Descendants Academy: Young Adult Urban Fantasy by Belle Malory (most important books of all time txt) 📗

this. I’d have to learn this lesson the hard way. “Fine, but I’m here for something else. I need to contact a family member.”

A strong whiff of magic soared through the room, followed by the sound of Headmaster Waddley’s voice. I lost my train of thought, looking behind me at the entrance. Waddley swung the door, holding it open. “It was difficult work, changing the schedule around last minute, Franklin, but I’m thrilled we accomplished it!”

“Grandpa?”

As soon as he saw me, he coughed and straightened. He was dressed in a red and gold toga, a professor’s robe, and carried a small leather briefcase. “From now on, Sheridan, you’ll need to address me as Professor Thorne.”

“Miss?” said the administrator who’d been waiting on me. My original reason for coming here was now staring me in the face.

“Oh, um, never mind,” I said, moving out of the way for the next student.

Waddley tipped his head. “Have a good day, Franklin,” he said, then left for his office.

“You took the job?” I said as soon as the headmaster was gone.

“Figured you might need me around, especially since you skipped class yesterday.”

What the crap. He was not supposed to know about that, which meant—“You’re spying on me!”

“Save the teenage theatrics, Sheridan.” He grabbed hold of my elbow, steering me into an empty hall. “It’s called parenting. I know a few details. Some bullies strung you up in a tree—I warned you not to trust anyone.”

I frowned, hating that he knew. It made me feel weak and powerless, like I couldn’t handle myself without him here to watch over me.

He looked me over, his shoulders drooping. “Was I wrong to bring you here? Most of these kids have known about magic their whole lives, and you’ve only just discovered it…if this place is too much for you, we could figure something else out. Perhaps, a magical tutor in a private setting?”

I appreciated that he was trying to look out for me, but I shook my head. As awful as my first day had gone, I wasn’t ready to give up yet. “It won’t happen again.”

“Are you sure?” His eyes probed mine.

“I’m sure,” I said, trying to sound sincere. “And you don’t need to work here either. Depending on my grandpa for protection will only make me more of an outcast than I already am. Yesterday was a small hiccup. I’ll eventually fall into place.”

God, at least I hoped so.

“It’s not just about that,” he said, sighing. “I’ve missed teaching, and I’ve enjoyed being a grandfather. Riley has your dad, but you’re on your own here.” He shrugged, letting out another long breath. “I would like to stay, but if you don’t want me around, I’ll withdraw myself from the position.”

Well, when he put it like that…dammit.

It was like a little tug on my heart, and Grandpa was not usually one for heartfelt things. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel so alone.

“Fine.” I tried not to look too pleased with the arrangement. “But keep the grandpa thing on the downlow—and no treating me any differently than the other students.”

He nodded. “Both of those requests were a given.”

“Okay, moving on.” I shifted the weight of my bag to my other shoulder. “We have more important things to discuss. Like the way you dumped me in this school without telling me about Dad’s past.” I gave him my most menacing stare.

His mustache twitched and his eyes turned all shifty. He knew exactly what I was referring to. “Not here, not out in the open,” he said, looking around. “Meet me after school.”

“I can’t,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I have detention, for being bullied.”

“The student culture is not like human schools. You’ll have to learn to hold your own until you get control over your magic.” He gave me a wary glance, clearly wondering when that would be. “I’ll have your detention transferred.”

“That’s not treating me the same as any other student, Grandpa.”

“We’ll start tomorrow, and it’s Professor Thorne during school hours.” He waved me off. “See you after class.”

16

In Basic Magic Principles, Jett sat next to me again. I wondered why she bothered since everyone else still avoided me like the plague. If she knew I was cursed too, she would probably run the other way screaming.

She snorted, looking over at me. “Curses aren’t contagious, Thorny.”

I cradled my head, like that would keep her out. “Ack, stop doing that!”

She shrugged one shoulder, totally unapologetic. “Stop making it so easy.”

I frowned, working to build an energetic wall around my mind. I really hated the way she did that, especially when I wasn’t expecting it.

“Does everyone know about my dad?”

She nodded. “Pretty much.”

Great.

My family’s dirty laundry was public knowledge, and I was used to being looked over. If the situation were reversed, Riley would’ve handled this better. She adored being the center of attention, no matter the circumstances. Cursed or not, she would have made Arcadia her bitch.

“My own family history isn’t that sparkly, you know.” Jett offered a thin smile. “My grandmother cost us our ability to speak to the dead.” Hearing her share something so personal surprised me.

“How did that happen?” Twice now, she had mentioned it, so I knew it must really bother her. She must similar to me, stumbling through Aphrodite though I wasn’t suited to the magic.

Jett shrugged it off. “Bad choices, like your dad. My point is, no one can blame either of us for our relatives. We didn’t choose them.”

She made a good point.

The day went better from there. As promised, Ione followed me around from class to class, introducing me to her Aphrodite friends. Most of them gave her crazy looks, but her name carried weight. Students bent over backward to please Ione, even if that meant being nice to the defector. At lunch, she offered me a seat at her table, but by then, I was ready to get away from the constant scrutiny. I found an empty table in the courtyard and sat