He stood, then slammed the folder closed. "Dr. Green, keep your students in line."
Dr. Green didn't say anything, but he took his hands off the desk and walked to the back of the room. He opened the door and held it, clearly signaling that the meeting was over.
I stood and waited for the officer to go first. He walked out from behind the desk and paused in front of me. He smelled awful and my nose wrinkled.
Officer M leaned so close to me, I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. I shuddered but didn't back down. After watching how Dr. Green stood up to him, I had a feeling that was the only thing this putrid man responded to.
"I look forward to our next meeting," he whispered.
I tensed, gritting my teeth. "I'm sure you are."
I held my ground as he backed away from me.
Officer M inclined his chin and walked past me, so close his body pressed against my ass. He paused, leaning closer to me, obviously copping a feel. Gross. I fought the urge to vomit as I took a step away from him. "Until next week, Ms. Winters."
The disgusting man walked out the door and as soon as Dr. Green closed it behind him, I let out a sigh of relief. "He's a piece of work."
"Careful," Dr. Green said. "He might be a waste of skin and bones, but he's got more authority over you than you know."
"Thanks for standing up for me," I said. "And everyone else."
"It's my job, Ms. Winters," he said.
I had a feeling it was a little more than just about a job. He might come across as scary, but he at least cared enough to want to keep me alive.
"Ms. Winters, I've been thinking a lot about your lack of magic."
"Right back at you," I said.
Dr. Green frowned briefly then his expression settled. "It doesn't do for a mage with no magic to be attending this school."
My heart hammered against my ribs and I held my breath. This was it. He was tired of me. Whoever was funding all this was sick of paying for someone to attend a magic school who couldn't do magic. They were going to kick me out.
Magic jail, magic sweatshop, back in the human world? I had no idea where I would go.
"I think it's time we take your training to the next level."
My jaw dropped open. That was not what I was expecting. "What do you mean?" I asked. I had no magic. Which meant I wasn't even at a level to start with. Unless zero was a level.
"From now on, you will have private lessons with Professor Halifax. Your other activities will cease until your magic returns."
I scrubbed my face with my hand. She was the one who sent me to the library to research on my own. "I don't think it's going to help."
"It has to help. You don't have a choice. You came in untrained. If you can't get control of your magic, you're considered too high of a risk..."
I waited for him to finish the thought. I could tell there was more he wanted to say but he just sighed and looked at the desk.
"What do you meanI'm too much of a risk?" I asked.
"Once before we had a student here who was like you. Untrained but powerful. She never gained full use of her magic. They worried she'd come into her full power one day unexpectedly. Much the way you did when you were attacked."
"What happened to her?" I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer.
"They came for her and I never heard from her again." He pressed his lips together, brow furrowed. It was the most concern I'd ever seen on his face. Whatever had happened to this girl, it was bad. And he was worried the same thing would happen to me.
I swallowed hard. I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't. I had to fix this. I had to get my magic back. "You think it'll be enough? Working on extra lessons?"
"I hope so," he said, his expression returning to stoic disinterest, "for your sake. You start tomorrow. Eight in the morning."