Page 28 of Hex Appeal

She took it without hesitation, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.Around them, starlight swirled and music wrapped them in its embrace.In this moment, the curriculum disputes and professional boundaries fell away, leaving just the two of them moving in perfect synchrony.

"You challenge everything I thought I knew about teaching," he said, pulling her closer until she could feel his heartbeat matching her own."About magic.About myself."

"You make me think before I act," she admitted with a smile."Most of the time."

His laugh rumbled through his chest, and she felt rather than heard it."The were-poodle incident?"

"Was entirely your fault for looking so principally."

"That's not even a word."

"It is when you're involved."She looked up at him, struck by how right this felt."We're better together.Admit it."

Instead of answering, he kissed her.It was sweet and passionate and perfect, a promise of something neither of them had expected to find.When the dance ended, they quickly called for the check and left, too caught up in each other to notice an enchanted quill writing furiously in a nearby table.

***

THE NEXT MORNING, THEYwere going over the details of the Bewildering Fog Hex lesson in Malachai's office, though "going over" might have been a generous description for what was actually happening.

"Your teaching form was completely unorthodox," he said, backing her against the wall with none of the professional distance he usually maintained.

"Mmm."She pulled his tie loose, enjoying the way his eyes darkened in response."But effective."

"Reckless."His voice was husky as his hands settled on her waist.

"Creative."She countered, tilting her face up to his.

"Do you ever follow proper procedures?"But his lips were already tracing a path down her neck that had nothing to do with educational protocols.

"Do you ever loosen up?"She grinned against his mouth."Besides now?"

Their kiss sent actual sparks dancing through the air.Books opened themselves, scattering rose petals across the office like eager flower girls.The very air seemed charged with their connection, responding to the emotions they'd kept contained for too long.

"This is completely unprofessional," Malachai murmured between kisses that grew increasingly heated.

"Absolutely."Ceries worked on his perfectly straight collar, revealing more of the man beneath the principal's facade."Totally inappropriate."

"We should stop."

"Definitely."But her hands were already under his jacket, exploring the warmth beneath.

A sudden cough from the doorway froze them mid-kiss.They turned to find Trustee Thorncraft watching with calculated interest, his expression one of a man who'd found exactly what he was looking for.

"Well," he said as they hastily separated."What an enlightening curriculum discussion."

"Sir—" Malachai started, straightening his rumpled clothing with as much dignity as possible.

Ceries felt the blood drain from her face as the full implications hit her.They'd been caught—by the one person with both the power and the apparent desire to make their lives difficult.

"No need to explain."Thorncraft's smile didn't reach his eyes as he swooped into the office, radiating satisfaction.He settled uninvited into a chair, the picture of a man holding all the cards."I trust you both enjoyed The Enchanted Cork?Lovely place for a romantic evening.Certainly more appropriate than a principal's office."

"We made an error of judgment," Malachai said, attempting to gain control of a situation that had clearly slipped beyond his grasp.

"Yes, you have.This puts the school in an awkward position.A principal dating a teacher?That's not only unprofessional, but we're murking the legal waters here too."

"It's not like that," Ceries interjected, indignation coloring her voice."There isn't any quid pro quo going on here."

"I know that.You know that.But would anyone else believe that?Especially since there has been some controversy over the curriculum."

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