Page 34 of Twisted Ties

“Probably not the sexy bit your magazines are interested in,” he teases and I pinch his arm in revenge.

“They were the only research materials accessible to me.”

“Right,” he says, “sure.”

I pinch him again. “Just tell me about the power bit.”

“Some people believe that a bonded pair are more powerful together. That their magic is amplified by one another. But it’s just a theory,” he adds quickly. “Others have pointed out that happy magicals tend to be better at wielding their magic, and happiness comes with finding your fated mate.”

“Hmmm,” I say. Okay, the banging has definitely made me very happy, but the other stuff? We’re far from a happy couple.

“Come on.” He guides me forward, and together we climb the grand wooden staircase and pause outside the principal’s office. Today the doors are open and I see the Chancellor and the principal in whispered conversation. As we approach, they turn and watch us and I examine their expressions: the principal’s curious, the Chancellor’s shrewd.

“Remember: keep quiet,” Azlan whispers in my ear, before we step inside.

“Miss Blackwaters, you are looking better than I wouldhave expected,” the principal says, to my surprise taking my hands in both of hers and squeezing.

“I am feeling much better,” I say, Azlan bristling beside me.

“What happened?” the Chancellor asks, cutting straight to the point.

“Rhianna was caught in the crossfire as I tried to apprehend a criminal in the docklands area of the city. Her injuries were too great for me to heal her, so I took her to the clinic for treatment.”

“And the criminal?”

“Escaped, Sir.”

“Hmmm,” he murmurs, eyeing us both through his glasses.

“What on Earth were you doing in that part of the city, Miss Blackwaters?” the principal asks.

“On my way to the pool hall.”

“Alone?” the principal asks, her eyebrows leaping up her forehead.

“With Andrew Playford.”

“Andrew Playford … you are aware he is missing?” She peers at the Chancellor and I shake my head.

The Chancellor strokes his chin. “You have been recuperating all this time?”

I nod, unable to help glancing towards Azlan, whose eyes are locked ahead.

“But not at the hospital. From what I understand, you have been staying at the enforcer’s home.”

The principal’s jaw falls open and it’s clear this information is news to her.

My heart pounds in my chest. Were we fools to believe we could keep this secret?

“Yes, she has been,” Azlan says. “The hospital was notsecure, and as she is a known flight risk, I brought her back to my home.”

The Chancellor’s eyes narrow like he doesn’t believe this.

“Rhianna is no longer a flight risk,” the principal says simply.

Azlan turns his head to look at me. “That is not what I have been led to believe by Professor Stone.”

The principal frowns at me, any brief affection that may have been hovering in her eyes, vanishing.