Savage Little Lies (Court Legacy 2)

“Noa Sloane,” I said. “But yeah, I do go by Sloane.”

“I see.” She eased closer, her hands coming together. “So you’re into art, then? Art like Ares?”

I was and decided to show her some of it. I had my sketchbook still in my hands, so I flipped a few pages for her.

Brielle studied them over my shoulder, glancing between the drawings and me. I was taller than her, like most people, so I angled to give her a good vantage point.

“These are wonderful.” She actually sounded awed, and that made me feel good. I wasn’t sure what Ares got from her, but if she had passion like he seemed to, that might be it. Her lashes shifted in my direction. “You are very talented. To which schools are you applying?”

I stopped for a beat. “This is going to sound hilarious, but I haven’t thought about it.”

“Oh. Why not?”

“I moved around a lot growing up.” I closed my sketchbook. “My brother and I—”

“You have a brother?” she angled in, and I nodded.

“Bru and I—short for Bruno—moved a bunch,” I said. “Us and our dad. At least, we used to.”

“Used to?”

I started to say, but Dorian’s arm returned to my waist.

“He passed,” he said for me, and I was happy he had. I could talk about my dad, but I didn’t necessarily like talking about the fact I was an orphan.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Brielle’s hands came together. Her lips parted, but then they closed. She smiled. “Well, I would like to hear more about you. Your college plans? I’m always available to offer guidance on that.”

She had time for something like that? I didn’t know her schedule, but she was the headmaster.

Brielle started to say more, but her phone rang. She had it clipped to her hip, and though she checked it, I noticed she didn’t answer it.

She silenced it once before it rang again, and this time, she unclipped it.

“Unfortunately, I find myself trying to balance two gigs at the present,” she said, silencing it again. She merely clipped the thing before it was ringing once more, but this time, she didn’t even look at it. Her head tilted. “But I would like to speak with you again and help. I have to pull an early day today due to my other job, but let’s make an appointment for you to come by the headmaster’s office. I’ll pull your file, and we’ll go over things. Come up with a plan for you?”

That sounded really cool actually. I hugged my sketchbook. “Sure. And thanks.”

“Of course. Tomorrow. First period? I’ll make sure you have a pass with whoever your teacher is. I’ll pull that off your file.”

Sounded good to me.

I said that was fine, and when her phone rang between us again, she ignored it and took my hand.

“Good to meet you, Sloane.”

“Good to meet you.”

“Yes. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Her hand easing out of mine, she smiled quickly at Dorian. “See you.”

He lifted a hand to her, the woman stepping away. With her phone ringing, she finally answered it, and the door closed on her conversation when she slipped into the hall.

“No idea how she’s balancing it all.” Dorian pocketed his big hands. “I’m sure the mayor’s office needs her more than we do.”

“The mayor’s office? What does she do there?”