Page 121 of Glutton for Punishment

“You make them go away.” He says, voice raw.

My brows knit together

“The voices. The noise.” He leans forward until his forehead rests against mine, and every muscle in my body locks. “Everything goes quiet when you’re near me.”

I forget how to breathe as I stare at him. His long eyelashes fanning below his closed eyes. He’s hauntingly beautiful.

“You make it clear,” he whispers, looking less unhinged. Just… broken.

“But he says it’s not time,” Maylo murmurs. His eyes open, bright blue and sharp again. He runs his knuckles down my face. “And he knows best.”

“Who knows best?” I ask softly. “Maylo, what do you mean by ‘master’?

He steps back as the moment shatters. “I’ll be watching you, stormcloud. I’ll protect you. Always.”

Then he turns for the door and slips into the hallway.

“Hold on—” I lunge after him. “We are not done here—”

I follow immediately and stop dead, looking down the hall. There’s no trace of him at all. It’s like he vanished into thin air.

Chapter 34

Arwen

My academy phone vibrates.

08:58 AM. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath, breaking into a fast walk. By the time I reach the correct door, my pulse is already up. I exhale once, push inside the room, and immediately feel like I’ve stepped into a different world.

The room looks nothing like a classroom. Bright fluorescents fill the space with white light, bouncing off padded walls lined with reinforced panels. Shelves line one side of the room: fire blankets, containment kits, reinforced restraints, extinguishers, antidote vials, all neatly labeled in rows.

A small group is already waiting. Dean Bellows stands at the front. Her eyes land on me.

“Arwen,” she says. “Thank you for coming.”

She gestures once, briskly, and begins introducing people.

“We’ll get straight to it. We all have busy schedules. This is Professor Pox. He will be your primary instructor for your sin power development and in charge of your Gluttony power training.”

I glance at him. He’s a bit unsettling but doesn’t look as grumpy as the Wrath power trainer, Professor Marrick. His gaze flicks over me once, measuring.

Dean Bellows continues.

“This is Professor Lennox,” she says, shifting. Lennox is younger than I expected.

“He will be your new potions instructor. He needs to understand your power to ensure it does not interfere with his coursework.”

Lennox gives a polite nod. “Looking forward to it.”

And finally—

“This is Instructor Brady. He will oversee your combat training. While powers will not be permitted in physical combat classes, they can manifest under high duress. He will need to recognize what you are working with and any warning signs.”

Brady gives a curt nod. “Davies.”

“Professor Brady, I can’t wait for your class,” I say. Definitely want to be on his good side.

“All three have signed strict NDAs. The nature of your ability and all progress reports will remain confidential between them and myself.”