Page 36 of Moon Cursed

I tipped my chin. “Is that your only condition?”

She hummed, smiling. “Not quite. While we’re on the subject of unacceptable power dynamics, we must talk about you and your fates.”

“My fates? What about them?”

“We’re in a situation where the headmistress of this academy is mating with or expected to mate with her own students.” She tutted, disapproval etched into the wrinkles around her eyes. “I’d have them transferred to another school, if there was another academy on par with Corvin. The other, most obvious, route is for you to step down—”

“Nope.”

Her lips curled tighter. “With that being the case, the last and only option is for your fates to be under my authority and only my authority. Your duties to Luame supersede all, but relationships between students and staff are a serious matter. What if the unnamed fate who pressured you into extorting two million dollars from the council, demands you doctor their grades and give them a glowing recommendation?”

I gave no reaction, even though I was straight shocked she knew about the two million.

“When it comes to you and your fates, you are their fellow student only. Do you agree?”

“I—”

“And no,” she broke in, face hard. “I will not run decisions concerning them by you. I would do that with their headmistress, but you are no longer their headmistress. You agree, or I walk out that door right now.”

I bared my teeth. “That’s hardly a threat since I never asked you here in the first place. Need I remind you, I have other candidates to interview.”

“Oh? And where would they be?” Ash made a show of looking around. “I didn’t see them out there in the waiting area? Do you have theseother candidateshiding under your desk?”

I bit my lip hard, nostrils flaring. Me and this she-wolf were not going to get along... because I fucking hated her.

Ash rose to her feet, smoothing down her skirt. “There are no other candidates and there never will be, because no one other than me is willing to work with a child. But I am willing, High Priestess, because I understand a heavy weight was thrust on your shoulders from the moment you were conceived, and while everyone else is out for their own interests, you live to champion Luame’s.

“I respect that,” she stated, “and believe it or not, I respect you. But you cannot do this job, so let me help you.” Ash extended her hand. “That’s why I’m here.”

I eyed her palm, making no move to take it. “What about you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What are your interests, Mrs. Ash? Are you out for yourself? For me?” I looked her in the eyes. “Or for the council?”

“Neither,” she replied without hesitation. “I’m here for my sons. My omega sons.”

I kept my shock off my face, but only barely. Her sons were omegas? Sons that I just learned were undereducated and tossed aside by the same educational system she devoted her career to.

If I can sacrifice everything for my daughter, I guess I can believe someone else can do the same for her sons.

“Alright, I agree to your conditions.” Standing up, I shook her hand firmly. “You have the job, Mrs.—make that, Vice Headmistress Ash.”

“Excellent.” She granted me a tight smile that was gone as soon as it appeared. “Now, if you would escort me to the gates, I need to go home, pack a few things, and then I’ll return tonight at eight o’clock. Is that a good time for you to welcome me back in?”

“Perfect time,” I said lightly, following her trail to the door. It was wise of her not to ask for me to key her into the gates’ magic, because that was never going to happen in a million years. “Is there anything else you’ll need to make your quarters more comfortable? There’s an amazing lavender hand soap in mine that I’m happy to share.”

“You’re kind, but no. I have everything I need.” Stepping out, Ash picked up her phone from the tray resting on the empty desk.

That desk was for the receptionist that I didn’t have. He beat it out of here when he found out Dagem didn’t leave, she was actually murdered and stuffed in a closet. For some reason, the poor man thought he would be next.

Ash tucked her phone away, nose wrinkling slightly. Together we were a silent duo walking through the halls and out to the gate. I waved her goodbye with a wide, beaming smile on my face that she didn’t return.

Ava melted out of the shadows the second she was gone.

“Did it work?”

I turned that beaming smile on her. “It worked. She didn’t suspect a thing. Or I should say, she didn’t smell a thing.”

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