“I’m Solvi,” Solvi says, sticking her hand out for a shake. “What made you like my Baba?”
Gods. Help. Me. Please.
Lyn takes a few steps down the hall, keeping her eyes on Flicker—but Flicker doesn’t move, not even when Lyn takes Solvi’s hand and shakes it.
“It’s not really like that,” Lyn starts. “I just?—”
“Baba’s kind of weird,” Solvi continues. “He acts like he’s mean, but he’s actually really nice and cool. I guess you probably know that already though because…”
Shahar came over to me while Solvi continued to babble to Lyn, probably about to tell my student my entire life story despite my reservations. I sigh, shaking my head.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Shahar whispers.
“Because she’s not my girlfriend,” I mutter. “She’s my student.”
Shahar’s eyes get even bigger than before. “And she spent the night at your house,” she says. “Inmy clothes.”
“There was an accident in the lab last night,” I reply. “I was keeping an eye on her. She was shaken.”
“I can’t imagine this is making her feel much better.”
“Becauseshe wasn’t supposed to be here when you arrived,” I hiss. “She was just leaving.”
“Yeah,” Lyn says, still talking to Solvi. “Sorry—the thing is, I’m not your dad’s girlfriend, we just work together. I had an accident at work last night and he’s been keeping an eye on me.”
That seems even more interesting to Solvi. “Did you almost die?!”
“No, it’s not that big of a deal,” Lyn says, then gestures over her shoulder. “I’m just…I’m gonna get my stuff and go?—”
“Wait!” Solvi yells, grabbing Lyn’s hand before she can escape down the hall. “Why don’t you like him, though?”
Lyn looks at me like she’s waiting for me to rescue her.
“I’ll help you,” I murmur.
I brush past Shahar and Solvi, then I take Lyn by the arm and walk her down the hall. Her bag is in Solvi’s room, and we go to grab it when?—
She sucks in a breath, yanking her arm away from me and stumbling back. “You…reallyneed to be careful touching me,” she says.
“I’m sorry,” I say immediately. “Are you…did it hurt?’
“Still no,” she says, closing her eyes. Her face is flushed, her throat bobbing as she swallows. And…her scent.
Her scent is incredible.
Intoxicating.
I’d never noticed it before, but now it’s the only thing on my mind—sweet and rich and warm.
“Please go to the clinic,” I ask. “And let me know what they say.”
“I will,” she says. “Thanks, Dr. Rhyss.”
She grabs her bag, and I follow her down the hall again, seeing her out. I don’t even notice she’s still in Shahar’s clothes until she steps through the door.
Then I turn and look at Shahar, Solvi, and Wulfric.
Wulfric isglaring.
