Page 27 of Live To Tell

“Geography.”

“How pointless.”

Rowan catches up. “Regardless, if you want to snoop on students and teachers, you’ll need to attend lessons,” he reminds me. “Especially if you’re discouraging Holly’s involvement.”

“Selective lessons, yes. Pointless ones, no.”

I continue to stealth after the teacher. Mr. Woodside reaches the library and I smile to myself as I reach our meeting place and sanctuary. Our frequent visits mean there’s nothing unusual here. As I push open one swinging door too quickly, Mrs. Eldridge looks up, face sour as the wood hits the wall.

“We have more important matters than trips to fields or whatever the academy’s organizing. Whitegrove spoke such rubbish about curses and the enchantment. What about the girl in the photograph?” I demand. “And the caginess as to why he never reported the item stolen?”

Again, the librarian glares at us as my voice rises. This is also her fault—if she hadn’t interfered, I would’ve found the tiara and Whitegrove wouldn’t take his ‘heirloom’.

“It is plausible that the tiara has a defensive curse,” Rowan replies with caution, and I hiss air between my teeth.

“Secrets,” I half-growl.

“Which we’ll discover, but wait until you speak to Dorian.”

“I would like to see what Mr. Woodside does following his encounter. Why is he here and not walking to class?”

The library’s half-vacant as usual and we pause on the lower level rather than rushing up to our meeting spot. Two guys sit at a bank of computers, blazers hooked over chairs behind, another at a desk chewing on a pen as he makes notes from a modern human textbook. This part of the library is filled with the pointless books that Holly often has piled on her own desk and bed beside a plethora of other items, but rarely looks at.

Mrs. Eldridge stops her glaring, her attention switching to Mr. Woodside standing opposite the long, curved reception desk she spends most of her time behind reading. I can’t imagine she has much more to do. Oh, apart from stealing potions maybe?

I’m about to pass for a more secluded spot between shelves when I notice Mr. Woodside’s fingers gripping the wood and his stance is stiff. Then Mrs. Eldridge places a hand on his, shaking her head but not speaking. He pulls his away.

I gesture at Rowan to stay where he is and be quiet, which results in an eye roll. I side-step behind a shelf adorned with physics books and peek out, training my hearing on their conversation.

“I needed the... it. Why did you allow the item out of that room?” he asks.

“I can’t override Mrs. Lorcan,” she says quietly.

“Yes, you can. You’re responsible for the artifacts held in the academy.” I can hear everything, but his voice rises enough that someone with normal senses could too.

“I am responsible for keeping items secured and out of people’s reach,” she retorts. “But I don’t have the final say on what happens to each one.”

“I saw him. Whitegrove. Why was he at the academy?” urges Mr. Woodside.

“To collect the tiara.”

The teacher’s grip on the wood loosens and he goes ramrod straight. “There’s evidence in that item. The bloody Circle will lock the thing away after interfering with any chance someone can get past the enchantment.”

“Julius. He has a legitimate claim. Keep looking into your own ideas. You never expected the tiara to resurface anyway.”

Right. This man isn’t leaving until he’s aware I’m here. I stride over.

Mr. Woodside pivots to face us as Rowan joins me and flicks a look at us before he takes on a ‘teacher face’. Yes, I did hear what you said. “Not prepared for class, Ms. Blackwood?”

His eyes might pierce souls, but they don’t touch mine. “I could ask you the same.”

“I’m not teaching this morning.”

“Are you unwell?”

He frowns. “No.”

“Only you look a little red-faced and sweaty.” I look at Rowan. “Don’t you think?”

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