Page 55 of Firestorm
Earl’s eyes flickered at me, but then he grinned.
“Willow Craig, right? Not the most talented girl.”
I stared at him.
I was completely out of my depth, here. Was he trying to bait me? Why?
Earl cleared his throat again, then his face hardened. “Give me something here, Ms. Aria. The Iykos’ are very powerful people and they’ll be very upset to learn Landon was bested by a late-presenting scholarship student who supposedly came into her water a month ago.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“But that’s what happened,” I said slowly.
Earl was shaking his head before I finished speaking.
“I’m not a fool, Ms. Aria, and I don’t think you are, either. Why haven’t you completed your Link-testing?”
“I did.”
“There was an issue.”
“I still did it.”
Earl scowled. “When will you be redoing it?”
“Probably never,” I replied. “That’s not a school requirement, is it?”
Earl clenched his jaw before responding, “No, it isn’t.”
“Okay. So what does this have to do with Landon getting his ass kicked by a late-presenting scholarship student?”
Earl winced, just barely, at my use of his words and I almost grinned.
“I may have spoken too brashly,” he muttered.
“I’ll say,” I replied. “Luckily for all of us, I’m willing to forgive Mr. Iykos for grabbing me and jerking me around during an affinity only sparring match. I’m sure his parents will be relieved to hear I have no plans of pressing charges for his assault on me.”
Earl’s eyebrows raised so high that the wrinkles on his forehead bunched together.
“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear the good news,” he replied after a beat of silence. “I encourage you to have your Link-testing redone. A fiery double affinate such as yourself would be a gift to your Links.”
“Or my Key,” I said.
Earl gave me a condescending grin. “I think we both knowyou’rethe Key, Ms. Aria. I’m interested to see which lucky affinates are matched to you. See that your testing is redone and uploaded as soon as possible.”
“Sure,” I lied.
Earl’s condescending grin turned genuine, and I was officially a little freaked out.
“I’ll have you excused from classes for the rest of the day so you can head back to your dorm and relax. You must be rattled after such an…assault.”
I stared at him, then nodded as I stood.
“Thanks,” I said, already turning toward the door when he cleared his throat again.
“Take care, Ms. Aria. I’d hate to have you in this office again.”
I only gave him a tight smile before I left his office, letting the door click closed behind me. My heart pounded as I slowly made my way past his assistant’s desk and to the stairwell. I made it down a single flight of stairs as normally as possible before I bolted.
