“I wasn’t specific. I wanted to see how you’d behave with her.”
“Why?”
“That’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? It was a test.”
“So, did I pass?”
His response gave me chills. “You aren’t the one in the infirmary, are you?”
“She did it to herself. All I did was step out of her path.”
“I know. I saw it. You’re smarter than she is. That’s why she’s out, and you’re in.” His voice was matter-of-fact, but my heart was pounding. “Keep your head up, Quinn. Things are turning your way.”
With that, he was gone, and I was breathless.
Yes, I was growing bold, but my beating heart had felt something warm as I stared into his icy gaze. I recognized that I had changed. I had fallen in love. Not with Zephyr, but with power.
Shaking with a heady mix of adrenaline and craving, I needed to cool off.
I hit the water with a long, arched dive despite the signs all spelling out that diving was prohibited. Surprisingly, I had the pool to myself, and although I’d thought swimming laps would be refreshing, it was anything but. The water became my punching bag—a convenient and forgiving foe that I could pummel with all my unspent arousal. With each stroke, I replayed Zephyr’s words through my mind.
What were his plans for me? Was I to be his pet—a fresh girl for him to molest by the wall for his fellow Kings’ amusement—or could I leverage his affections to achieve real influence at the school?
“Oh, it’s you.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Miss Amelia standing just inside the door of the pool gymnasium.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Technically, the pool is not open during class hours. We have no lifeguard. However, I see you are an accomplished swimmer and I believe you have need of some exercise to clear your mind at the present.” She held out a towel. “However, I’ve been looking for you. If you don’t mind...”
She didn’t wait for my acknowledgment but sat on one of the reclining wooden deck chairs that lined the lap pool. I pulled myself onto the concrete side, picked up the towel, and sat next to her. She stared at the water for a moment, compiling her thoughts before speaking.
“Are you aware that Erin and Poppy Holland are my nieces?”
I tried not to show my surprise. “Someone may have mentioned it.”
“I believe you may have had some interaction with Poppy this morning.” She was stating a fact, not asking a question.
“Ma’am,” I replied defensively, “she attacked me, and I just stepped aside. She fell. Ask around. There were many people who saw what happened.”
“I already have.”
Oh shit.
Then Amelia did the most amazing thing. She leaned forward and said, “Good job. She and her sister have gotten out of hand. They both needed a good comeuppance.”
I snapped shut my opened mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, well, the less said about that, the better. Very well.”
I nodded, still feeling a bit of whiplash from the interchange.
“Another matter,” she continued. “I think it best to mix things up with my office. Considering my niece’s rather impudent behavior, I have elected to relieve Poppy of her duties as my assistant. I see in you, Miss Quinn, quite a bit of potential. I should like you to take over the position.”
I kept my face as blank as possible. With all the unanswered questions surrounding Gail’s father and mine, this seemed like a golden chance to get answers. “Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity. When do I start?”
“Tomorrow will be fine. Report to my office at twelve-noon.”
“I have lunch at twelve,” I reminded her.
“Do you wish to learn or to gorge yourself?”
Miss Amelia didn’t wait for a response. She stood and left me alone and dripping in my deck chair, the newly christened assistant to the headmistress … on top of everything else.
It seemed beating the shit out of Poppy Holland was the smartest decision I had made all day.
Chapter 20
Biba
A week later, all the suffering of my first months felt like a distant memory.
I awoke around six now, no longer rising in the early house and bundling my things for the gym shower. Now, I just slipped out of my closet and walked up the first stairway on the right. One flight up, I was at Sol’s room. Zephyr had directed him to let me use his bathroom each morning.
Was I initially worried about using the shower of a guy who had watched me get licked to orgasm while bent across an antique sofa? Sure, but I didn’t stay worried for long. It became clear that Zephyr had put Sol on notice. He let me in quietly and fully clothed, and like a gentleman, he always asked how I’d slept. By the time I emerged from my steaming, lovely shower, he was out of the room entirely.
Anyway, Sol was different from Zephyr and Arvo. While I wouldn’t call him a squeaky-clean guy, he didn’t radiate the other Kings’ rapacity. He was a watcher, silent and unassuming. I’ve no doubt that any woman he set his sights on found herself under him eventually. But I bet it was a slow, languid seduction.