Page 111 of Lessons In Grey

“I’m always worried about him,” he murmured, his eyes falling to my lips. “Are you?”

“About Azrael?” I asked, my mind spinning as his hand inchedup my thigh. “He’s your brother, if you’re worried about him, so am I.” Almost. He was terrifying. He had this air about him that just felt so cold, but he was important to Grey, so he was important to me.

He shook his head, capturing my chin again, his eyes slowly darkening. “About the man who was following you, the man Azrael killed.”

My heart was racing, but not for the reason it should have been. “It’s hard to be afraid when you’re taking up every ounce of space in my head,” I replied back.

A flicker of a smile touched his lips. “I’m inclined to agree.”

The door opened.

My heart skipped a beat and I immediately pulled away from him, turning to see the students starting to trickle in.

I swallowed, turning back to Grey.

He had removed himself from me, his eyes still locked on my lips. “I want you to think about the way you felt this morning,” he instructed quietly. “Just before you saw him standing above us. Hold onto that for me today, hmm? Focus on how I felt against your skin. We’re still on the sense of touch.”

My cheeks burned bright red as I remembered how whole I had felt this morning. “Okay.”

“Professor?”

I cleared my throat and stood. “See you later,” I tossed at him before heading for the stairs.

“Ms. Glass?”

I paused at the slightly familiar voice and turned, finding Headmaster Diamond standing just inside the doorway, Remi beside him, glaring at me.

“Yeah?” Shit.

“Come with me please.”

Shit.

My heart slammed and I immediately turned to Grey who was still talking to the student but glaring directly at Diamond. His flaming eyes flicked to mine. Did Diamond know it was Grey who had threatened him? Even with his mask, he had to know by now, right? I never asked him. I should have asked him.

Deep breath, the look seemed to say.

Okay, I could do this. Everything was fine. What could he possibly do? This was just about me punching Cam, nothing else. Just that.

I inhaled deeply and adjusted my bag, heading for the door. This was fine. I would be fine.

The walk to the office seemed like it took hours. I had never gotten in trouble by school administrators before. Even at my age, this was still absolutely terrifying.

No, I shouldn’t have punched Cam. That was an immature way to handle that situation, but fuck. After all these years of taunting and ridicule, didn’t she deserve that?

Diamond held open the door for me, and I walked in, nobody else in the large room.

“Thank you for telling me, Remi.”

“What?” she asked as I glanced back. “No, I want to stay and explain to you exactly what she did.”

“Get to class,” Diamond ordered.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the space. Large, filled with bookcases full of books I doubt he ever touched. There were fake trees and awards everywhere, some strange art pieces, and of course, his desk and computer, which was backed up to the glass doors that led out to the patio.

“Take a seat, Emily,” he instructed, walking by me.

I gripped the strap of my bag, using the pain to clear my head. “I’m not here to be a tattletale or make up stories,” I said clearly, my heart racing. “I punched her because she was cruel. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I don’t think it requires any sort of real punishment.” On the outside, I was as cool as a cucumber, probably, on the inside, I was vomiting blood.