Lock and Key (Nocturne Academy 1)

“I told you, she’ll be fine. I’m just going to put another cold compress on that eye and use a little anti-inflammatory magic on her and she’ll be put right in no time,” she told me. “She’ll be excused from classes for the rest of the day but you’ll see her tonight in your dorm.” She raised an eyebrow at me. “That is—if you two are in the same dorm?”

“We are,” I said firmly. “We’re in the dungeon together.”

“Ah.” She nodded and eyed my lanyard speculatively. “You’re Megan Latimer, right? I thought you’d be in the South Tower.”

“Yes I am Megan Latimer, but I’m not rooming in the Sisters’ dorm,” I said. “And I’d really like to stay with Kaitlyn.”

“Sorry, but I’m not issuing you a pass just so you can sit around and chat with your friend,” she said briskly. “You’ll need to get to your second period class or risk demerits for tardiness.” She glared at Reyes who was standing guard, just outside the small exam room door. “And you need to go too, Ari.”

He shook his head.

“I’d better stay. Sanchez is mixed up in all of this and his blood is up. He nearly let his Drake out on the field just now.”

The Healer’s face went a little pale, I thought. But all she said was, “And if he comes in here, you can handle him?”

Reyes nodded.

“My wings fly higher than his,” he said, which sounded like some kind of Drake code I didn’t understand.

I did understand though that Reyes was getting permission to stay while I had to go.

“Why are you letting him stay?” I demanded, frowning at the Healer.

She put a hand on one bony hip.

“Because, Miss Latimer, a Drake with his blood up is one of the most dangerous things you could ever hope not to face. And only another Drake male—preferably one who out-ranks him—can even have a hope of controlling him or de-escalating the situation. Do you know what a full-grown Drake looks like in his animal form?” she demanded.

I shook my head.

“I’ve never seen one—well not completely anyway,” I said, figuring that the semi-transformation I had seen Sanchez undergo didn’t count.

“We’re talking a two-ton beast bigger than a barn and some of them breathe fire! So yes, I’m allowing Ari Reyes to stay while I send you away. Now have the courtesy to leave my office before I give you demerits!”

“Can I at least say goodbye to her?” I asked, lifting my chin. I was really racking up the demerits today, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to leave Kaitlyn without making sure she was okay.

The Healer sighed deeply.

“Fine—two minutes,” she snapped, pointing to the exam room. “And then you’ll have to go straight to your second period class.”

“Thanks.” I slipped past Reyes and went into the room, where Kaitlyn was lying down in the dimness with a cool cloth over the right side of her face. She was still wearing the big Drake’s uniform shirt and she looked small and crumpled in the oversized clothing.

“Hey, Kaitlyn.” Crouching by the side of the cot, I took her hand in mine and squeezed.

“Hey.” She squeezed back.

“The Healer is making me leave,” I told her. “But she says she’s going to excuse you from classes for the rest of the day so I’ll see you tonight in the Norm Dorm—okay?”

“Okay. Thanks,” she whispered, her voice tight. “And thanks for standing by me, Megan. You didn’t have to, you know.”

“Of course I did!” I said fiercely. “Didn’t you hear Avery last night? We’re part of the same group—the same coven. And coven sisters don’t desert each other—right?”

“I guess not.” Her voice was still slightly choked. “I…I don’t know how I’ll face all those people again, Megan. All the ones who saw me…saw me uncovered.”

“Screw them,” I said firmly, squeezing her hand again. “Nobody can make you feel inferior unless you let them. So just don’t let them. And don’t worry—I’ll be with you in PE every day.”

“I’m so glad you came to Nocturne Academy,” she whispered. “I couldn’t have stood what happened today if you weren’t here.”

“I’m glad I’m here too,” I told her firmly. Though I still wasn’t at all sure I belonged at this strange school, I felt deeply for her and for all my new friends.

It was funny, really, for us to have such a strong connection when we’d known each other such a short time. But it felt like something outside ourselves had drawn the four of us together. Though I had never had any siblings, I felt the same way for Kaitlyn that I might feel for a dear sister who had been hurt or wounded. I wanted to protect her—to keep her safe.

And to punish those who’d been cruel to her.

On the way out of the exam room, I stopped and looked up at Ari Reyes who stood with his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest. I pointed a finger at him.