Page 91 of Dark Embers

“Shea?” he asked after only two rings.

“Yeah, I found the spell,” I said, getting right to the point. “Let’s do this thing.”

“Really? Excellent! Um…” He paused for a moment. “Can you meet me at the outer platform in an hour? We’ve amped up security at the main door, so I’ll have to escort you in.”

My pulse stuttered. “Er–but everyone knows my face. How will you get me past Miss Prudy Fins?”

“Right,” he mumbled, and I only slightly appreciated that he knew who I meant by that. “I’ll get Celeste distracted with some task. Don’t worry about her. But can you do anything to obscure your appearance?”

I bristled at that, even though I understood it was necessary. “I’ll wear a hoodie,” I ground out.

“That’ll do.”

“Great, see you in an hour,” I said a little too sharply before ending the call with a forceful jab of my fingertip.

Why was I so irked? I knew that the only way to get into that school right now was to sneak in—or be smuggled in, in this case. But I hated the notion that I was Caesar’s dirty little secret. Okay, it wasn’t like he was sneaking me in for some torrid affair, but I just hated that I wasn’t welcome just the way I was.

With a grunted sigh, I hopped off my bed, pulled on a black hoodie, and shoved the grimoire into my shoulder bag, then Istrode out the door. Gram was at bingo, so thankfully I wouldn’t have to make any excuses as to where I was going. I was getting really tired of lying to her, especially since I knew that she knew I was lying.

I zoned out to my headphones for the bus and subway rides to the outer platform, decidedly blaring heavy metal to match my mood. Nothing like disappearing into Disturbed to fortify my righteous anger and bolster my confidence.

I arrived at the outer platform at exactly 4:05, and my heart flitted in my chest at the sight of Caesar leaning against the wall next to the secret janitor door. Dammit, why did he have to look so hot? He was in full professor garb this afternoon, wearing a button-up gray collared shirt tucked into well-fitted black slacks.

I shoved the dirty school-girl fantasies out of my mind and sauntered up to him like I gave no fucks.

“What, no kitty sweater?” I asked, my tone more mocking than playful.

His eyes widened briefly, blush touching his cheeks for an instant before he cleared his throat. “Come on, let’s go.”

He opened the door and gestured for me to go in before him. I rolled my eyes at his lack of response to my comment and pushed past him. The secret platform was empty and just as mysterious as I’d remembered.

But as the train came toward us down the tunnel, Caesar grabbed my upper arm to pull me closer, and before I could get any kind of hopes up, he pulled my hood up over my head. Of course. I was the dirty little secret. How could I forget?

I stood behind Caesar, casting my face down as handfuls of shifter students disembarked and filled the platform with theirbodies and chatter. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until the last of them filed out the door, and I released it in a heavy exhale.

When Caesar used the grip he’d maintained on my arm to tug me onto the now-empty train, I didn’t argue. I was just relieved I’d made it this far without being recognized. But the hard part was still to come.

Once aboard, I gently pulled my arm from his hold and sat on the opposite side of the train from him. We said nothing as the train began to move and carried us down the tunnel, and I was happy to keep it that way. This charade was awkward enough without inviting pointless platitudes into the mix.

Apparently, he didn’t feel the same.

“Shea, I’m sorry about what happened,” he said after a few minutes of tense silence.

I glared up at him. “You’re sorry for flirting, making out with me and letting me blow you, or sorry for leaving abruptly afterward and then not contacting me until you needed a favor?”

He closed his eyes as if what I’d said stabbed him. Good.

Then he shook his head. “Both. It was wrong of me to drink with you, and very wrong of me to let things go as far as they did after. And yes, the worst was leaving you with no explanation after. I’m sorry for all of it.”

Anger simmered in my belly, and I crossed my arms and legs. “Yeah, well, I’m not sorry for any of it, so you can save your damned apologies.”

I saw him look guiltily down at his lap before I cast my heated gaze out the window. I didn’t want his guilt. I didn’t want hisregret. I was a sexy, intelligent, badass witch. I was no one’s mistake, and I never would be his again.

We spent the rest of the ride in merciful silence, and I occupied myself with staring out the window at the beautiful blue lake above us. I was determined to savor this experience for what it was worth.

When the train came to a stop, my anxiety revved up tenfold. I hoped he’d made good on his promise to get Celeste away from the main door. I couldn’t bear another rejection right now, especially not from her poison-barbed tongue.

I let Caesar escort me off the train and up to the vault-style door, which was open, with a large, intimidating man standing guard in front of it, and a line of students behind him. I ducked my head as Caesar guided me forward, holding my breath once more and praying for invisibility from anyone who might have been at that party.

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