Page 26 of Class Studies
I wanted to laugh at his slang and cry at the same time. Instead, I bobbed my head and took his offered hand to stand from where I still knelt. I robotically stepped toward my locker.
Ashe pulled out my bookbag, adding it and Tanwyn’s pillow to his dimensional pocket.
I sucked in a breath as a vivid memory of Saffron telling me no one would carry my stuff burned bitterly in my memory. Would he still say that now? Or would he have done the same as Ashe?
Instead of dwelling, I turned toward my tower, Ashe matching my step. The walk helped me center myself. Still keyed to my room, Ashe let us in before pulling me into his chest.
“Fuck, Kitten, nothing was supposed to go down like this.” His chest rumbled with his voice, and his beard tickled my nose. “I swear to you, Officer Keres isn’t a bad guy. He’s in a hard spot and fucking not thinking before he speaks.”
I pulled out of his arms and rubbed my nose, trembling with anger. “He’s in a hard spot?” I blinked at Ashe. “He ordered his men to shoot Beryl. He’s having me experiment on my friends like they’re lab rats. He ordered you to ‘service me’ like I’m some machine that needs to be oiled regularly.”
“Well, fuck, Kitten.” Ashe rubbed the back of his neck. “You kinda are, though I agree he could’ve been more delicate.”
My vision turned red. “What did you fucking say?”
Ashe paled and put his hands up. “You experience magic, and then, well, you need to fuck, Kitten. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I balled my fists. “And you’re here to provide that service?”
Ashe put down his hands. “Yes. Fuck, yes. I don’t like how Officer Keres put it, either. But I don’t fuck around.” He sliced his hand through the air. “I’m glad he released me from duty. I hated what he made me do today, and I don’t want to leave your side. I’m in love with you, A.”
My breath hitched at the word ‘love.’ I crossed my arms and tried not to overthink it.
A knock sounded at my door, and my heart fluttered to feel Professor Garnet behind it. I streaked forward, hurling the door open, before flying into the professor’s arms. Anything to avoid my emotional turmoil.
Ashe growled. “Fuck off. We’re in the middle of something.”
I hugged the professor tighter.
“It seems Aphy doesn’t want that.” Professor Garnet’s chest rumbled under me. He closed my tower door with his foot.
I squeezed him harder. “I thought we were going to talk later.”
“Officer Keres wants a full report in writing.” Professor Garnet rubbed my back. “I needed to check on you after, well, after all of it. I couldn’t leave you hanging like I did last time.” He pulled me away from his chest and cupped my cheek. “I’m not his man, and I disagree with what he’s doing. But while he’s in control, we have to play his game.”
I grimaced, and the professor kissed my frowning lips. My magic raced around me, making my toes curl as I fought to keep from transferring.
Ashe grunted unhappily and took a step forward. “Back the fuck off.”
Professor Garnet let go of me and threw his shoulders back. “Make me.”
Ashe froze, his eyes going wide.
The professor put his hands on his hips. His red rims glowed, and a hint of my crystal magic swirled in them. “I said make me, Natty.”
Ashe’s gaze slid to me. I trembled, my rage and lust bleeding into an inferno of raw need, desperate for an outlet.
“Nope.” Professor Garnet stepped in front of me. “Leave Aphy out of it. She’s got too much on her plate without us adding to it. I’m not dragging this out.”
Ashe widened his stance and growled. “Just fuck off.”
“No.” The professor mimicked Ashe’s posture.
I found my wits and slid between them. “Please, don’t fight.”
Their clashing wills crashed around me, feeding my lust. The air snapped as their magic collided with a crack. Magic rocked through me, tingling my skin with heat. I’d done too much today. Despite how Officer Keres worded it, he wasn’t wrong.
I needed release.