Nightworld Academy - L.J. Swallow Page 0,32

before they look away.

“Amelia, I’m won’t let Katherine behave like this. She needs to learn that she’s not the queen of the academy, just because her parents have money to throw at everything she wants. I’ll teach her a lesson.”

My chest tightens. “Don’t use magic, Matt.”

“No. I’m not stupid enough to use my last chance on her.” He pauses. “But she doesn’t know that. I’m happy to scare her instead.”

Crap. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m looking for my own evidence tonight. Petrescu kids don’t have the magic to affect objects, which means she either influenced another student to do this, or sabotaged the lights herself.”

My body heats in anger again, as Sofia’s words come back to me. Sofia didn’t believe me; I have to show her and everybody I’m innocent.

Matt kisses my forehead and I inhale his calming scent. “You don’t deserve for somebody to treat you like this—I’ll fix the problem.”

I wrap my arms around him as he kisses me gently, holding me close, and his tenderness and magic energy combine to calm me. Kissing Matt pulls me to a place of calm and safety, but beneath his gentleness something stronger pulses.

“Did you return the book?” I ask him.

He rubs his lips together, tasting our kiss. “Tonight.”

“You said that yesterday.” I stroke hair from his face. “You have to let this go.”

“I will. I just have one more spell I need to learn.”

One more spell. Each time we discuss the book, I worry more that Matt is addicted. Jamie needs to get involved. Now.

Matt holds my face in both hands, the same as he did in the cottage yesterday, and fixes me with an earnest expression. “Tonight. I promise. I don’t want to lose you.”

Can I believe him? I’ve heard the words from him before.

“Meet me later?” I suggest. “At the hall.”

“Why?”

Tonight, I plan to sneak into the hall and check out the scene while everybody’s busy. If I go straight after class, I can guarantee Katherine will be busy planning her night’s entertainment—probably involving Clive. I explain my plans to Matt, and he listens solemnly. “I’ll be there. After class, right?”

“I’ll wait outside the hall, and afterwards we can take the book back to the sanctum.”

Two girls who always hang around Matt when he’s entertaining people pass by and double-take. With a smile, I tiptoe to kiss Matt again, and he responds with the type of kiss that makes my toes curl.

There’s a dark cloud over me thanks to Katherine, but with Matt as part of my life, the sun shines on me too.

12

AMELIA

Andrei Tepes sits cross-legged on the wall outside the school building. The witches and shifters avoid him, and he’s on the edge of the Petrescu students—hovering, watching, listening. Andrei never does anything unless he wants to. He plays up in class a lot, or zones out, and I doubt he’ll pass his exams this year.

He’s focused on his phone screen and startles when I approach, jumping to his feet. His face morphs into a darker, hemia lip-curled threat.

I’m safe in school, but his face terrifies me. This guy drinks human blood—how long before he tries a witch’s blood? Our blood is as big a drug to hemia vamps as magic is to Matt. And, like Matt’s magic, can kill if the user loses control.

The expression drops away when he sees me. “Is class over?” He shakes his long fringe to one side, bright eyes seeing me more clearly in the dark than I do him.

“Yes. Why weren’t you there?”

“Couldn’t be bothered.”

Andrei’s smart, but doesn’t try. In fact, I’d swear he hides his skill. Vampires don’t learn witch magic here, but do take part in divination or potions, along with the vampire professor’s mental magic.

Andrei never misses Tobias’s class, and the head of Petrescu keeps a close eye on Andrei.

He steps towards me and when I flinch back, his lips purse. “Your blood isn’t that irresistible, Amelia.”

He usually calls all Walcott students ‘witch’. Why use my name?

“I know you’d never risk tasting witch blood,” I retort and glance over his shoulder. I’m not interested in a cosy chat with Andrei, especially when he rarely ‘chats’ and I don’t know his motive.

“Sorry about Katherine.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “One day she’ll come unstuck.”

“I don’t care about her. Excuse me, I’m in a hurry.” I rush up the steps.

“Why are you headed to the performance hall? You’re not working on the production anymore.”

I pause. “I left some things there that I need