Page 114 of Magical Academy for Delinquents
I ducked behind a pillar. It must have been her ‘friend with benefits.’ I scooted around the pillar, careful to keep my back to her. Crap. I didn’t want her seeing me. Not right before this. The damn woman would pester me and somehow get me to spout the truth.
I walked back toward Gray, heels clicking. I’d meant to give him more time. But, hopefully, he was smoother than I anticipated.
I glanced to the side, spotted my mom, alone and wandering through the crowd, the dull look of a fresh Calm spell on her face. She looked gorgeous, in a wine-colored satin gown with long sleeves.
I hurried over to her, giving Gray another minute. "Mom! Why are you by yourself?" I glanced around. "Where's the husband?" I did my best to keep my tone civil. I didn’t want Mom alone and unprotected when things went down.
"Just wandering, you know, chatting with people." She grinned. "Claude's got a big meeting with Grayson's father coming up. Some big project—oh, shrimp!" She grabbed a shrimp appetizer off a waiter's tray and ate it.
I turned and let my eyes scan the room. Claude and Ginny were headed this way. Fucking good. The ruthless pair of them wouldn’t let themselves be trampled. Mom just had to stay in between them. After I saw the targets, my gaze immediately found Andros, a head above everyone else. He slowly started making his way closer at my nod.
Mom gave a little shriek. I turned, looking her up and down to see where she was hurt. But she wasn’t hurt. She was pointing.
I turned to see Grayson and Laura wrapped up together. Laura’s hand stroked the side of his face. He leaned into her touch with a heartbroken expression.
Rage that I didn't expect lit me up. I nearly laughed in surprise at it. Because—really—what kind of claim did I expect to have on Grayson?
I grabbed Mom's hand, making her appetizer plate crash to the floor as I dragged her toward them. "He promised—" I forced my voice out in a strangled squeak.
And then, then … the bitch leaned up and kissed him. Laura planted her lips on Grayson and the fury I’d felt before was nothing. My hands itched to burn the girl. My hand crushed my mother's, so that I’d resist.
"WHAT?" Mom’s outrage made heads turn.
Laura backed away from kissing Grayson. Her smirk turned wary when I stepped toward her. She thought she was so much better than me; she thought she had a shot. She still didn't get it.
My eyes glowed. I dropped Mom’s hand and pointed my palms at Laura. The power boost I'd gotten last night from Evan and Malcolm made my hands light up like nuclear reactors. I started to shake.
“Hayley, calm down. He’s a jerk, love. Nothing more,” Mom tried to soothe me, but I shook her off. I let Claude pull her back beside him.
I took another step toward Laura and smiled when fear lit her face. The light and darkness in my palms started alternating fritzing sign at one of those motels that people rented by the hour. It made me look broken. I turned from Laura to face Grayson. "You said you were done with her!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
The ballroom went silent. Every Unnatural head turned to stare at me as I pulsed like a strobe light. "You fucking liar!" I screeched.
Then there was a hand on my shoulder. Claude pulled me back, spun me around. The waterworks started at his touch, like Pavlov's fucking dog. I couldn't stand his touch. That demon.
Next to him, dressed in a red cocktail that matched her cherry hair, Ginny Stone tried to melt back into the crowd. But the darkness escaped me and wrapped around everyone nearby in pitch black shadows as my sobs reached volcanic eruption levels. "Grayson Mars, I'm fucking done! Do you hear me! Done!"
Just like Cinderella, I fled the ball.
Chapter 43
I ran as fastas I could in heels to the parking lot, which was a hell of a lot slower than all those damn movie actresses. I wondered briefly if there was such a thing as a stunt double for running in heels. It seemed like there should be. My eyes scanned the plethora of limos and town cars littering the parking lot, until I spotted a tall, dark figure wearing a leather jacket. I beelined for Jim.
Jim opened the door for me, and I asked, "You crushing it tonight?'
He winked at our passcode. "Yes, ma'am. Tips are gonna be good." Then he pulled open the door.
"How's the time looking?" I asked as I wiped away the mascara that streaked my cheeks.
The beefy biker checked his watch. "Four minutes," he said.
I nodded as I pulled off my chandelier earrings and handed them to him. He took them with a nod. "You be careful," I warned him, before climbing into the limo.
He leaned down and gave me a sincere smile, one that stretched the iridescent scars on his right cheek. "You too, little princess."
I flipped him off. "Get outta here. I gotta change."
He laughed as he shut the door.
