I absentmindedly rub the singular line sewn into my right shoulder.
“As you’ve been told, this is a lecture course but leans heavily on the interactive side. Student engagement is a large portion of your grade as well as class participation.”
Kill me now.
The overly friendly smile lingering on her pear-shaped face causes a sense of suspicion and dread to creep its way into my gut. A smile like that is never good news. I’m not the only one she’s making nervous. Multiple classmates stir in their seats or make knowing eye contact with a friend.
She finally drops the smile and, without missing a beat, delivers the punch line. “Another thing you will be happy to know is that you won’t suffer alone. As Noctryns, we tend to be self-efficient and loathe relying on others.” Her arms sweep wide, and a faint dusting of chalk clings to her sleeve. “However, this is something that must be accepted to be victorious in battle. Which is why, this year in my class, we will be working in pairs,” she says, her stern tone changing to an almost cheerful pitch.
Murmurs break out across the rows as people start claiming their prospective partner.
The loud rhythmic beat of clapping hands silences all noise. Professor Rinkin stands with both of her hands still pressed together in the air, looking at us like we’re misbehaved children. “You will not be with someone of the same year. Upperclassmen have much to teach the lower classes, but do not sell yourself short, first and second-years. You can remind them that they don’t know everything.”
I’d rather run naked through a briar patch than be assigned to group work. I’ve always done better working on my own, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Fidgety guy next to me is already looking at a blond girl across the way, so there goes that chance. Shame.
He could have bounced the shadows right out of himself.
The professor slowly crosses her arms, waiting for the voices to die down. “I should also mention that not only do I have you working in pairs, but I also assign them.”
A collective groan fills the room, causing her overly bright smile to reappear.
“Yes, I thought you might like that little tidbit, which is why I saved it for last. Now, for the fun part. Finding out who your partner is for the remainder of the year,” she says, smiling coyly. “However, I should warn those who are new to the class, shadow welding is an exhausting process for those just starting and will bring forth character traits you didn’t even know you possess.” She walks to the podium, running a finger along the spine of a text. “To do this with a partner can be very intimate on so many levels. You will show your partner a vulnerability that not many, if any, will ever bear witness to. Once you perfect the craft, your vulnerabilities become your weaknesses, so you hold them close to your chest.” Her eyes bore into us. “Noctryns do not submit. Ever.”
Well, that should be easy to work with. I’ve been taught since birth that to show weakness is to show defeat.
Submission isn’t even in my vocabulary.
The professor sets the chalk on the podium and stands there, her hands now steepled as she looks us over. “Row one, turn to the person sitting directly behind you in row two, and introduce yourself to your new partner. Row three all the way to row seven, follow suit.”
I’m in row seven.
Fucking fantastic.
Everyone else is busy turning around or meeting the person sitting in front of them.
Not me.
Nope.
My eyes are glued to page 43 of my book. The words and images blur together because I’m not even focused on them, but I refuse to turn around.
I feel him reach forward and grab the tips of the hair hanging down my back. His long, deft fingers casually proceed to twirl them in circles.
“Looks like it’s you and me,Heathen.”
I spin quickly in my chair and come face-to-face with my new nemesis.
His lips are much closer than they should be. So close that if I leaned forward even an inch, mine would be pressed right up against his. His eyes are a contradiction. They’re warm like burnt honey but cold and calculating. It’s as if the gods messed up when they put him together, but in the most beautiful ways.
His beauty almost hides his cruelty.Almost.
He doesn’t pull back, but to my credit, neither do I. We’re at an impasse, a battle of wills neither of us wants to lose.
I honestly don’t even know how we got here.
“My name is Nori,” I say through my teeth.
