WILLA
My heart skidded to a stop.
Sweat gathered at the back of my neck, on my forehead, and in my palms despite the cold.
I stared at the one person we had been trying to avoid. He was here. Headmaster Alaric.
He stood a short distance away, watching us with clear disapproval etched across his face.
I swallowed hard and glanced at Verah. The shock on her face slowly shifted into confusion as she looked at me, then back at him.
"Headmaster Alaric!" Verah laughed nervously, stepping closer behind me as if I could somehow shield her. "What are you doing here?"
"I believe that question should be directed at you, young lady," he replied evenly.
"Um…" she let out another strained laugh. "Sorry."
Verah winced and leaned into me, her voice dropping. "We are done for," she muttered through clenched teeth. "We might as well start digging our graves now, Elyse. Especially me. My parents are going to kill me."
