Page 50 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I tapped my foot against the floor, way too antsy to sit in my chair.

I wasn’t nervous because I thought I was going to get reprimanded, but I didn’t want to go through another moment of having to dodge questions about a topic I had no interest in discussing.

Corrin, Ike, and I were all called in, finding ourselves in the spacious office of the Dean of Students.

An older woman with short brown hair motioned for us to sit down, while she sat in the chair behind her desk. She placed her hands in front of her, clasping them together. Her name plate read Mercedes Wales.

“In my position, it may seem hard to believe, but I don’t like disciplining my students.

I do believe that people make mistakes and should learn from them without being made out to feel like everything they do from then on needs to be perfect.

I try to understand the reasoning behind incidents before I take action and then plan accordingly. ”

I snuck a glance over at Corrin, who was also looking at me, but quickly looked away. What she was saying was promising, but until I heard her whole speech, I wouldn’t take my chances.

“Would anyone like to explain to me how you ended up in Mr. Monroe’s office?”

We were all silent until Corrin cleared her throat. “Don’t you already know all that?”

Ike’s breath caught. “Corrin!”

My roommate gave her brother an incredulous look. “What?!”

Dean Wales cut in. “I really just wanted any explanation that might enhance the things I already know, but Mr. Hayes, you do know the consequences for using your magic on campus unsupervised or without written approval from a faculty member, correct?”

Ike nodded solemnly.

Dean Wales shook her head, leaning back in her chair.

“Since you have been a model student thus far, and from the looks of your academic track, your magic is not your chosen career path, then I give you disciplinary probation for the rest of the year. You will also reform the original locks that you messed with.”

Ike seemed to physically relax. He would be watched more closely, his choices put under a microscope to make sure he stayed on the straight and narrow.

Dean Wales focused on Corrin and me. “I know both of you have had a hard semester so far with everything going on with your coven,” she eyed Corrin, “and with…”

Knock, knock.

Dean Wales straightened in her seat, while each of us looked to see who it was.

“Come in.”

River’s dad peeked his head in, catching sight of us. He closed the door behind him, stepping further into the room. “I am very sorry to bother you Dean Wales, I was just bringing these for you to look over.” He sat some papers down on her desk.

She smiled up at him, giving them a quick scan.

He gave each of us a simple nod as if he hadn’t barged in on us that night and put us to sleep.

Oliver fiddled with the cufflinks at the end of his shirt.

“I am truly sorry for what I had to do to you all. I was only working in your best interest. I would have hated for you to hurt yourselves or get into something you weren’t supposed to. ”

His words were meant to sound sincere, and Dean Wales ate it up. For me, all it did was make me curl my hands around the chair’s armrest. I wanted to scream that I wasn’t the problem here.

“No one blames you, Oliver. I was simply telling them that I know it’s been difficult with that mess with the covens that needs to be looked into and with Thomas’s death.”

My eyes widened when I heard my dad’s name. Mr. St. James tilted his head to the side. “Thomas’s death?”

Dean Wales gave him a quizzical look. “Yes. I don’t think it’s completely fair to cast aside the fact that his daughter was the one breaking into his office. It’s concerning, but not of an academic nature. Things need to be cared for more delicately with this matter.”

River’s dad slowly looked at me. His eyes gave nothing away, but the tension in his shoulders sure did. “You’re Thomas’s daughter?”

I licked my lips, tearing my hands away from the armrest and placing them in my lap. “Yes.”

“I spoke to your father a couple of times. He spoke about his daughter, but I’d only seen pictures from when you were smaller. I had no idea you’d joined us at the university.” The way he spoke to me was like he wasn’t talking to me at all. His voice sounded distant.

Dean Wales put the papers he gave her to the side.

“Your father was a delight and he will be missed, but if there are any issues you are dealing with, you seek one of our counselors or ask for help in another way. Disregarding school rules is not the way. You have such a brilliant transcript from your last school and so far at Mystic Riegan and I would hate to see you tarnish that.”

I gave her a polite smile. “Of course not, I apologize for not thinking clearer.” I wanted to vomit saying anything that went against what I was trying to do.

Seek a counselor . I’m sure that was what she and anyone else told students and then sent them to my dad. No counselor here was going to be able to help me because my problem was hidden within this school, so trusting anyone that worked for someone higher was tricky territory.

Mr. St. James rubbed his chin, tapping his fingers against the desk. “I should let you get back to your meeting.”

Dean Wales nodded. “Thank you. Make sure everyone is ready for the assembly tomorrow.”

He stopped right next to my chair, turning to look at her.

“Ah, yes. The assembly.” He looked over at us, his eyes finding mine and giving me a tight smile.

His gaze drifted and it could have looked as if he was being a creep and staring at my chest, but I knew that wasn’t it.

His eyes twitched a small fraction when they landed on something at my sternum.

My necklace.

He hummed. “I’ll make sure the rest of the faculty is on it. I’m sure you are already sending an email.”

Dean Wales laughed and River’s dad made his way out, not giving me a second glance.

“Assembly?” Ike asked.

The Dean of Students got up from her chair.

“As I told Corrin, this witch situation needs to be dealt with and we are wanting parents, students, and faculty to come and address it. The Chancellor thinks it’s in our best interest to involve everyone as a school community, so he’s coming to speak and hopefully find a solution.

” She raised her wrist to her face, looking at her watch.

“Alright, well disciplinary probation for all of you. Please be on your best behavior and follow the rules. Your futures are far too promising for something like this to trip you up.”

We said our thanks and made our way out the door.

I walked in step with Corrin who nudged my shoulder as we got outside.

I looked over at her, watching as she reached into her bag.

She pulled out a folded photo and handed it to me.

I could feel my eyes start to brim with tears, but I held them back.

I looked at the photo from my dad’s office—with me, him, and my mom.

I blinked up at her and she was giving me a small smile. “I grabbed the entire frame right before I heard them come in. I thought if we were gonna go down during our little mission then at least you would have this.”

I pulled her into the biggest hug, burying my face in her shoulder. Ike stood behind her, giving us some space.

“Thank you. I’m sorry I got you into this just for it to go to shit.”

Corrin laughed. “It’s not shit just yet. It just went off the rails for a moment, but we’ll figure out another way.” She lifted her phone from her back pocket. “Ah, Jade is here to pick me up. You want to come to the bar?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I think I’ll head to the room.”

“Okay well let me know if you want us to come pick you up at all.” She gave me another quick hug, turning to walk away with her brother.