Curses, Chaos, and Courtrooms (Forrestbriar Academy #2)

Chapter 1

Lukas

“You’re glaring.”

“Am not.”

“Yes, you are. You look like a right git.”

I huffed, not caring how I looked. My eyes locked upon the one man in this room whom I felt I could strangle with my bare hands. It would feel superb to wrap my fingers around that aristocratic throat and—

“Lukas, are you plotting murder again?” Henri bumped me with her elbow, pulling my attention away from the scumbag. Her voice dropped. “It’s not a good look for you. You look constipated.”

Noah chuckled on my other side as we headed toward the refreshment table, in the opposite direction of the man I could glare at all night. Frankly, I enjoyed envisioning different ways I could make him suffer.

“Seriously, we brought you so that you could network and find your way into the courtroom. Lose the killer eyes and work the room. It’s the only way you’ll get what you really want.

” Henri, of course, made everything sound so simple, matter-of-fact.

She had her way of doing that with, well… everything.

“But he is here. Why the hell was he invited?” I muttered, wishing I could scream it across the room so everyone understood just how much of a monster stood in their midst. How was everyone surrounding him not wrenching away from his presence? Why did no one else in the room seem bothered?

“Now you have more motivation,” Noah added, grabbing a glass of champagne for his girlfriend. His lips connected with her forehead as he moved in front of me to give it to her. They were always like this, and it was disgusting. In love.

Romance—something that was ruined for me so unfairly. Now I had to be at this banquet with the man who would represent the wretch behind the potion attacks. William Middleton.

Grabbing Henri by the waist, Noah tried to pull her away from where I stood, glaring at the drinks on the table. Before she left to socialize, she put a hand on my arm, giving me a sympathetic look.

“Forget him and remember what you’re here for.

” One last pat, and she slipped into the swarm of chattering guests with Noah.

My eyes followed them, seeing the ever-present smile on my best friend’s face.

I wanted to roll my eyes at their happiness, but truthfully, I was glad they were finally together.

In the years we’d been in school with her, I’d heard plentiful remarks about how insufferable, annoying, know-it-all, and frustrating Henrietta Baker was.

Now, I’d heard even more about how beautiful, brilliant, fit, and perfect she was.

“Did you lose someone?” a bright voice teased, pulling my eyes from the friends who had long since gone from my sight to the girl in front of me.

Long blonde hair flowed down her back, perfectly styled in curls.

Bright blue eyes looked up at me with curiosity and something else I couldn’t place.

Perhaps it was playfulness, but I was in no mood.

“No,” I answered shortly, reaching for a stemmed glass, hoping she would leave. Before I could lift the crystal to my mouth, a tiny hand plucked it away from me.

Something long-dormant stirred in my chest as I looked down at the woman, who was grinning ear-to-ear as she lifted the champagne to her mouth. I watched with part-annoyance and part-fascination as she downed the entire glass in five seconds.

She sighed as she handed the glass back to me, which I took cautiously. “Thank you.”

My eyebrows raised of their own accord as I muttered, “You’re welcome.” I swapped the empty glass with another fresh one, offering it to her before drinking it myself once she shook her head in refusal.

“Anyway, it was clear you were staring after that couple you were just with, so—”

“You were watching me?” I interjected, my voice rough.

“Yes, I was. As I was asking before you rudely interrupted—was the girl your former lover or something? The way you were scowling after them—”

I cut her off again with a laugh that was much louder than I intended. “No, she was never an interest of mine. They’re my friends, and they’re sickeningly in love.”

“Love is not sickening,” she argued, crossing her arms and stepping closer to me.

I looked down, assessing her. The dark blue dress hugged her body in a way I would’ve noticed too intensely before the potion affair.

However, romance was so far removed from my goals at this point that I refused to appreciate her looks beyond an initial impression.

I scoffed, shaking my head. “It is.”

A little humming noise escaped her mouth as she cocked her head.

Her eyes lowered from my face, moving down my body.

Likely, she was taking in the all-black suit I had chosen, the designer shoes, and the silver watch.

Her expression stayed curious and didn’t flicker in the slightest. She wasn’t impressed.

“I’m sure you’ll find the right person someday. Don’t be so bitter.” Her voice was now grating on my nerves. Why was she pestering me about love?

“Sure,” I resolved, hoping the finality in my tone would send her away.

“Well, enjoy your night. But perhaps you should wipe the sour look off your face if you want anyone else to talk to you.”

I gave her an obviously fake smile as she took a step back. Patting my arm with a genuine smile, she flitted away. My eyes followed her as she walked, unfortunately focusing on the way her hair bounced and the way her bum looked in that dress.

Picking up one more glass of champagne, I downed it before walking into the crowd, determined to make connections. There was one particular gentleman I needed to meet tonight, as I had a specific goal.

I wanted—needed—to be in the courtroom when Aster met justice. But I didn’t want to be a spectator who sat in the back and watched. Instead, I wanted to be a part of the trial.

As a Potions Mastery student with a focus on policy, I was determined to secure an internship with the potions specialist who would work on the case alongside the prosecution.

Noah’s father was very connected in the policy realm, so he told me who I should look for and how I could get acquainted.

It’s not nepotism if it isn’t my own father, right?

I scanned the room, hoping to bump into the man I was looking for.

My traitorous eyes kept catching on a deep blue dress that swayed as if the nonexistent wind carried it.

Blonde curls accompanied the beautiful color, and I stared much too long as she moved around the room with a curvy brunette who laughed with her.

Scoffing at my idiocy, I walked through the crowd, forgetting about the girl. With an air of confidence, I finally spotted the man I’d come to this event for.

Edison Hildonbrand. The lead potions specialist in the country, and the right-hand man to the prosecutor in Aster’s case.

With a smirk I’d used to win over favor with many people in my life, I sauntered across the room to make my introduction.

Before I’d quite made it to him, the shrill noise of a microphone being turned on too loud rang throughout the ballroom. I flinched, as did half the room.

At the back of the room, a large stage fitted with sound equipment stood decorated for the event.

Dark navy fabric draped across the banisters, matching the rest of the room's décor. Tall, circular tables dotted the floor, where guests gathered to share appetizers and drinks while conversing. Now that the microphone had caught everyone’s attention, bodies turned as we all focused on the stage.

Dean Arnold made his way to the podium, nodding to the attendant who had fixed the microphone.

He grinned widely as he took in all the attendees for the night, his eyes falling to his right as he looked at who I assumed were Noah and Henri at the front.

I couldn’t see because of the number of people gathered.

“Thank you all for joining us this evening for a banquet in honor of the two students who went above and beyond their station to bring peace and safety back to Forrestbriar.” He gestured to his right, where Noah ushered Henri up a set of steps.

The crowd erupted in applause as they took their place on the stage.

I smiled as I looked at them, grateful for what they did. Yes, the love potion attacks ruined my relationship, but I was damn proud of how the two of them worked to solve the problem.

The dean of Forrestbriar continued to make his grand speech as my eyes scanned the crowd. I noted the witches and wizards I recognized, knowing that I would talk with them later. Growing up in my family's more social circles, I knew exactly how to function at these events.

But with my new purpose, I would stop at nothing until I solved the next problem. And that began now.

Once Dean Arnold finished his speech, he directed the guests to move into the dining area for the event, and I followed the crowd.

“You’re still scowling, by the way.” That light voice caught my attention again. I looked down to see the same blonde giving me a smirk as she walked away.