Sentinels of Oz: A Reverse Harem Academy Romance (Emerald City Academy Book 1)

by JB Trepagnier

  Chapter 21

  Daxar

  F

  rancesca would have been taught to spy with a scrying mirror when she was twelve. I was shocked she either hadn’t tried yet or hadn’t come storming into my office because she realized all the professors here were watching every single class she was in. None of us watched her when she was alone in her chambers, but most of the time, someone was watching her.

  The classrooms were watched before and after class. It wasn’t just that we were watching Francesca and Saffron. We were watching the entire student body because Glinda was worried about someone other than the staff spying.

  It was a huge gamble, but I knew Ixius saw exactly what Dorothy Gale was doing with that bow and decided not to show up and stop it. I would have to say something to him later. I knew just as well as he did that Francesca and Saffron would have put a stop to it, but that was cutting it just a little too close. A student could have died, and we didn’t need to be taking that kind of risk with any of our students.

  Ixius was a Winkie, and now that he knew Azami wasn’t really a Wicked Witch who enslaved the Winkies, he took it personally Dorothy killed her. Dorothy was off-limits to all of the staff. At most, Ixius could have taken her bow away and told her not to do it again until she was better trained.

  Ixius was trying to prove a point and bring Dorothy down a peg. He decided just to let Francesca do it by risking a Munchkin’s life. That wasn’t how this school needed to be run. The students needed to feel safe, especially with everything going on.

  I was stuck between a rock and a hard place watching it go down. I was in a meeting with Glinda at the start of class, so I wasn’t watching. Glinda wanted to know if there had been any more reports of the green-haired boy she was so interested in. I hadn’t seen him, but I’d also had limited time to watch in the scrying mirror because Glinda kept wanting reports.

  By the time I got back to my office, the scene in the scrying mirror had shown me Idris stopping an arrow and a Munchkin student falling off the roof. Francesca and Saffron saved him like I knew they would. I knew Francesca wouldn’t let that fly, and now I had damage control to do. Why couldn’t Ixius just have stepped in and stopped it before it got that far?

  I knew Dorothy Gale was supposed to be off-limits, but I didn’t care. She ran off crying from a tongue lashing she rightfully earned, Glinda didn’t want me to step in when Dorothy bullied Saffron and Francesca, but Dorothy nearly murdered a student today with sheer stupidity. Something needed to be said to make sure she didn’t attempt something like this again. I sent word I wanted her in my office.

  I seemed to wait forever, but eventually, there was a soft knock on my door. She was red-faced and still weeping when she came in, like she was the one who nearly fell to their death,

  “Sit,” I demanded, pointing to a chair.

  She meekly sat and started sobbing all over again. Did she want me to feel sorry for her?

  “You did a foolish thing today, and a student nearly died. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  Dorothy’s cries strangled in her throat like she was shocked I used profanity in front of her. Fuck was the only appropriate word to use in that sentence because I really did have no idea what she was thinking of firing an arrow at her friend at the edge of a twenty-story rooftop.

  “Those wicked girls make it look easy. They were gloating in fight training. We just wanted to show them anyone could do it and knock them down a peg.”

  I steepled my fingers and glared at her. “Would it shock you to know that there are students here that think you are a bully and would like to see you knocked down a peg?”

  “I’m not—”

  “Actually, you are. You are harassing two girls whose mothers you killed. You’re going to find out some history here, and you’re going to find yourself wanting to apologize to both of them. I’d suggest you leave both of them alone and tell your friends to do the same, or when you find yourself wanting to give that apology, you’re going to get the same reaction from Francesca as you got today. You deserved what you got today, and if you continue on this path, you’ll deserve everything Francesca and Saffron throw at you when you realize the gravity of what you really did to them.”

  Dorothy had finally stopped sobbing and looked angry with me. “I didn’t ask to come to Oz. I couldn’t help my house falling on that Wicked Witch. I was told to defeat another Wicked Witch to go home. She tried to kill me as soon as I set foot in the West. She sent wolves and crows after us.”

