TWENTY-ONE

DRAKE

I breathe a little easier from my vantage point in the trees when I see Jesse head back the way he came. Watching the two girls chugging beers wearing the sinister costumes is a glorious sight to behold.

It amuses me to picture the challenge they enact every Friday night throughout the semester.

It’s an interesting one for sure, and when Ryder told me about it, I could tell he didn’t share my amusement.

Jack came clean about a lot of things relating to life at Rockwell and, if anything, I admire Frankie’s imagination. It’s pretty harmless unless you count the first one, when one of the female challengers was abducted by a member of The Serpent Society.

Jack assured Ryder that Frankie had stepped up security, and it appears to have worked because there have been no other incidents since the inaugural one.

It appears that centurions are recruited from Frankie’s select band of the chosen and I’m not surprised that Summer and Imogen were given the riverbank.

When Jesse attempted to take Summer’s place, I held my breath because watching Imogen make out with another guy was a sick scenario I’m not certain I could stomach.

I even formulated an intervention plan where I would casually jog past and question their costumes. However, I settle back in my virtual cage as I notice Jesse slink off back down the tunnels.

Ryder studied the blueprint of the tunnel network and I have also memorized every twist and turn just in case I’m needed. Security has already been set up by Frankie and I must hand it to him he does all the right things in caring for the people he loves.

After the first challenge, when a girl was abducted through the tunnels, they were discovered and steps taken to make certain it never happens again.

However, if I was planning any dark deed, the tunnels would be my first choice.

Imogen’s soft laugher floats toward me on a breeze, causing me to smile softly. Ryder’s acceptance of the situation is one huge step, but Flash may have other ideas.

We are good friends that will count for shit when he learns of my interest in his daughter, and I must be respectful of that.

It’s probably best to leave our involvement right where we left it and revisit it when the dust has settled and Imogen is back at the compound, away from Rockwell and making decisions for her future.

A future that may not include me .

Two hours pass without incident and I see another centurion head out from the tunnel with a flashlight. The girls follow the light and as they disappear into the darkness, it’s as if they were never here.

Part of me wants to race after them and break up the party that always happens after The Claiming ceremony. Jesse will waste no time in hitting on Imogen and I must swallow my aversion to that and trust that she can take care of herself.

With a sigh, I dust myself off and start to jog the way I came and as I near my house, I groan when I register Principal Constable waiting on the veranda.

She calls out as I approach. “Drake, at last.”

“I’m sorry. Did we have a meeting planned?”

She shakes her head. “No, but I was at a loose end and wondered if you fancied grabbing a drink in town.”

Fuck, this is all I need and my mind races to come up with an excuse.

“Sounds good, but I’m meeting–”

“Sonia.” She adds, and I smile apologetically.

“Yeah, she’s in town and I’m meeting her there.”

“I see,” Principal Constable huffs with frustration.

“Never mind, but before you go, I really could use a word.”

“Sure.”

I join her on the veranda and she leans back on the seat, my heart sinking when I realize how close that will make us. Sitting here with Imogen was a pleasure. I can’t say the same about Angela Constable.

She moves even closer and lowers her voice.

“Drake, I um–” She giggles nervously. “It’s, well, a little delicate.”

I really wish I was anywhere else but here right now, and she shifts closer, her hand resting on my bare knee.

“We work well together.”

She states a fact that isn’t one, and I wonder where she’s going with this.

I say nothing and she whispers huskily, “It can get kind of lonely stuck in the academy away from our loved ones and sometimes it’s important to form connections with the other members of staff.”

“Connections?”

Her finger draws circles on my knees and I shift uncomfortably.

“What I am about to tell you must remain confidential, Drake, even if you decide it is not for you.”

“I’m listening.”

She whispers, “A few like-minded teachers have formed a club if you like, one with an exclusive membership. The only requirement is an open mind, and I am here to extend that invitation to you.”

My heart thumps as she prepares to deliver the invitation, and she says in a low husky voice, “We meet every Friday night in my suite of rooms. It’s the only place we are guaranteed our privacy.”

She increases the pressure on my leg, her nails scratching against the skin, sending a prickle of revulsion through my entire body.

“There are no strings attached to membership. No judgment and no questions asked, just pure fun and what happens in those rooms stays there. It has no bearing on any academy business but can offer a few benefits to your professional life. Club members stick together and I am here to issue you an invitation to become one of them.”

I take a deep breath. “What does membership involve?”

She leans closer, her lips hovering at my ear. “You’re a grown up, Drake. What do you think it involves?”

I swallow hard.

“There are seven of us. There were eight but Miss Sloane, as you know, left the academy and hasn’t been replaced. After consulting with my fellow members, we were unanimous in selecting you.”

She smiles provocatively. “An equal number of men and women. You get the idea, although I would also suggest an open mind is a requirement, as a person’s sex doesn’t really feature in our pursuit of, shall we say, satisfaction?”

I say nothing because what the actual fuck? A swingers club in the principal’s apartment wasn’t high up on my priority list and I struggle to act interested.

“Who else is involved?”

“Does it matter?”

Fuck, yes, because if she considers I’d be content with screwing the old hag from the English department, she’s got another thing coming.

Come to think of it, there is no member of the teaching staff I want to get up close and personal with, but Ryder’s instructions ring in my ears when he told me to find out if there are any other teachers involved.

If they are, I’m guessing this club is the perfect place for them to practice their dark art and, for the first time since coming here, I regard the principal in a new light and something detonates in my mind.

Hidden in plain sight .

A prickle of apprehension passes through me as a million dots connect in my mind and when she whispers, “Are you interested?” I have no other choice but to bite the bullet.

“I’m interested.”

She withdraws her hand from my knee and nods as if our meeting is concluded.

“We meet at nine, but as you have a prior engagement, you will be excused this time. So–” She stands and smiles suggestively.

“Next Friday, my apartment at nine pm. We will be expecting you and Drake–” Her eyes flash in the darkness.

“Be prepared for your initiation. It’s rather fun actually and a pleasurable experience for all involved. ”

As she heads down the steps, she flings over her shoulder, “Send my regards to Sonia. I’d like to meet her one day.”

As she wanders back into the shadows, my heart pounds as I consider what I just learned.

Could this be the breakthrough we need, or is it merely a group of debauched teachers attempting to claw some excitement back into their lives while they wait out the end of the semester?

I wish otherwise, but that club is one I must check out, no matter how much the idea appalls the hell out of me.