Why did the main office always smell like moldy sugar cookies? There was something nauseating about the mixture. I’d been sitting in one of the hard, red chairs lined against the wall, waiting for Mr. Bell to see me for what felt like forever. My eyes shifted to the clock behind the receptionist. Fifteen minutes had already passed. I puffed out a long breath as irritation pulsed through me. I figured that was what Mr. Bell was going for though. He wanted me to sit here, waiting on him until my frustration was on the verge of shifting into anger.

Damn Jasper for cloaking my keys. All of this could have been avoided if he’d decided to give me another job as more training instead of pulling another prank. I rolled my eyes and resorted to plotting my revenge on him while I waited. I knew Mr. Bell was in his office; I could see him through the Plexiglas windows. He was sipping coffee, staring at his computer screen. His bushy brows were furrowed, giving the impression he was concentrating hard. We both knew he wasn’t. What was there to concentrate on when it came to his job?

Being principal was a cake job.

He didn’t have to do much besides open the school, close the school, and patrol the halls between classes unless some unruly teen was sent his way. Even then, half the time he directed them to the guidance counselor’s office.

What did a principal do that was important? I couldn’t think of one thing.

Mr. Bell’s eyes locked on mine through the glass windows of his office as though he could no longer ignore them boring into him. I held his stare, willing him to get this over with. When he finally stood, a grin slipped across my face as silent victory crept through me.

“Miss Ward.” He grimaced from the doorway. I swore my name left a bad taste in his mouth. It was plain to see he disliked me, but I’d never been able to figure out why. I knew I wasn’t a picture-perfect student, but I wasn’t horrible either. There were students here who were far worse than I was. “Step into my office, please.”

I stood and started toward him, taking in his appearance. There was nothing interesting about him. He was a human, weak and feeble, and yet he thought he was powerful. A king ruling over his subjects. Poor guy. He had no idea half his staff and students were supernatural and far more powerful than he could imagine. For the millionth time I wished I could clue him in. Jasper would have my head though.

“Good morning, Mr. Bell.” I slipped into his office. My voice wasn’t dripping with sarcasm, but it wasn’t riddled with a sense of kiss ass either. It was somewhere in between.

While his office was large, it felt small due to the massive oak desk dominating the space and the over-stuffed chair behind it. Golf memorabilia littered every corner of the room. I hated the stupid statues lining the wall behind him. They were of the bobble head variety. Cartoonish and weird. Their goofy heads shook as the heat kicked on, pushing the stale scent of Mr. Bell through the room. Maybe he was where the moldy smell in the office came from. I wondered if Mrs. Bluebell, the receptionist, was where the sugar cookies smell stemmed. I suddenly felt bad for her. She had to marinade in his stench all day.

“Miss Ward, you’re late. Again.” Mr. Bell slipped behind his desk and melted into his worn leather chair. It made a creaking sound, rebelling against his weight. He wasn’t fat, but he wasn’t in shape either. He was what a mother would call husky or pudgy around the center.

“I’m aware of that, sir.” My sir was tacked on in a condescending tone as I situated myself in the chair opposite him. I hated when people stated the obvious. It was a waste of time.

We didn’t need to hash out the particulars here. All we needed to do was discuss what he planned on dishing out as my punishment. I wished he would cut to the chase.

“That’s the third time this quarter. Second this week, if we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty, and I do believe it’s time.” He folded his hands and placed them on his desk while keeping his eyes locked on mine. It was a move I was sure he’d practiced numerous times, thinking it amped up his intimidation factor. It didn’t work on me. I lived with one of the most intimidating men on the planet. Mr. Bell was chopped liver compared to my brother. “I think it’s time we set up a conference. I’ve looked over your unimpressive file and have noted your parents are deceased.” His eyes were devoid of the sympathy I was used to seeing when someone mentioned their death. Judgement gleamed in them instead. What an ass. “The meeting will have to take place with your legal guardian instead.” His beady eyes searched my face for whatever reaction he’d been hoping for, but I gave him nothing. I didn’t even flitch.

What did he want me to do, break down and cry because my parents were dead? He should be able to add up how long ago their deaths had been from the date in my file. I was ten when they passed. Even though I still missed them, the pain wasn’t fresh anymore. Time had dulled it to a bearable level. His reminder didn’t stab at me the way it would have a few years ago.

Something shifted in Mr. Bell’s eyes, and I got the impression that wasn’t what he’d been going for. Instead, it seemed as though he’d hoped to scare me. My lips twisted into a smirk. He had no clue who my legal guardian was. He and Jasper had never met.

Mr. Bell’s gray eyes darkened as he took in my expression. His face reddened beneath the florescent light above us.

“Okay.” I shrugged. “Fine with me.”

He might actually be doing me a favor. After this meeting Jasper might think twice before hiding my keys. He hated having to play the role of my legal guardian, preferring his born role of big brother instead.

“Tomorrow afternoon, four o’clock sharp.” Mr. Bell’s nostrils flared as each word passed his lips.

“Noted. My legal guardian and I will be here.”

“And detention this afternoon.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out the pad of paper he enjoyed ruling over most. His hand flew across the pink slip, the flow and curl of my name comfortable to his pen. He tore the slip out and handed it to me. “Here you are. Have a great rest of the day, Miss Ward.” There was sick pleasure in his words. I was certain he got off on governing over this school and its students. Control freak bubbled within his soul.

“You too.” What else was I supposed to say? Thank you? Not going to happen; he’d given me detention. Again.

I reached for the paper as I stood. After tucking it into my pocket, I hoisted my book bag over my shoulder and exited his smelly office. I glanced at the clock on the wall as I stepped into the hallway. First period would be over in twenty-five minutes. There was no point in going. I headed downstairs toward the class anyway, knowing Mr. Bell would most likely be watching me from his office windows. Once I reached the bottom of the steps, I turned left instead of right and speed-walked to the girls’ bathroom.

It was empty with the exception of one girl washing her hands in the sink. She was younger than me, a freshman maybe. I could tell right away she was a supernatural, but I couldn’t determine what kind. The only one I could rule out was vampire, as they couldn’t come out during daylight unless they were ancient. The girl’s eyes didn’t scream ancient to me. They told me she was meek. Her shoulders slumped forward as though she was cowering from me. Maybe she was a shifter. A mouse or something else small and shy. Determining what species of supernatural someone was seemed like another valid skill Jasper should be teaching me, not how to find cloaked keys. I needed to learn something of value. Trying to tell him would only start a fight though. To Jasper, everything involving my magic was of value no matter how small.

I slipped by the girl, heading straight for the window along the far wall. The sill was large enough to sit in. I often did, when I wanted a break from my torturous first period class. Pre-Cal was not, and never would be, a favorite of mine.

Hoisting myself up, I maneuvered my way onto the sill. I could feel the girl watching me from the corner of her eye as she dried her hands. She left in a hurry, making me wonder if she thought I was about to light a cigarette. This window drew in a crowd of smokers during the lunch periods. I propped my feet on the sink nearest me and leaned against the window, getting comfortable. My plan was to wait out the end of first period. Afterward, Tristan would be looking for me. We were supposed to meet before school, but Jasper had ruined it.

Tristan’s kilowatt smile and sinful gray eyes filled my mind. My blood pumped harder through my veins. There was something about him I couldn’t get enough of. I didn’t understand the way he made me feel, but I knew I already craved the sensations like a drug. He’d gotten into my bloodstream.

I wanted Tristan Jarek desperately.