropped my head back, mulling it over. “I don’t know what’s on the omega job list but... what about... Oh! Have you ever thought about set design?”

“What?”

“Set design,” I repeated. “You know for movies, musicals, and plays. It’s an indoor and outdoor job. It’s creative. And, with your earth powers, you won’t need cardboard trees and plastic leaves. You could create real, beautiful sets that bring your favorite stories to life.”

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