  “Wouldn’t you defend yourself if someone killed your sister and was coming to kill you?”

  “Well, there are no witches back in Kansas except in stories, and no one asks you to kill anyone. I really just want to go back home.”

  “Then you’d better stop this campaign of yours to make life here miserable for Francesca and Saffron because they might be your best shot at getting back home. Glinda is giving you a place to live and teaching you magic, but Glinda has a lot on her plate. Francesca and Saffron are not evil or wicked, or they would have let your friend fall to his death. If I were you, I’d be doing some groveling because those two girls might be your best shot at getting back home.”

  “I’d never ask for their help. The Munchkins told me all about what the Wicked Witch of the East did to them. Glinda will help me as she did before. If she can’t help me, the Good Witch of the North helped me when I first ended up in Oz. I’ll go ask her.”

  This girl was stubborn and infuriating. I watched most of the Quadlings come to Francesca and Saffron’s side after that stunt on the roof. Dorothy wasn’t even close to asking the right questions. Now, she was about to go risk everything and leave the protection of the school before Glinda could get any answers about why she kept ending up here.

  “Stay out of the North, Dorothy. Those are Glinda’s orders. You nearly got someone killed today. Does that not tell you that your behavior needs to change?”

  Dorothy just crossed her arms and glared at the corner. Just then, there was a hard knock on my door. Only one person knocked on my door like that — Francesca of the West.

  “Get the fuck out of my office and don’t make a scene when my next guest comes in,” I ordered.

  Francesca was probably furious, and I loved her when she was mad.

  Chapter 22

  Frankie

  O

  prix and Idris tried to calm me down on the top of that roof, but Saffron and I were pissed. I knew Oprix and Idris were too, but they were more concerned about calming me down. Saffron and I were smashed in the middle of a huge hug, and Idris had his wings wrapped around us.

  “Why don’t we go back to our room, and I’ll rub your back?” Oprix said.

  That sounded nice. Oprix was the best at back rubs. When Idris offered to rub my feet too, I just wanted to forget about today and get rubbed by my boyfriends. I knew it needed to wait. There was a big fucking problem. Where was our professor this entire time?

  I kissed both of them. “Hold that thought. Take Saffron back to our room. I need to talk to Headmaster Daxar about this. Our professor should have been here.”

  Oprix kissed the top of my head. “I agree. You know it’s not like a Winkie to shirk their job. Maybe something happened to him. Go to Daxar, and we’ll have food waiting when you get back.”

  I had an idea, but I would need Daxar’s permission for it. Saffron needed to unwind just as much as I did, and she needed a treat. I stomped off to Daxar’s office as Oprix and Idris took Saffron back to our rooms. I pounded on his door and just charged in. I was shocked to see Dorothy sitting there with a red face. I glared at both of them.

  “Didn’t you hear me?” Daxar snapped. “I told you to get the fuck out of my office.”

  Dorothy went scurrying out of his office, and Daxar descended on me. He pulled me over to the sofa and sat down with me in his lap. He stroked my hair, and I just relaxed.

  “I’m sorry, Francesca. I talked to Dorothy, and I plan on talking to Ixius. Ixi
us should have been there. I think he wanted to teach Dorothy through you, and he risked a student’s life to do it. That should never have happened. By the time I got back to my office, the arrow was already in the air, and the Munchkin boy had already gone over the roof.”

  “You still didn’t show up to say anything to Dorothy.”

  Daxar pulled me to his chest and stroked my hair. “I thought that right belonged to you and Saffron. I’m shocked you haven’t figured out we are all watching you in the scrying mirror. I was hoping Saffron would say something too.”

  I pulled away and looked into his green eyes. It made sense they were watching us. I had to make sure he wasn’t watching me with Galen last night.

  “Were you watching me when you sent me off to train last night?”

  “I had business to attend to. I wasn’t watching you then. I don’t watch you in your rooms either. Only on school grounds and only for your safety.”

