Page 14 of Group Studies
A swirling line of air appeared next to the document. I didn’t let myself think. I pressed my thumb against the air and sliced it open. Wincing slightly, I stabbed my bleeding digit toward the bottom of the document.
The pink flared with rainbow light before vanishing. Nitis didn’t smile, though he cocked his head to the side.
I stuck my thumb in my mouth. “So….” I started to say.
Before I could complete my sentence, Ashe appeared and pulled me into his sweaty side. I stiffened, fear and confusion making my heart race. Ashe and I joked, we occasionally bumped fists, but we’d never even hugged before.
He didn’t take his eyes off Nitis. “A, what the fuck did you just do?”
Guilt flooded my stomach. I might not understand what signing something in blood really meant, but I knew a person's blood was unique and powerful.
A piece of me wanted to turn, bury my head in Ashe’s chest and let him fix everything. But I didn’t. Instead, I kept my gaze on Nitis. I didn’t want to be that Aphrodite anymore. No one would make decisions for me ever again. Right or wrong, my future belonged to me.
Nitis watched us, his gaze flicking back and forth as he tapped his foot in a rhythmic pattern. I wanted to ask him what happened next, but Ashe’s presence put an end to our conversation.
As if summoned, Alrick reappeared and cleared his throat. He gave me a knowing smile.
Unease rippled down my spine and curled in my gut. I assumed he’d done as Nitis asked, but what if he overheard the entire conversation?
“Using your favorite word of the evening, Aphrodite, I’m ‘needed’ elsewhere,” Nitis said, turning to Alrick.
If my tormentor had over heard everything, there was nothing I could do about it right now. My legs still shook, but I forced my feet to move, pulling Ashe with me. I knew I should go back and clean up my table, but I couldn’t. Terror and excitement warred in my stomach as we exited the cafeteria. Assuming Abe actually gave me extra time in the alchemy lab, I would have everything I needed.
Step two of operation DUMP was in motion. I still needed to find someplace private to turn into a dragon and figure out how to harvest my scales, but I would figure it out.
Ashe let me pull him along. Every step gave me more confidence. The moment we hit the main hall, filled with gothic arched window alcoves, Ashe pulled me into one. Oddly colored stars sparkled through the barrier keeping the Institute separated from the world. His hand, settling on my hip, pulled my attention away from them. He dragged me into his chest and I squeaked in surprise. I stood stiffly before relaxing into the hug as the gravity of what I’d done hit me.
“You’re so painfully naïve. Shit fuck, I just don’t...” he trailed off before squeezing me tighter. “Never seal a contract with your blood, Kitten.” His words rumbled in his chest, like they had when he pulled me out of the suitcase. “Whatever you need, trust the fucking system.” He paused. “Director Flemmings is your advisor now, right?”
I narrowed my eyes and put a few inches of space between us. “I’ll never trust the MA, Ashe.” I paused but telling Ashe about Derek would start an argument. “Director Flemmings is my advisor now, but she can’t help me with this. She, the MA, this place…they’ve handicapped me!” I clicked my clasps together and took a few deep breaths, calming my anger. “I didn’t even know what good and bad were before I came here, and now no matter what I do, it seems to be bad. I’m Evil, yet I can’t seem to figure out what evil even is. I can’t even help myself!”
I wilted and dropped my gaze to the sweat stain in the middle of his chest. “I’m drowning in my magic. You don’t understand. You don’t know me. And you shouldn’t have to.”
Ashe cupped the back of my neck, tilting it back, so I looked up at him. A dark swelling bruise caught my attention under his left eye. I reached up and brushed my fingers across it.
“I want to know you,” Ashe said, his voice deepening.
He captured my hand, the one with the thumb still seeping blood. With his other, he drew a rune for healing in the air. A small puff of his white magic moved into the cut and closed the wound. Tingles of heat danced down my arm and Ashe closed the distance between us. My heart raced.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, moments before our lips met.
I jumped, jolted out of my stupor. I didn’t remember fisting part of Ashe’s GS t-shirt, but I unclenched my hand to release the material. Ashe let me turn in his grip.
My clit pulsed at the sight of Saffron, my magic still dancing with his. I leaned toward the Greek God, but Ashe tightened his grip on my hips, keeping me in place.
Damp with sweat, Saffron’s arms hung loosely at his sides. His GS uniform and alchemy t-shirt almost glowed in the lighting of the hall.
“Aphy, Professor Garnet needs you,” Saffron too calmly. He narrowed his eyes at Ashe, his shoulders tight.
“No, he fucking doesn’t,” Ashe responded, his fingers pressing into my hip bones. “Her tutoring session was last night; the faculty’s in a meeting this evening.”
Saffron ran one of his hands through his platinum blonde locks. Although his fingers still left a small trail through the sweat-dampened hair, my magic kept most of it standing up.
“Then he expects you to be in his office when he returns,” Saffron extended one of his hands towards me.
I leaned forward.
Ashe tightened his grip on my hips again. “There’s nothing on God’s green earth you can say to fucking convince me to release A into your custody,” Ashe growled. “You’re fucking high, Saffron. The magic coursing through your body isn’t your own. You’re faster and stronger than you should be. And your fucking glazed gaze hasn’t left A all day. I will not let you hurt her.”