Page 81 of Shattered Stars

I wave my hand and an assignment drops onto her desk. Summer picks it up, her eyes scanning over the three pages.

“But this will take me–”

“You can have it on my desk by tomorrow morning.”

“I have cheerleading practice this evening!”

“Then I suspect you’ll be having a late night,” I say, glaring at her with such venom she sinks in her chair. That should keep the nasty piece of work busy and prevent her from spying on Rhi.

At the end of the lesson, Summer comes marching up to my desk, waving the assignment at me. I lumber up to my feet with a yawn, noticing as I do that Tristan Kennedy is loitering outside my classroom door, attempting to talk to my mate. That’s the fifth time this week.

I snatch my gaze back to Summer.

“How can I help you, Miss Clutton-Brock?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest and perching on the edge of my desk.

“This isn’t fair. Why am I the only one you’ve set homework for?”

“Because you are the only one who showed a distinct lack of apprehension and aptitude for the subject.”

The girl flushes.

“That’s not …”

I look gravely at her. “I’m afraid it is. You’re slipping behind. Perhaps your position as head cheerleader is interfering with your studies. Perhaps I ought to have a word with Principal York.”

“No!” the girl cries, snatching the paper to her chest. “I can catch up. I can have this assignment done by tomorrow, I promise.”

“I thought so.” I smile and she starts to stuff the paper into her bag. “And Miss Clutton-Brock?”

She peers up at me. “Yes, Professor?”

“I’ve heard rumors that some members of the dueling and cheerleading squads think it appropriate to demand other students do their homework for them.” Her cheeks burn and she’s no longer able to meet my eye. “Of course, you wouldn’t be one of those students, would you?” She shakes her head slowly. “Because I am one of those teachers who would know.”

The girl is fairly efficient at shielding her thoughts, but nothing I can’t easily bypass. It’s not usually something I have a desire to do. The girl is vain, cruel and really damn boring. Wading through her mind makes me feel dirty.

Today, I make an exception. What I find is a mind stewing in jealousy.

29

Rhi

I regret not takingthe chance to tell Stone about the crimson magic when I had the chance. I’m a jumpy wreck, waiting for a heavy hand to land on my shoulder and lead me away. Summer isn’t going to keep a secret like this. She’ll use it to her advantage, and as her goal has always been to rid the academy of me, she’ll be straight to York with tales of crimson magic. And how can I even deny it, the pile of ash where that tree once stood is solid proof?

No, I should have told Stone. If I’m arrested, or taken in, or whatever the hell they might do to me, then I’m putting Stone and the man in black at risk too.

I join the back of the line at lunchtime in a daze, my feet shuffling forward without my awareness, and the words Winnie’s speaking floating right over my head.

If I’m honest, I know why I didn’t tell Phoenix. Because I am afraid. Afraid if he knows the truth about me, what I’m capable of, he’ll look at me differently. He will regret bonding to me.

I gaze down at my hands again. What the hellamI capable of? I don’t even know. But I don’t think it’s good. Certainly, Tristan, Spencer, and now Summer, too, seem to think it’s bad.

At the front of the line, the lunch lady hands me my usual dish of impressive lunch choices, everyone around me glaring as they’re served the crappy leftovers.

I stare down at my tray and inwardly groan.

It’s clear Summer’s master plan may be causing the entire school to gossip about me but it hasn’t had the desired impact she wants when it comes to Tristan. For once, I’m probably as disappointed as she is.

I try to pass the tray back, but Winnie snatches it off me and carries it over to our usual seat.