Page 101 of A Lesson in Obedience
I saw her before she saw me. She held onto both straps of her backpack and walked with her head down, like she was trying to avoid eye contact with anyone that passed by. This school could be brutal with the way gossip traveled. I met her halfway, gripping her arms and startling her.
“Hey, it’s just me.” I let out a short laugh when she let out a breath of relief.
She looked over her shoulder, letting out her own awkward laugh. “Were you waiting for me?”
I nodded. “Well, yeah. That’s the plan.”
“Mm, I’m pretty sure the plan is for you to look on from afar, not literally shadow me.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, keeping her moving forward. “I like a hands-on approach,aking sinta.”
Riley molded into my body as we walked, seeming to find comfort there. I could have kicked my feet with how happy I was with that, but I needed to focus.
“So, you came from a different side of campus. Isn’t your last class on the east side?” I asked, turning us so that we could make our way to the parking lot.
“Uh, yeah, it is. I had a meeting.”
I stopped walking, forcing her to stumble before regaining her footing. She looked up at me with confusion.
“Meeting with who?”
“The new human/magic liaison.”
I scratched the side of my head. “We didn’t know you had a meeting.”
“I didn’t know I needed to inform you of my schedule. Regardless of what’s going on, I am still very much allowed to do what I want.”
I put my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry it came out like that. I just meant, well, I was just nervous it was another surprise Chancellor Fowler meeting.” She’d told us all about his crack of dawn intrusion at the house and his ominous message.
She sighed, pressing her lips together. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. He wasn’t there, but he might as well have been.”
I cocked my head to the side, confused.
“Celica, this meeting, it’s all his stipulations. Submitting to him makes my fucking skin crawl, but as much as you all want to see me safe and secure, I want the same thing for everyone else.”
I pulled her into me and she wrapped her arms around my middle. “Sending you to see the person who took over your dad’s old job is fucked, but I don’t really see how that helps him.”
“Lena is one of his. She’s another person to keep an eye on me. Unlike my dad, she isn’t human. Her powers lull you so you’re a little bit more susceptible to help and opening up. Even if I wanted to spew out all that I know about him, it wouldn’t matter.”
“How did it go?”
“It went. It was like I felt comfortable there, but I also knew I didn’t want to talk to her. I did some research on her powers on my phone and it’s like it can be an offset of River’s. It’s not necessarily mind control, but it’s almost like she’s trying to eventually condition you to believe something. She kept trying to get me to talk about my dad, my powers, everything, but lucky me, I’m far too stubborn for one session to work.”
“That’s my girl,” I praised, starting to walk again.
Corrin was waiting for us by her car, leaning against the hood and typing away on her phone. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw us. She turned her phone so the screen was facing Riley. “Jade sent me a picture of her and your mom. She said something about how she makes really good cookies, so now if anyone fucks with her, she’ll be even more inclined to rip their heads off.”
Riley’s lips lifted a little at the mention of her mom and her safety. It had me thinking about my parents.
Corrin grabbed Riley’s hand, gently pulling her over to her side. “She is mine now, shadow boy. You know where the meeting is, so don’t be late. Mateo will be around as well, so if you hear some heavy-ish breathing, don’t be alarmed. You just have analphaon your ass.”
“You really love saying that don’t you.Alpha,” Riley mocked and it was nice watching her be casual and playful.
“Oh, fuck yeah. I’ve been telling them that they deserved it far more than Dante ever did. I’m glad that fucking prick is dead.”Corrin walked around to the driver’s side. “Jax told me he would piss on his grave if I let him.”
“Morbid much,” Riley scolded playfully.
I cut into their conversation. “I’ll let you know when I’m there, okay?” Riley looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “I have to do something first, real quick, and then I’ll be at the meeting spot.”
