Viola
“Class you have a new homeroom teacher. Mr Virgil will be taking over from Mr Hans as of today,” a teacher says in the background. I’m not really listening. I’m too busy trying to decipher Dante’s latest message which came late last night.
It kept me awake until Lorcan came to bed and distracted me.
See you in hell, V.
It can only mean that he’s coming for me.
“Please make him feel welcome. Mr Virgil comes to us with high recommendations. For those of you studying English Lit this semester as one of your chosen subjects, you’re in excellent hands. I leave you now to get better acquainted.”
A familiar feeling stirs inside my gut as the headmistress leaves, and the new homeroom teacher passes through the rows of desks. He stops at mine. The smell of gunpowder has my senses alive.
I sweep my gaze up and stare into his icy blue eyes.
Dante.
Every part of my body freezes. The chill sweeps through my body and spikes every nerve ending alert. Without thought, I grasp the handle of my knife, my entire being tense and fucking ready.
But he smiles, an easygoing one full of camaraderie, and continues his walk down the aisle. He walks up to the front of the class, and settles down to take registration. My hand has started to hurt. I’m gripping the knife so hard that it takes everything in me to relax it. Uncurling stiff fingers, I wait and watch. Ready. But he’s blending in like any predator would.
When he gets to my fake name, he pauses, killer-sharp eyes honing in on me. “Verity Hawthorne, interesting name. Have we met before?”
My breath stills. His tone is smooth as honey, completely unlike his usual clipped way of talking. He leans back, eyes full of mirth. He looks like someone’s hot older brother with his messy blond hair, a jacket over a white shirt, dark blue jeans and loafers.
All around, the girls in the class seem to agree. They’re looking at him with hungry eyes and horny lithe bodies, because to them, he’s a hot new teacher. Young enough to be their older brother’s friend. Old enough to make them look twice over the teenage boys that frequently try it on.
My ex-mentor hates playing a part. He loathes it. Avoids it at all costs. So why is he now pretending to be a fucking teacher?
Without thinking, my hand has dropped to where my knife is hidden again. I loosely cling to it through the thick material. He won’t make a scene here. I know that. He’s playing with his prey like I do, only I know who he is. I can see him coming.
It’s Dante’s face, but with his voice, body, style, and expression, he’s someone else entirely. And he’s still staring at me.
A bolt of excitement skips up my spine.
Fuck. I was supposed to answer him.
I wet my lips, looking him dead in the eyes. “I would remember if we had,” I say curtly.
Across the room, near the back, Dino narrows his gaze at me. Lorcan is in another class with Jude. They are the only ones, apart from Saskia, who know what Dante looks like. Dino has never seen him.
What’s wrong? How does he know you?
Dino’s message light’s up the screen. I quickly weigh up the options. If I warn Dino, he’s only going to tell Lorcan and Jude, and then it’ll be hell on earth trying to convince them to let me keep on working my current prey. And I need to keep stalking if I want to maintain my sanity.
He doesn’t. He’s just another pervert teacher.
I send back.
As soon as the bell rings, I quickly gather my things. Dante is no longer focused on me, he’s flirting with Opal Kenworth of all people. I want to go over there and scratch her fucking eyes out. I ignore the urge and concentrate on getting out of the fucking room. Dante caught me off guard. I need to collect my thoughts, and plan.
Dino comes up behind me, tapping me on the shoulder before his arms circles my waist. The fact that he does it in full view of our new homeroom teacher isn’t lost on me.
“That fucking perv was checking you out,” Dino scowls.
“Leave it, he’s probably on the list,” I mutter.
Jude joins us in the hall, and then Lorcan, and we head to one of the private study areas on the upper levels of the school library. It’s study break. We normally use the time to plan our next move, or to share intel, but today everyone’s subdued.