Page 12 of Stormbringer (Tracthesian Academy #1)

And there went her hope that he didn’t know. Wave took a fortifying breath before she glanced at him under her lashes. “Yes, well. The little I’ve had has been delicious.”

“Are you flirting with me, Ms. Spinwell?” He held his heart in a mock outrage, and Wave pulled out her best poker face.

“I would never dream of such indecency, Mr. Whitfurst. I resent you for implying such things in my presence.”

For a second, worry flashed over his features, and the corner of Wave’s lips tipped slightly.

That was enough for him to catch on, and with a playful smirk, he lunged at her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. It was a very fine chest and she had a hard time trying to convince herself to even try pulling away.

When his breath tingled against her neck, she lost the battle and stayed in place.

“Whatever will I do with such a willful student?” he whispered into her ear.

“I have no idea,” she murmured back. Despite everything, it felt good to be held in his arms. Jarred nipped her earlobe teasingly, and Wave stifled a moan. This was not what she’d had in mind for this lesson.

“You intrigue me, Ms. Spinwell.”

“You frustrate me, Mr. Whitfurst.”

“Well, now that we have that out of the way… Are you free this evening? We could go grab a bite to eat after the tutoring.”

“We could skip the tutoring,” Wave suggested. She didn’t have anything planned, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

“No.” Jarred released her and continued walking. “I plan to make sure you’ll be around even after the Hell Moon.”

“What’s so special about it anyways?”

“It’s the time when Hell Realm and ours align enough that our moons cross.”

“How does that affect our world?”

“Firstly, it causes power surges. Those can have unexpected effects, hence the shielding requirement for this trip.”

Wave nodded. Power surges could be dangerous on their own, but she had no idea what the moons crossing would do to her siren powers. Mother had never mentioned anything about that, and it was a bit too late to ask now. “Where are we going for the field trip?”

“Rock’s Top. It’s high enough that we’ll be able to see the moonrise even if it’s cloudy.”

“Couldn’t someone just push the clouds out of the way?”

Jarred glanced at her. “In theory, but again, those pesky power surges. Simple things turn tricky if one hits too close.”

“Ah, yeah, I didn’t think of that,” Wave agreed.

“Besides the power surges, the portals, all of them, between hell and here are open during that time. Tracthesian Academy is arranging a family night of sorts for all of our demon blood.”

“You’re not going?”

“Woman! Are you insinuating that I’m a demon or that I’m devilishly good-looking?”

Wave snorted. “Neither.”

“Then why—”

“Never mind. So, the portals are open. Anything else?”

“All Hell Realm-related powers and spells are more potent because the connection is easier to make.”

Note to self, she needed to stay the hell, pun fully intended, away from Sinister, Zahir, or any other hell creature during that night. She didn’t need some incubi stumbling on her secret by accident. She tried to rack her brain on how many demons were in her class, but came up empty.

“So, what about the hell students in the class? Are they coming on the trip or going to parents’ night?”

“Parents’ night, I think. After all, Hell Moon isn’t something spectacular to them.”

Wave let out a sigh of relief. That would make things easier to handle.

“Here we are,” Jarred said and motioned at a house they were standing in front of.

Wave hadn’t paid attention to where they were walking and now, she looked around, baffled. “Where are we?”

“This is where I live. We have a warded basement.”

“You… you live here?” Wave took in the three-story building, which looked like a mini-mansion made of red brick, with white trims and window sills.

In fact, all the houses on this street looked like that from what she could see now that she was paying attention.

They had the same immaculately trimmed hedges as the main campus and lush lawns.

“Well, the rest of the Powerhouses and I. The rest of the houses on this street belong to groups like us, or are frat houses.”

“Groups like yours.” Wave couldn’t help her disbelieving snort. Jarred shrugged.

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t think I do,” Wave muttered. “Why are we training here and not at the school?”

“Because, like I said, we have a warded basement, and there will be fewer prying eyes here.”

“Just all your roommates,” Wave commented.

“What?”

She pointed at the group rounding the side of the house and then up at the second-floor windows, where other eyes were following her movements. Jarred groaned.

“I told them to make themselves scarce.”

“Why?” Wave got curious.

Jarred blinked at her. “Right. You are new and don’t seem to have the same issues as the rest of them.”

“Who? You are not making any sense.”

“Powerhouses, Wayla. We are called Powerhouses. It’s not a name we chose for ourselves. Being around too many of us at once tends to make people and creatures alike, nervous and jittery. I need you to focus on your shielding, not jump at shadows.”

“Oh,” Wave gasped softly. He really wanted to teach her and was going to some lengths to make sure she had a safe and comfortable environment to learn. “Thank you.”

Jarred looked baffled, but let it go as he turned to face the group that consisted of Xuan, Yash, Simeon, Ilijas, and Justin.

“We were just leaving,” Justin hurried to assure Jarred. “I tried to kick the rest out too, but…” he trailed off and glanced at Wave.

“It’s all right,” she said. “You don’t need to leave on my account.”

“Yes, you do,” Jarred contradicted her.

“Going, going,” Justin said. “Nice seeing you, Wayla,” he added while the others waved or nodded at her.

“Come on, guys, let’s leave the cute couple in peace,” Yash teased. Wave stuck her tongue out at him. Yash took one staggering step and fell on his knees in front of her. “Your tongue is sharp and wounds me. Please have mercy!”

Wave took a stern look and tapped her foot. “No,” she said with her best offended glare.

“Wayla—”

“He’s just kidding—”

The others started talking over each other, and Wave quirked a brow at Yash, whose eyes were still twinkling.

“His behavior is unacceptable,” she said and lifted her nose. “Off with his head!”

Yash let out a roar of laughter and sprang back to his feet. “As you wish, my lady,” he said and then promptly provided her with an illusion of his head on a plate.

Daintily, Wave accepted the offer and waved her other hand. “You can go now.”

“Oh, my gods, I think I’m in love,” someone muttered, but Justin herded the group down the street before anything else could happen. Still holding the plate with Yash’s head, with his tongue lolling out and wiggling lightly, Wave turned to meet Jarred’s wide-eyed stare.

“What?” she asked when he still didn’t say anything.

“I—you, uh, right.”

Wave held out the plate. “You want this?”

That seemed to snap Jarred out of his state, and he waved a hand through the illusion, neatly dispersing it. “This might have been a mistake,” he muttered as he guided her inside.