Page 7 of Beginnings

“It seems Shannon is unhurt, and she can’t seem to remember what happened to her.” Mr Blaze shot a look at me.

What? Did he think I’d done something to wipe her memory? That magical pulse might have done it but it sure as hell didn’t come from me.

Connor’s brows dipped, but I didn’t miss the smirk on his full lips before he hid it.

My mouth opened ready to blurt out the questions tumbling through my mind when Connor glared at me, so I snapped it shut. Black seeped into his blue eyes. His wolf. This time my chest tightened in response; those dark eyes were brimming with warning. Absentmindedly, I rubbed at my chest and looked away first. I couldn’t help it. Connor was powerful by himself, but together, he and his wolf were an overwhelming force. And they were both pissed at me.

“I beg your pardon, Mr Blaze?” said Mrs Winter.

Mr Blaze wrung his hands and glanced at me through narrowed eyes.

“Shannon has no apparent injuries, and the girls who were with her seem to have forgotten what happened, too. In fact, I can’t find anyone who witnessed the situation.”

“Really?” Mrs Winter peered down her nose at me.

“I’m afraid so. I picked Shannon up off the floor and there was no sign of an injury on her. She said she was fine, so I sent her home. It’s her last day anyway.”

It was hard to keep the disbelief from my face, but I did.

Mrs Winter frowned then raised her hands. “Well then, you may go, Ember. It seems your trip was wasted, Mr Maxwell.”

Mr Blaze turned to me and looked over his glasses. “I’m not sure what happened today, but I personally think it deserves a bit more investigation. I saw Shannon fly backwards and hit the ground, even if I didn’t see how you did it.” Mr Blaze flashed Connor a dark look.

Connor raised a brow looking totally unintimidated. He crossed his arms over his chest and took one step forward, then another. I raised my brows. The dweeby teacher actually stood his ground, though he couldn’t prevent the bead of sweat that ran down his temple.

Connor grinned and reached out. He scooped it up with his forefinger, studied it, then grunted and wiped it on the shoulder of the other man’s tweed jacket. “I’m sure you won’t find a thing.”

Mr Blaze grunted. “We’ll see.” He spun on his heel and left quickly, his footsteps fading away down the corridor.

“Let’s go.” Connor headed for the door.

I listened to him for once. This wasn’t the time to be giving Connor shit; besides, I couldn’t wait to get out of this school and never look back. Connor grunted a farewell at Mrs Winter, and he guided me out with a gentle, but firm hand on my lower back.

Outside was hot and humid, with dark thunder clouds gathering over the Kent countryside. Fat raindrops hit my skin. “Oh, for...!” I grunted, rolling my eyes. Could this day get any worse?

“Ember. Go to the car.” Connor gave me a gentle push in the right direction.

I stiffened at the command in his voice and opened my mouth to tell him not to order me about. The warning on his face stopped me. Mr Blaze was just disappearing around the corner of the building. Connor’s attention focused on him like prey. Fed up with this whole situation, I shouldered my rucksack, lowered my head and set off at a run for the car. Getting soaked was not on my list of ‘fun things to do’ for today.

“Ember? Haven’t you forgotten something?”

I skidded to a halt and turned back. “What?” My brain was still trying to understand why Shannon had no injuries on her face. I smashed my fist into her chin and saw the blood as well as the burn on her skin. How could she not be injured, or her friends not remember what happened? It was bizarre. I remembered that energy pulse. Perhaps someone had fixed her face and her memory? I shook my head. The only people with supernatural abilities on school premises were the teachers, and they were mainly shifters, as far as I knew. No witches, wizards or mages were ever allowed on school grounds unaccompanied, and any pupil who had gone through their Primis was quickly moved into the programme chosen for them by the bureau.

“Keys?” Connor quirked a brow at me. His blue eyes glinted with flecks of anthracite, the remaining blue twinkling brightly.

I flushed. Great, even his wolf was laughing at me now. I stomped forward and snatched the keys from his finger. He turned away, ignoring my dramatics, and went after the geeky teacher with the stupid name. Trying not to think about what Connor was about to do to said geek, I got in the car, put my earbuds in and shut my eyes. Music was one escape that I loved. Tapping my foot and humming to myself, I almost managed to forget about Shannon.

The car door opened, blasting me with hot, damp air. The smell of rain on hot tarmac drifted into the car, along with Connor’s spicy scent. I inhaled deeply unable to stop myself. My whole body instantly heated. My eyes snapped open, and my attention zoned in on his wet t-shirt, and how it clung to every cut of muscle on his chest and stomach. Jesus, I wanted to run my hands down that amazing body. My mouth dried out. It wasn’t fair that he could affect me like this.

He reached in and gripped the steering wheel. Raindrops dripped down his corded forearm, falling on the denim covering his powerful thighs, which was already dark with moisture, outlining the strength in them. Heat unfurled low in my belly as my gaze honed in on what was between those thighs. Gods, I’d never been even remotely interested in sex with anyone—except Connor. I quickly closed my eyes again, trying to get myself back under control.

The whole goddamn car rocked when Connor dropped his bulk into the driver's seat of the Mercedes.

“Now, what really happened?” He twisted his body to face me.

Just to annoy him, I pulled an ear bud out, and kept an innocent look on my face. “Sorry? What did you say?”

His blue eyes narrowed. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You heard me.”

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