Page 50 of Group Studies

They hadn’t moved. Ashe glared while Professor Garnet returned it with calm patience. I expected their magic to clash along with their wills, but they both held back.

I opened up the office door. “Will our tutoring session even be private anymore?” I asked.

“It’s not.” Professor Garnet signed unhappily. “Officer Keres will be a permanent fixture during Metaphysics and your tutoring. At least until your new clasps arrive.”

My heart sank. If my vagina could pout, it would. though after what Saffron said to me in the hall, it was probably for the better. I needed to be done with the Greek God.

I slipped out the door and headed for the alchemy lab, leaving a trail of wet sock prints behind me.

Chapter 9

Magnus Terra made me hold buckets during both his classes the following day. With my bookbag still in Ram’s keeping, I’d not been able to do the assigned reading, and I’d shown up for class unprepared.

Although being sent to the hall bothered me for Illusions and Puzzles, which focused on creative problem-solving, it didn’t for Practical Magic Application. Every day, the lessons on how to use magic felt more and more foreign.

I knew in my heart my magic wasn’t something I called on and manipulated with my all-powerful will. I seemed to have two ways to use it: transfer power into others or directly affect their thoughts, their very intentions. I expected to tremble at the inherently dark nature of even thinking that, but I didn’t. The black and white version of good and evil had fled my very being.

I couldn’t decide if it was a good thing or not.

With Ashe walking at my side, my heavy footsteps dragged me ever closer to Abe’s runes class…and my partnership with Ram.

“Why didn’t you get your fucking bookbag from your Shell?” Ashe asked, not for the first time.

I rubbed my aching arms, ignoring Ashe’s frustrated tone.

“Ah, no time?” I lied, not wanting to get Ashe involved in my problems with Ram.

Ashe’s hand on my shoulder stopped me in my tracks. Turning me toward him, he wrapped his arms around my back and lifted me slightly off my feet. His lips captured mine, cutting through my foul mood, filling me with promise. The world disappeared.

A few catcalls followed by the sound of phones taking pictures brought me back to reality. Ashe released me from his brutal kiss to growl at the students who’d stopped to watch our very public display.

I bit my lower lip, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

Sliding his arm around my shoulders, he pulled me to his side and we started walking again.

“Fucking stop.” He squeezed me playfully. “I don’t know what’s turned your brain into manure, but I’m two steps away from following fuck-tard’s goddamn lead and throwing you over my shoulder and finding us somewhere fucking private to improve your mood.”

I wiggled, making sure my hips brushed his thighs.

Ashe grinned, shaking his head and keeping me close as we walked toward Abe’s class. Although I wish I could open up to him about my problems, being under his arm like this made even Ram seem easier to deal with. I didn’t want it to ever end.

But we didn’t have many classes together, so it would have to. The Alchemy Lab came into view. Ashe gave me another quick kiss at the door before bolting off toward his class.

Ignoring Ram’s pleased smile, I perched on the stool next to him. The foghorn blasted. A sudden comparison of the sound to my collection of butt queefs last night sent me into a fit of giggles. Every eye in the room looked at me dubiously.

I slapped my hand over my mouth.

Abe started class by chastising us for our first day’s work before adding a new component to the project and extending the entire thing by another three days. What giggles I hadn’t managed to contain vanished. I’d have to spend five days dodging Ram. Without being obvious about it, I looked for my bookbag, but didn’t see it.

Surprisingly, Ram didn’t push as hard for my attention today. I narrowed my eyes at him a few times. He mostly kept his space and asked me the most basic questions he could think of to ask. By the end of class, we’d only traveled around the table twice. And Abe looked as delighted as a lizard could at the cardboard and wooden prototype we’d cobbled together.

“I can see both of you in this,” she said, swallowing whatever she’d been eating. “Nice work, Ram. I expect you to keep on Aphrodite. Teamwork’s essential to surviving in the real world.”

Standing next to me, Ram beamed. “Of course.”

I gritted my teeth but smiled sweetly at the alchemist. The potion I needed to drink for my spell sat uncharged, safely in my Shell. I needed the alchemy lab one more time. After that, I could hopefully go back to ignoring Abe like everyone else did.

“Is there any way I can get my third day in the lab soon?” I asked Abe before she moved to another pair.