Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(71)

This time his laugh is louder. "Perhaps you are making progress then."

He stands and looks down at me and my mouth dries. "Do you understand why my lessons are important now? Your friend would’ve been traumatised by what she saw, if I couldn’t erase her memories. Her trauma would be your fault."

I look away and dig fingernails into my palms. I want to run. Check on Amelia. Not stand here being scolded by a man who confuses me on every level. He reminds me of Andrei in many ways, some I can’t admit to myself without heading down the path to inappropriate thoughts.

"I know. I’m sorry I questioned you."

Tobias places his hands behind his back and leans forward. "No, you're not."

His eyes sparkle with amusement. Is he angry or not?

"You do the right thing to challenge what doesn’t feel comfortable to you, but please be selective about what rules you ignore."

I nod. "Thank you for helping tonight." My eyes go to his torn sleeve crusted with blood on his upper arm.

"Ah. Yes. I almost forgot." He takes the bullet from a pocket and places it on the table. "Jamie should be able to find the item's history. Whoever has touched this bullet will have left their psychic imprint for him to see."

"You were shot. Doesn't it hurt?" I blurt.

"No, but the bullet almost hit Jamie. If I hadn't been with you and stepped in front of him, he may not be walking now."

My stomach churns. Tobias stopped the bullet hitting Jamie. Ash or Andrei wrested the gun from him. How many bullets were in the gun? Enough to create the Jamie I’ve seen in my mind? I blink up at Tobias.

"Don't look worried. Bullets can’t harm me. Or knives. Surely you’ve seen or read plenty of vampire stories. My body heals quickly though, which is why I had to pull this out. I wouldn't want a lump of metal stuck under my skin."

I pull my mouth tight at his condescension. "Yes. I’ve read vampire books and watched movies, but no vampires were like you."

"Nobody is like me, Maeve."

Do I push this and ask more about his feeding habits? I grimace. "I understand that there’s a lot I don't understand."

"Very much, Maeve." He pulls off his jacket and drops it onto the armchair. There’s a bloodied hole in the blue shirt underneath, and he frowns at it. "That was an expensive shirt too."

The hysteria I’ve held back bursts out as I giggle inappropriately. He frowns and his face darkens. He has more strength in his wiry frame than I imagined, and I stare at the ceiling in case I stare too long. Seriously, Maeve?

Tobias told me the first time we spoke that vampires are built to attract people. Hell, it’s not just Andrei and Tobias, almost all of Petrescu are enthrallingly beautiful. That’s all I’m feeling.

"You must be tired, but also happy," he says.

"Happy?"

Tobias tips his head. "You stopped what you imagined would happen, didn’t you?"

"Maybe. But I don't know why I had the vision about Tessa when Ash was the one attacked."

He scratches his head as he looks around the room for something. "Not that vision, Maeve. The other one that challenges you. I’m happy that Jamie is safe." Locating a clear glass bottle filled with a brown liquid, he pours himself a tumbler full.

"You knew I'd envisioned Jamie?" I whisper.

"I caught a glimpse of something on the night I dealt with Andrei’s indiscretion. I’m not a hundred percent sure what, but I saw Jamie’s face. I presume my stopping the bullet helped him avoid injury."

I lick my dry lips. He didn’t see everything in my mind, but how words encourage me. The two visions—Tessa and Jamie—were linked. I changed Jamie’s future.

"Your personal thoughts and clairvoyant abilities are well protected—against yourself too, I feel." He drinks.

"Then I’m definitely happy I went to the school tonight if I stopped Jamie getting hurt."

"But your attempt to change events led to a serious situation. Any of you could have been killed or injured, and we had to deal with those who were."

Tobias gazes at me over his glass. The hunters.

"Don't look concerned. The men are safe and somewhat forgetful." He chuckles at his joke and knocks back the rest of his drink. "They’ll recover."

"Right." I eye the door eager to leave.

"I understand how important a witch with your gift is, but I hold concerns I’m sure others share. If you can see the future clearly, and are determined to change events, this makes you dangerous."

"Everybody I’ve met here is dangerous," I protest.

Tobias places his glass down. "Changing the future can be catastrophic."

My neck prickles. "I have a role to play in my new world. I will play it."

"Of course, but next time don't take matters into your own hands, Maeve. I will continue to watch you, and next time I may not be as understanding."

"Like you are with Andrei? I had the impression he’s stepped out of line more than once."

He blinks at my impertinence. "Andrei is complicated. He needs my help or he’ll become a danger to more than humans."

I’m too tired to talk back to him and relieved he’s allowing me off a very large, sharp hook. "Can I leave?"