INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) by Imogen Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

write it?”
    “Nope. And my dad’s supposed to be here for all
interrogations
, remember?”
    The Smelt shifted uncomfortably in her chair, leaning back and adjusting her already perfect hair bun. “Your father is on his way.”
    “Good. Can I go in the meantime?” Mason stood up and turned to walk to the door.
    “Yes, but you are restricted from any contact with Faustine. Understood?”
    Mason did an about face and, in a flash, was nose to nose with The Smelt. Make that beak to nose, as Mason had partially transformed into an eagle. Her mouth was still human as she viciously hissed, “My dad practically owns this dump, so don’t be threatening me.” Then, she instantly turned into a mouse.
    I yelped and jumped up on my chair. I was scared to death of mice, not that I came across many. What the heck happened? Why would she turn herself into a mouse?
    Professor Bern swooped past me, picked up the Mason mouse, and stuck it in the ornamental glass bowl on The Smelt’s desk. “No point in trying to escape.” She waggled her finger at the rodent. “If you do, I won’t break the spell, and you can be a mouse for the rest of your life. You should know better than to be insolent in front of your head mistress, silly little being.”
    “Thanks, Edna.” The Smelt walked over and peered at Mason. “I was about to teach her a lesson of my own, but this is much more
manageable
.”
    “I figured.” Professor Bern belly laughed. “Count yourself lucky, Mason.”
    I stepped down from the chair I had sought refuge on, noticing Quinn trying to suppress a laugh at my silliness. “You spelled her?” I asked in awe.
    Professor Bern nodded. “She gave me no choice.”
    I was impressed by her incredible power, casting a spell on a transforming, vicious shifter, turning her into a mouse. Instantly. I hadn’t heard even the murmur of a chant.
    “What now?” I asked, still staring at Mason. Her twitching little nose was icking me out. There was no reading what she was thinking inside that little head of hers, not without demonizing her, and I didn’t think I’d ever be ready to try that with a mouse.
    “She can stay on my desk until her father arrives. At least she won’t get trampled.”
    The mouse squealed.
    “She can’t get up to much mischief from there. However, she can still hear and understand us, right, Edna?”
    Professor Bern nodded.
    “In that case, Quinn, could you take the bowl out to Mrs. Stone, please?” The Smelt asked.
    Once Mason was out of earshot, The Smelt waved for us to sit down again. Then she paced the room, her mouth twitching as though she wanted to say something, but she kept striding in silence.
    Jagger, Quinn, and I glanced at each other and shrugged, not daring to speak.
    Professor Bern finally broke the silence. “Frau Schmelder?”
    The Smelt came to an abrupt halt and looked over at us, seeming slightly out of sorts. She removed her glasses and placed them carefully on the desk behind her. Then she cleared her throat, throwing her hands up in the air. “I must admit that I’m momentarily unable to decide what to do next.”
    Wow. Indecision was not something I’d seen from her. She could just squash the mouse. That was what I’d do.
    Professor Bern adjusted her collar, clearly surprised as well. “Well, let’s discuss the situation a bit more. It may help us come up with a solution.”
    “Maybe,” The Smelt murmured. “Right at this second, we have the child of one of our biggest donors ever sitting in…a bowl. And his…
her
father is on his way. Not the least bit happy, as you can imagine. In the meantime, I have the demon king of London’s daughter’s life being threatened. So any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.”
    Squash the mouse!
Instead of saying that, I turned and asked Professor Bern the question that had been gnawing at me. “Did you know about Mason’s ability to change sexes?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    “Well, you didn’t look