Page 76 of Spark of Sorcery

“Miss Storm, I have an exceedingly good sense of smell, and you do. You reek of it.” His top lip curls in disgust. “I could smell it as soon as you stepped inside my classroom.”

If I wasn’t so mad at him, I’d be peeing my pants. Howlong before he works out the lizard he can supposedly smell is actually a dragon? But, luckily, I’m too angry to be scared.

“Is this the real reason you kept me behind? To tell me I stink?” I spit.

“Once again you are failing to appreciate how things work in this academy, Miss Storm. I am the teacher. You are the student. I ask the questions, not you. And you answer them.” He pushes away from the desk and stands to his full, towering height. “So, tell me, why do you smell of lizard?”

“Oh I’m sorry. Do I not smell like flowers and fruit and all things feminine and delicate like I should? Well, as I’m sure you know, I have no freaking money. I can’t afford soap or perfume or any of those luxuries. I have to make do with what the academy provides for us. And it’s not my fault if that smells like,” I lift my hands and make inverted commas with my fingers, “lizardto you.”

“Miss Storm, no one else in this academy smells like a lizard.”

“Maybe,” I say sarcastically, “because I’m the poorest person in this academy and am the only one who can’t afford my own soap.” It’s a lie but I’m sticking with it. Striking back at him may be my only means of defense.

“You’re the Prince’s thrall,” he scoffs with such disgust; it’s as if the words taste rank in his mouth.

“I am not.”

His gaze rakes angrily over my face. “Are you telling me you’renotsleeping with them?”

My mouth falls so far open I hear my jaw click. “Wh-wh-what? That is so far from inappropriate, it’s untrue!”

“I’m just trying to unscramble my way through all your lies, Miss Storm.”

“You’re trying to gaslight me, that’s what you’re doing.”

“Gaslighting?” He laughs. “You’re the one telling me the reason you stink of lizard is because of the soap.”

I lift my chin and glare at him.

“I don’t like liars, Miss Storm,” he whispers ominously, making me shiver despite all the burning anger in my veins.

“And I don’t like bullies,” I whisper back.

“Really? That’s not what I saw,” he says. “I saw you being pulled into the shadows to get up to who-the-fuck-knows-what with one of the worst bullies in the academy.”

All the blood rises to my cheeks and they sizzle. What with the cracking stone and baby dragon, I’d completely forgotten about the ball and mine and Dray’s run in with the professor.

I shouldn’t feel shame or embarrassment about that. I wasn’t the only one making out in the hall (okay it was more than that but the professor doesn’t know that … does he?).

I cringe.

“You’re making me late for my next lesson,” I mutter, hurrying to the door and praying with every bone in my body he doesn’t stop me. “And it’s with Madame Bardin!”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Briony

I haven’t spoken to the Madame since our altercation in the maze. She was at the ball but apart from that I haven’t seen her around the academy the last few days.

Deep in my heart, I’ve been praying to all the stars that she’d left the academy, so ashamed by what happened, so frightened I’d report her, so bound by Thorne’s magic, she’d scarpered. But even deeper down in my heart, I know I won’t be that lucky.

When have any of the abusers in my life ‘come to their senses’ or voluntarily left my life? None. Exactly, none.

And so, as I approach her classroom and hear her sultry voice meandering down the hallway, I’m not surprised at all, although I am nervous. All that angry energy has burned away and now I’m just plain scared.

What if Madame smells lizard on me too? What ifMadame realizes it’s not lizard, it’s dragon? What if she isn’t done with me? What if, like Thorne, she has no problem breaking the sacred promise?

I hover outside the classroom door, gripping the handle, and attempt to steady my nerves.