  I just nodded. Daxar was always about safety. He still wanted me to pick words to make him slow down and stop when we were working together. I just had this feeling whoever Galen really was, I needed to keep him safe from Glinda. She would be interested in him. I felt like I could trust him. He’d actually be honest with me about the Fisher King instead of sending the entire student body on some wild goose chase where we would never have found answers.

  “I don’t want to be watched when I’m training alone.”

  He just kissed the tip of my nose. “As you wish. Do you have any other demands?”

  “Yes, actually. I want to do something for Saffron. All this shit with the Munchkins and Dorothy is stressing her out. She’s always loved my mother’s lemon cakes. I want permission to go to the palace kitchens and make them for her.”

  Daxar gave me a gentle smile. “Can I have a lemon cake too?”

  I threw my arms around his neck. He could have told me no. I had a feeling I wasn’t supposed to be in the kitchens. I knew then he’d do anything for me.

  “I’ll make you all the lemon cakes you want. Do you have any other requests?”

  He traced my lower lip with his thumb. “Yes. I want to play again during your training session. You need to come up with your own safe words.”

  He grinned at me when I bit his thumb. What did I really dislike that would make me want to slow down or stop when I really liked it when he spanked me? It finally came to me.

  I grinned at him. “Munchkin means slow down. Dorothy Gale means stop.”

  Daxar threw back his head and laughed. “You always manage to shock me, Francesca. Very well. Those are your new safe words.”

  Chapter 23

  Frankie

  I

  felt lighter when I made my way back to my room. Oprix and Idris were waiting on the sofa. Emari was sitting in a chair, and Saffron and Emarus were cuddled together in a chair. I took a running start and dove into Oprix and Idris’ lap. They both caught me, and Idris started untying the laces of my boots.

  “You’re in a better mood,” Oprix said as I nestled myself between his legs. His strong hands started working my shoulders.

  I’d have to tell them about Daxar, just not here in front of everyone. Idris yanked my boots off and hauled them into his lap. He started rubbing the balls of my feet, and I just let out a contented sigh.

  “Good news, Saffron.”

  “Are they expelling Dorothy,” she asked hopefully.

  “No, but I think Headmaster Daxar tore her a new asshole. She was in his office when I got there. They are always watching us, and Professor Ixius wasn’t there on purpose. He wanted us to put Dorothy in her place. I said I wanted something for it.”

  Idris just chuckled. “Do we even want to know what you asked for?”

  “Hey!” I said, pretending to swat at him. “Nothing bad. I said I wanted a day in the kitchen to make Saffron my mother’s lemon cakes. I figured while you’re in your tutoring session, I’ll slip down and make them for you.”

  “Can we come?” Oprix said. “We always make them with you.”

  Idris just grinned. “I want to come too. Are you making enough for the class?”

  “I’m making enough for everyone here, including Emari and Emarus.”

  Emari just smiled. “I’ve heard Winkie lemon cakes are amazing. Do you think they’d let us sneak down there? I wouldn’t mind showing all of you my mother’s strawberry torte recipe.”

  I just shrugged. “They will just have to deal with it. This school could have let a student die today. If they had said something to Dorothy before today, she might not have been dumb enough to try shooting an arrow at her friend.”

  I was like a cat as I sat there, getting my back and feet rubbing while I watch Emarus play with Saffron’s hair. She just sat there with her eyes closed, looking so content. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted my cousin strong. She wasn’t my first cousin. We were pretty distantly related. The original Sentinels were sisters, but my mother and Adora were not. I still loved Saffron like she was my sister.

  “The students in the Quadling dorm are talking about what the two of you did. Even the ones that left and didn’t hear you out are talking to the Quadlings that listened. I think all of the Quadlings here are on your side now. We don’t room with the Munchkins, so I don’t know if any of them have turned against Dorothy after that stunt.”

  “They won’t. The Munchkins are a proud people. They made a big show of backing Dorothy to tear Frankie and me down. They won’t admit they were wrong and turn from her to come to us. They just won’t. I’d rather just ignore them.”

