“Then stay the day,” he says. “It’s just a day, and if it keeps you safe it’s worth it.”
“You wouldn’t mind being stuck here with me?” I ask.
“I’ve been in worse places.” He moves his hands to my shoulders. “And I find this place fascinating.”
Tabatha looks at Lucas, a small smile playing on her face. “I believe Professor Darrows is teaching sixth-years about vampires this upcoming week. What better way to teach than to have our very own vampire come into the classroom? That’s if you’d be willing.”
“I would be honored,” Lucas says, giving my shoulders a squeeze. “As long as you don’t plan on showing the students how to kill a vampire.”
Tabatha laughs. “We do teach that, however I don’t think anyone here would attempt to try. You’re the oldest vampire any of us have come across.” With age comes increased speed, power, and the ability to hold people spellbound. Vampires can’t hold witches or warlocks under their compulsion, which was another part of what made them start the war against us. “I’m going to assume you will be bombarded with questions. Many of the students here have never come across a vampire before.”
“They’re lucky I’m their first.”
I laugh and shake my head. “They are, though,” I agree. I stick my spoon back in the cottage pie, not hungry but knowing I should eat something. I force myself to take a few bites but can’t stomach any more.
“Do you want me to show you around the school?” I ask Lucas, trading my food for the glass of water. “I hate sitting here doing nothing.”
Lucas smiles. “I’d like that. I find this all very fascinating, and I assume this is where our child will go to school.”
“Yes,” I say, smiling back. “It is.”“And that’s how I knew it was a ghoul. I mean, there are only a few things you can stab right in the heart that won’t die.” I laugh and look at the stunned faces before me. Lucas and I are in one of the common rooms, sitting by a fire with a group of students. The little crowd started gathering as I showed Lucas around the school, and by the time we came back to the common room, over a dozen students were not-so-sneakily following us.
Like I said, I have a reputation at this school, and Lucas is, well, Lucas. He can make a straight man drool and a faithful woman want to stray from just one smirk. Good thing he’s all mine.
“How did you kill it?” a girl asks, eyes wide as she twirls her red hair around her fingers.
“Does anyone know how to kill a ghoul?” I ask, and the students whisper to each other, not wanting to blurt out the wrong answer. “Yes!” I point to a younger boy in the back. “That’s right. Sever the head from the body. Which is a fail-proof way to kill just about anything. Just make sure whatever you’re using to do the cutting is sharp enough.” I put my hand on the back of my neck, pointing to my spine. “Bone can be hard to cut through.”
Evander claps his hands together, coming up behind the students. “And that is why we will leave the demon hunting to the professionals.”
“Professionals get paid,” I retort. “No one pays me.”
“I’ll pay you,” Lucas says with a smirk, and the students laugh. I tear my eyes away from my little fan club and look at Evander. His eyes meet mine, nonverbally saying everything I need to hear.
About an hour ago, Julian and Tabatha went to my property in Thorne Hill to cast the spell that should shield me from Bael’s prying eyes. Julian wasn’t sure how long the spell will hold, but he was confident it would protect both the little brick house and our new estate. Both Tabatha and Julian insisted I stay here, hidden inside Grime Gate, while they cast the spell.
It’s a complicated spell, and the best way to distract myself from thinking about how easily it could go wrong was to sit here and talk with the curious students.
“And I think that concludes tonight’s lesson,” I tell my little group of students. “I’m sure it’s much past your curfew and don’t you all have class in the morning? Or is tomorrow a weekend? I don’t really know,” I say honestly, yet everyone laughs as if I’m joking.
I wish I was, though I’ve completely lost track of time.
Lucas stands, and half the group shivers with desire at the sight of him. Me too, ladies…me too. He holds out a hand and I take it, letting him pull me to my feet. If Evander is here, giving me the all clear, that means the spell took and it’s safe for me to go home.
And all I want to do is collapse into my bed.