“Well?” he asked.
His question. Which school… what was I supposed to say to that? I was supposed to keep to the story my tío wrote for me.
I lifted my chin. “Sorry about the ward. But maybe you shouldn’t put it where people have to walk.”
His brows knitted together. “What? It’s not a problem once the ward is placed. But I couldn’t even finish putting the runes up before you came stomping in here. What are you doing here anyway, Rose?”
I bristled. This guy was really getting on my nerves.
“Eating. Is that a crime?”
His body stiffened. “Actually… it is against the rules.” He pointed to a sign. “No food or drink except water in the gardens.”
I sighed. “Of course. Oh, well. I’m already here. I won’t tell if you won’t.” I smiled.
He didn’t return the smile.
“Oh, what? You’re going to rat me out to the school police or whatever?”
“You mean the guard?”
“Whatever.”
“I should.”
“Then go ahead and do it so I can get back to my lunch.” I pulled out my sub and took a bite, never dropping my gaze from his.
His mouth gaped. Stunned by my audacity? Well, too bad. I was hungry and I wasn’t moving from my spot. Admittedly, a part of me wanted to push this guy. See what he would do.
“Why does this garden have to be warded, anyway?” I mumbled.
He ran a hand through his short brown hair and shook his head at me. “To keep students from practicing unpermitted spells.”
Taking another bite, I ignored him.
“I know it’s your first day, but this blatant disrespect for the rules is unacceptable.”
I snorted. “You sound like my uncle.”
His eyes narrowed. “I know your uncle and I know for a fact he wouldn’t approve of your behavior.”
I shrugged.
He stomped over to me, face reddening. I bit back a smile.
Here it goes.
“Look, I don’t know who you were back at your old school, nor do I care, but you’re at GRIMM Academy Cali now. If you want to stay here, you will have to fall in line.”
My smile turned vicious. “Fall in line?”
His eyebrow arched in challenge. “Yeah. Follow the rules.”
Heat rushed through me. Who did this guy think he was? Who made him the rule enforcer?
I took another bite of my sub, chewing it carefully. There were a million things I wanted to say. Tell him how I really felt about his precious school, but would the bracelet let me?
“Look, what’s your name?”
“Grayson. Grayson Chapman.”
“Okay, Grayson. Clearly, you don’t like me. Whatever. I don’t care. I don’t like you either and I don’t like rules. So, it’s only a matter of time before they kick me out. I’ll be gone and you can move on with your miserable rule loving life.”
His jaw clenched. “Is that why you’re here? You got kicked out of your old school, so your uncle used his status to get you placed here?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure. That’s what happened.”
There was obviously no talking to this guy. I packed away my food and stood up, the garden suddenly losing its appeal. It was almost time to get to class, anyway.
“Why?” he called after me.
My gaze slid back to him. “Why what?”
“Why did they kick you out?”
I paused. What was I supposed to tell him? Javi didn’t give me much to go on. His blue-gray eyes bore into me, making me flush. Intense was the word. I didn’t scare easily, but this guy’s dead eye stare was intimidating.
His mouth quirked into what looked like an amused smile. “That bad, huh?”
“What?” I blinked, turning my attention back to his question and not on his lips.
He waved me off with a hand. “It’s fine. You don’t have to tell me what you did. Just know that I’ll be watching you.”
“Okay, creeper.”
There was that amused quirk again. And why the hell did it look so hot on him? I pushed away the thought. My experience with guys taught me that I had a weakness for the same type—hot as sin, but always, always turned out to be a royal ass.
“And if I see you breaking the rules again.” He nodded to the sign. “I won’t be so easy on you.”
I snorted. “Consider me thoroughly warned.”
With that, I continued toward the classrooms. My cheeks reddened as I felt his stare on me, but I didn’t dare look back. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
12
The junior class was boring as hell, but the professor, who happened to be the same one who’d threatened me, gave me a code to enroll for the online version.
Just one more class to go.
When I got to the gym, I was surprised to find myself the only one there. I wandered around, checking out all the amenities. Not only was it a dojo, obstacle course, and boxing ring, but there were also rooms with actual exercise equipment, and a basketball court. I tried to get outside to check out the giant pool, but my key card wouldn’t work.
A beep from my cell interrupted my second attempt. My chest tightened. Was it one of my old friends trying to reach me again? I almost didn’t answer, but curiosity won out and I pulled up my messages.
It was my tía. A wave of sadness washed over me. Had they already given up on me back home? Pushing away the wall of grief, I skimmed over her giant block of Spanish text:
Heading to the dorm now with all your stuff. I will let you know when I’m there so you can come help me set it up. Normally, we have family dinner on Friday night, but Javi asked if you guys could stay on campus. What do you think?
My finger hovered over the letter keys, about to respond when the door burst open, making me nearly drop my phone and tablet.
I turned to find the same tall, older man Javi and I had run into yesterday. He
