The mystery of the shifter still followed me and there were rumors of more attacks in the city. I listened with half-interest, still waiting for the day my tío confirmed Manny was caught, something that seemed more unlikely with each passing day.
With Shiloh’s help I tested out of the freshman and sophomore classes, barely passing, but still a pass. My head was filled with basic knowledge, but there was still so much to learn. Not just about the general stuff, but my mother’s history as well. The fear of what I’d find kept me from digging too deep.
My junior classes were online, but I had to sit in for all the senior ones. I didn’t mind though now that I had Javi and Shiloh with me for most of them. Grayson was there too, but since the attack, he watched me from afar, avoiding me like I was some talisman for bad luck. I pretended not to care.
“Miss Perez?” Professor Johnson called.
All eyes turned to me. I sat up at my desk and blinked at her. What did she ask? She stood over me, her tapping her giant club against her palm.
I glanced at Javi who sat beside me.
“False. The vampire queen never sided with the werewolves,” he answered for me.
Professor Johnson frowned. “I didn’t ask you, Mister Perez.”
Snickers echoed around us.
Javi straightened. “My apologies, Professor.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Do you believe it possible for the vampires and werewolves to become allies?”
Everyone fell silent.
Javi’s brow furrowed. “Yes. I believe it is possible, but…”
Someone in the back scoffed. I turned and met Grayson’s eyes. His gaze flickered away.
“You disagree, Mister Chapman?”
He lifted his chin. “Yes, Professor. It is not possible the vampire queen would ally with the werewolves.” His eyes shot to Javi. “Everyone knows the code of the vampire would forbid such a thing. It would go against everything they stand for.”
Javi’s eyes narrowed. “What I was going to say, Professor, is I believe it is possible, but unlikely.”
She nodded in acknowledgment. “And you think this would ever change?”
Javi shrugged.
Grayson shook his head. “It couldn’t, Professor. The very code of the queen would have to change.”
“What about a new monarch?” she raised a brow, her eyes roaming over us.
Grayson, ever the know-it-all, continued shaking his head. “Impossible. Their queen is immortal. And even if she chose to abdicate, she’d choose her own sire who’d be bound to the same code.”
Professor Johnson folded her hands in front of herself. “Improbable. But not impossible, Mister Chapman. The vampires could overthrow their queen.”
“That has never happened. They wouldn’t. No one is stronger than the queen and their very existence depends on her. They’ll protect their monarch and her code at all costs.”
Everyone nodded along. I rolled my eyes. Grayson’s arrogance was getting on my nerves. I could see why Javi disliked him. I glanced at my cousin who was scowling at Grayson.
“Very astute, Mister Chapman. I see you’ve been following closely.”
I grunted, catching his attention. He frowned at me. I turned back around and pretended to listen as the professor droned on and on about history that I couldn’t care less about. By the time class was over, I was ready to down the biggest cup of coffee I could. Unfortunately, I had one more class before break.
Physics, and the only one I liked in that class was Brady, though he barely attended. That day turned out to be another one of his absent days. I tried to keep my eyes open in class. I did, but by the middle of the class period, I found myself dozing off. The room was so warm and Professor Lipstein’s voice had a melodic sound to it. Not to mention the topic—physics was as interesting to me as my toenail. I mean, wasn’t it bad enough we had to endure algebra on its own, but here it was again in science?
“Miss Perez,” a voice called from faraway.
I smiled, dazedly.
“Miss Perez.”
Snickers echoed around me. I blinked at sat up. Professor Lip’s bushy brow furrowed at me.
“Oops,” I blurted.
His scowl deepened, lines so deeply etched into his forehead, he looked like Treebeard.
“Oops?” Fury flashed in his eyes. “Report to the headmaster’s office. Now.”
A round of ‘ooh’s went up. I rolled my eyes. Idiots. I was the lucky one. I’d take sitting in the headmaster’s office over physics class any day.
“Aye, aye, captain.” I gave him a smart salute and stood.
His face reddened even further. Biting my tongue, I gathered my stuff and scurried out before he exploded.
“Don’t forget your extra homework,” he called, a smugness in his tone.
I groaned as I turned to grab the papers he held out for me. Shoving them back into my bag, I hurried out the door before he could give me more.
Heading for the headmaster’s office, I stopped at the student lounge. He didn’t say anything about not stopping for a coffee before I met my punishment. I dug into my backpack to retrieve my ID card.
Making a beeline to the café cart, I got in line to order.
“It’s moving.” A gruff voice sounded behind me.
I turned, my eyes widening as I came face to face with Grayson. After nearly a week of ignoring me he decided to speak to me now? His steel-blue eyes drilled into mine and his perfect lips quirked into an amused smirk.
“The line. It’s moving,” he repeated slowly.
“Oh.” I took a step forward and glanced back. “You don’t have to be rude about it.”
He scoffed. “Me? You’re the one taking everyone’s time up.”
I stretched my neck, glancing behind him and giving him a pointed look.
There was no one else behind him in line.
“Some of us have classes we actually attend,” he muttered.
My hand when to my hip. The boy was insufferable, but why did he have to look so hot in the uniform? It was seriously unfair.
“Well, some of us have the
