Shadow Embraced (Haven Academy Book 1) [Completed]

Chapter 22

You'd think , with a third of the population doing their best zombie impersonation, my early morning adventure would slip under the radar. It didn't. No one knows what happened, but someone was up to witness me being dragged to the principal's office, which is apparently a big deal. I've never seen students so terrified of an authority figure.

Rumours started circulating almost as soon as I left his office. My favourite is the one where I was off having a romantic tryst out in the forest when Talon caught me. The rest gets worse after that. Unfortunately, one of the rumours is there was another attack and I was caught red-handed. Yeah, that one isn't helping my rep any.

"Scar, can I have a word with you?" Klein asks as I try to rush out of the art room. Looking strained and tired, he leans against the front of his desk, watching the class file out at the end of his lesson.

I force my feet to travel in his direction. I haven't spoken to him since last night. I don't really want to know what he thought of the drawing, if he even knows it's mine.

A few others stall to watch the latest development. Am I a TV show or something? Go home already!

"I can't help but notice your new found stardom." He eyes the last few stragglers as they run out of excuses to linger. "This doesn't have anything to do with last night?"

"Yep. It's apparently a big deal to be taken to the principal."

"You'll be fine once it becomes old news. Just be careful." He places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a slight squeeze. "The Regulators that arrived this morning will find out who's responsible for everything."

I stare at Klein, afraid to ask who these Regulators are.

Klein slinks back against his desk and shakes his head. "They're the council's cleaning crew. They only eliminate something they see as a threat." He must have seen a look of dread I'm sure is spread over my face, because he says, "Don't worry, they only attack when they're certain. But, I don't think I would show them your latest picture or they might start asking questions."

I suck in a breath and almost choke. "You know that's mine?"

He nods. "You have a great talent. How did you see that, though? It looks like you were right at the scene."

I drop my gaze and begin studying the floor, contemplating whether I should tell him. I don't know how to explain it. That picture does make me look guilty, and I left it with Dahmin. He could do anything with it.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," he says, his bandaged hand falls at his side. "Just be careful with what you show or say while the Regulators are around. There's already a plethora of rumours circulating about last night. Although, my favourites are you decided to take on a pack of werewolves on a dare, you're really a half-breed went feral and attacked a student, and the one where you attempted to slay Ms Talon while she was asleep..."

I forget how to breathe at the mention of that middle one. Forcing my lungs to work, I hope Klein didn't see my reaction, but he continues.

"Or there's the one about you stumbling upon the attack while it was happening and now Lord Dahmin has brought the Regulators around to protect you. Now, that one's my favourite."

Trying to relax, I decide now is the best time for a subject change. "If you don't mind my asking – what happened to your hand?"

"Oh, this." He holds his hand up and shows me the tight mess of bandages. "I was on babysitting duty last night and one of the little bast... I mean loveable students bit me. It really hurt."