Page 40 of Class Studies

I shivered, wondering if Damon owned a collection of boxes he kept from me.

“We’ve figured out your magic only reacts to something with its own will.” Abe closed the box and sealed the paper with the command I’d given each one to the top. “It’s a good start. You’re done for now. If you’re missing for much longer, someone will send out a search party. “

I bobbed my head and gestured between us. “Ah, so, how does this work?”

Abe scowled. “Don’t ask stupid questions.” She brushed her fingers over the box with an unbelievable amount of tenderness. “I was excited before, but now...” She brought her hands to her chest and let out a chalky cackle.

My stomach fluttered with nerves. I wished I’d fought her or put some trick in my beads so they wouldn’t work. But I hadn’t thought of it. I wrinkled my nose. Maybe getting them out of the box without touching my magic or letting it touch an inanimate object would be enough of a challenge.

Abe jerked her head toward her door. After taking a final look at her too happy wrinkly face, I bolted.

An arm reached out and snagged me around the waist as I exited. Beryl’s peppery scent filled my nose. Instead of screaming like a banshee, I managed to only squeak in surprise before collapsing into his chest.

My legs shook. I’d gone from sure I could take Abe, to over my head, to almost trusting her bizarre kindness before questioning her sanity over a few hours. My nerves were shot.

“I’m here,” Beryl whispered. “Right here.”

He picked me up in a bridal carry and whisked me up to my tower. Dark and empty, Ashe nor Saffron were nowhere to be seen. The only light in the room came from the flickering fire which never went out in my fireplace.

I tucked my scales into my shoes as I took them off, barely holding myself together.

Beryl sat on my couch and opened his arms. I collapsed into them, and he locked me in his safety. I cried and yelled and asked him questions I didn’t expect answers to, riding out my storm of emotions. He listened. Like he did at our very first meeting.

I needed this. No one else just let me cry. Professor Garnet always wanted to talk about it, and Ashe tried to fix it. I had no idea if Saffron and I would ever get to a place where I could be this vulnerable.

“I thought you were done with me,” I said, still pressed into his chest once I’d gotten control of my emotions.

“Why would you think that?” He kissed my head. “I had you in my arms this afternoon.”

“But it was a show for the MA and the Aptitudes.…your text.”

Beryl squeezed me. “My last text was a joke, Goddess. I wanted to make you laugh. There was no show today.” He nuzzled my neck. “I don’t need to stay away. You mind-controlled half the MA officers here and had an orgy on the Director’s desk.” He grunted. “They gave you a private tower and a class of students to experiment on. I’m pretty sure you shit positive points.”

I wrinkled my nose at the visual.

Beryl grinned and ruffled my hair. “I’m not hiding anymore. Keeping my distance to help you was one thing, but pretending I don’t love you when you’re right next to me isn’t something I can do.”

Love. That stupid word again.

“Beryl?” I shoved my face into his chest. “I loved Damon, and he controlled me because of it. I don’t want to do the same to you.”

Beryl pried me off and met my gaze. “You won’t.” He smiled softly. “I’m not the only one in our little love nest. We can all keep an eye on each other, like the family we both should’ve had.”

My heart swelled, and he captured my lips. This was what I wanted, exactly this. I leaned into his chest and listened to his racing pulse.

“We won’t have much alone time,” Beryl eventually said into the silence. “Officer Keres took back control of the portal, which I expected, but he got my last shipment with it.”

Beryl hesitated

I laced my fingers with his. “Please. I want to know you, the good and the bad.”

His chest muscles tightened. “There were a few things in there I didn’t expect.”

My heart thudded in my chest—had Nitis gotten my turtle? Did Beryl find it?

“I hate fighting with Nitis.” Beryl dropped his arms to his sides. “We disagree on what should come in and out of the Institute. The delay gave Officer Keres enough time to tie us to the shipment. The PeaceCock won this round.”

Beryl paused, lost in his thoughts, and my heartbeat slowed. If he found my items, this conversation would go much differently. Whatever Beryl found had nothing to do with me.