  “This isn’t standard Sentinel training, is it?” Emari asked. “Getting kicked out for not mastering something on the first try and risking lives like that. They are practically having you teach the classes.”

  Saffron and I both shook our heads. “That first levitation potion you learned the first day; I had a lot more lessons on that before I even tried it. My mother went into each ingredient and why it did what it did. She explained why it was going to explode if I did it wrong. I didn’t actually try the potion until after two days of learning about the ingredients. You shouldn’t just be learning basic potions. You need to be learning how the ingredients work so you can use them to brew your own potions later.”

  Emarus took a hint from Oprix and started massaging Saffron’s shoulders. “I don’t think any of us are meant to be taking over as Sentinels anywhere. I get the feeling we are learning all of this for something else. Why would we learn how to levitate something and make it invisible, but not the properties behind how it works if we were meant to do real magic after school ends? I’m starting to question Glinda. Oz has a military now. Did you see them? I think we are meant to be a part of it.”

  It made a lot of sense. I trusted Daxar, and he said he wanted to see both Saffron and me take our places as Sentinels. I didn’t think Glinda really intended to step down. I had no idea what was really going on with Locasta and why there was only one person from the North here, and she happened to be a professor.

  “Let’s talk about what we know,” Oprix said. “We know Oz has an army, and every teacher here has a geas on them. All we know about Glinda’s plan is that she wants Francesca and Saffron fully trained, and she wants everyone here to learn how to be a Sentinel as quickly as possible, even though there are not enough seats for all of you. What do we know about what Glinda really wants?”

  “Everyone says she wants to restore Oz and find the missing heir to the Oz throne. That’s all they can say with the geas on them,” I said. “I trust Headmaster Daxar, even with the geas on him.”

  “I’ve been working Frabess during our private lessons, too,” Saffron said. “I trust her too, but she can’t talk about the North at all, aside from what everyone already knows. She’s a good teacher. Not as good as my mother, but she knows what she’s doing. I’ve tried pressing her, and she’s not lying when she says Glinda wants me as Sentinel of the East, and she wants to make things right. She can’t talk about what this school
is for except to say that Glinda’s focus is the missing heir.”

  Emari ran her fingers through her hair. “Do you think that’s why she gave us an impossible homework assignment, then canceled history until we figure it out? She couldn’t find someone to teach history, and she’d rather focus on the missing heir?”

  Idris was out late when I got home the night before, and Oprix was so worried I had been gone for so long, I didn’t get a chance to tell either of them the Fisher King was real.

  “I found out about the Fisher King!” I said. “He’s not a book character from Kans-ass. He was a real person they wrote stories about. Apparently, he came to Oz like Dorothy, and the Wizard did and was even worse than the Wizard. A spell was done to make all of Oz forget him because there’s no way to kill him. I’m sorry, Saffron. There’s no way to reverse the spell that made everyone forget the Sentinels. It’s forbidden magic, and as far as I know, no one knows how to reverse it.”

  Saffron just shook her head. “My mother told me about the forbidden spells, but she also told me there’s a counterspell for everything magic. All magic can be undone unless it maims or kills someone. Nick Chopper can’t be turned into a man again because he used magic and tin to keep himself alive after an enchanted axe maimed him. Remove the magic from Nick Chopper, and he would just be tin. It’s the same with the Scarecrow. Every spell can be reversed. You just have to figure out how.”

  “And you might need another Sentinel,” I pointed out. “A spell that made all of Oz forget is too strong for just one person.”

  “Do you think that’s what this is?” Emari asked. “Glinda has her army to go fetch the missing heir when they are found, and she’s teaching all of us magic to reverse a forbidden spell.”

  Saffron and I both exchanged a glance and shook our heads. If that were all Glinda ever intended, the staff wouldn’t all have a geas on them. Glinda had a master plan she didn’t want anyone to know about. I was about to call her bluff. I was going to force her to teach history because I did my homework. I had information on the Fisher King now. Frankie-1. Glinda-0.