Page 116 of For Dear Life

Grayson rubs his lips together and regards them. “I don’t touch human blood. Too tasteless. A little like that garish necklace you’re wearing.” Rowan chuckles to himself. “Head towards Sheridan House. I heard some vamps are meeting up with volunteers,” continues Grayson.

“I would hope not,” I say. “I do not require another murder accusation to disprove.”

Rowan slides an arm around my waist. “Murder? You wouldn’t want to mess up your hair.”

“Droll.” I remove his hand from my lower back, but his touch lingers as if they remain hot against my skin. “Do you like my tiara?” I ask the girls.

“Uh.” Two glance at each other. “I guess?”

“Can I try it on?” asks another and they burst into giggles. “It’s so pretty.”

I narrow my eyes as I detect sarcasm. “Nobody touches my tiara.”

Again, the irritating giggling. “Nobody touches me tiara,” repeats a curly-haired girl, impersonating me.

I turn away not wanting to waste an iota of energy on the girls. The item isn’t familiar to them, although I never expected the humans to recognize the tiara. Along the end of the table, a group gathers, louder than others—and stupider, since the professors will easily pick up on their intoxication.

Mrs. Lorcan stands towards the entrance, elegantly dressed in teal, keeping a semi-official look with a skirt suit. She greets newcomers and I smirk to myself as the headmistress surreptitiously scans their thoughts. The headmistress pulls a witch boy to one side and, after a minor chastisement, he produces a small silver flask from inside his jacket to handover.

I’ve only seen the back of Holly’s head as she runs in circles, obeying some command or other from Marci. Marci, as expected, delegated all her tasks, and sits at the most prominent table, smiling as some approach and congratulate her on the ‘best one yet’. The girl is… beguiling. She always attracts and enjoys an audience.

Since the arrests, I’ve briefly spoken to Nita and Marci about events but tell them little more than is public knowledge. I’ve enough awareness of the effect it would have on Nita to ensure I don’t mention Rory’s undead state, and Dorian doesn’t want that revealing yet anyway. Holly told me that Nita can’t accept that Rory would murder Wesley and now refuses to speak about the situation.

Good because now there’s no chance I’ll say the wrong thing to Nita. Her information helped a great deal and I appreciate the trust Holly persuaded Nita to have in me. I’d hate to inadvertently distress her.

Marci isn’t stupid. The pretty girl, who’s pretending not to notice me, knows there’s more to the crimes. And I’ve still one eye on Marci because I know there’s more to her. With no Spring Ball committee any longer, I’ll need to formulate a new plan to infiltrate Holly’s social circle.

I stalk over to Mrs. Lorcan, and she startles as I clear my throat, before sweeping a gaze the length of me. “My, Violet. What a stunning girl you are beneath all that black and attitude.”

Again, I can’t figure out this lamia’s age behind her flawless skin. Another professor stands close by, wholly focused on her ass in the tight skirt, and he crosses to whisper to her.

“Excuse me,” she says sweetly.

Again, no admiration for, or recognition of, the thing on my head. I watch as the male professor and Mrs. Lorcan chat. He’s an older man—must be witch or human, judging by the lines on his face and the white in his hair picked out by the light.

“Who’s that?” I ask, as Rowan joins me.

“Mr. Hillside. He teaches elemental magic/geography,” he replies. “Although you wouldn’t know, since you’ve never attended his class.”

“A geography teacher called Hillside?” I snort. “Well, I’ve no use for instruction in elemental magic, as I excel at such. Tell me, have you investigated him?” Several other adults dot around the hall, some keeping a low profile against the walls, others marching around and pausing to talk to students who’re not keen to talk to them. “Have you made any further enquiries into these peoples’ pasts?”

“You know I have.” He nudges me. “Reckon you’ll actually attend more classes now you’re not running around doing detective work?”

“Undoubtedly, as my focus has shifted to the academy.” I point at Ms. Reynolds from art class. “Are many human teachers remaining now the headmaster has left?”

Rowan shrugs. “I’ll look into that.”

“I’m unimpressed that there’s little interest in my tiara so far,” I comment.

Rowan drinks and gestures the length of me. “Yeah, although a number of guys are interested in more than your over the top tiara.”

“Good grief,” I mutter. “There’s plenty of naked flesh around. Nobody needs to look at mine.”

“Nobody’s ever seen more than your ankle or wrist. That’s the fascination.”

“You have.” I look around at the chattering students.

“Yes, but not much more,” he says.

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