Page 77 of The Prom

“Oh my God!”

The blood drains from Imogen’s face and her eyes fill with tears. I hate how her earlier happiness is extinguished like a puff on a match and I growl, “Its what she used to blackmail me into joining her club. Apparently, the other members have similar red strikes against their names and rather than lose their jobs or face the law, she blackmails them into becoming her slaves.”

“That’s disgusting. You should report her to the authorities.”

“And then all the others in her club would lose their jobs, too.”

I huff. “It’s not only the club. She is involved with Christian Duprey, Jenna Sloane and the entire fucking Serpent Society, and Jesse is also one of her victims.”

“Seriously.” Imogen’s lower lip trembles. “How do you know?”

“The young girl. She told me today in the tunnel.”

“So, what is your plan?”

Imogen swallows hard and faces me with a determined frown and I can’t help myself and kiss her softly on her sweet lips.

As always, she returns the kiss, deepening it, causing me to lose concentration as it rests solely on the pleasure of this act alone.

Reluctantly, I pull away and shake my head. “I could kiss you all day, darlin’ but shit needs putting in its place and we need to be on the same page.”

“Go on.” She sighs, resting her hand on my chest, and I groan.

"I'm off the hook until Friday night, when the next club meeting is scheduled. It coincides with the Claiming—which, as everyone knows, has now been replaced by prom."

“So neither will go ahead and we have longer than one week because the club will resume the Friday after prom, surely.”

“Ordinarily, yes, but I have a feeling the principal will use the prom to her advantage.”

“How?”

“Think about it. All the pieces will be in place under the same roof. Now I may be wrong, but if you’re a depraved psychopath, that’s a golden opportunity to get your fix.”

“So, you think she’ll do something at the prom?” Imogen appears confused. “What could she do?”

“I don’t know the details of that, if it’s going to happen at all, but I know someone who will.”

“Who?”

“Delilah.”

She nods, realization dawning in her eyes.

“She is going to inform me if she hears anything, and I will prepare for that.”

“What can I do?”

My heart shifts at her trusting expression and I cup her face and staring deep into her eyes, whisper huskily, “You stay god–damned safe darlin’ because if I considered for one minute you were involved in any of this, I would burn the academy down with the principal locked inside.”

Her face softens and tears glisten in her beautiful eyes as she whispers, “Right back at you, Drake.”

Once again we kiss, desperate for contact, savoring the moment and the time we have together, wondering if we really stand a chance, or if fate has other plans.

THIRTY-SEVEN

IMOGEN

I meant what I said to Drake. I am in love with him, but I added the ‘think’ so as not to scare him away. However, now, as we kiss like the lovers we are, my heart is conflicted. It’s as if a huge cloud is surrounding us and I can’t see the dangers lurking inside. A storm is brewing and we have no weapons to defend ourselves, the shadows harboring demons intent on destruction, and only our wits can save us from damnation.

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