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25
Adrian
I knowI shouldn’t be in her head, but I can’t help it. My mind wanders there and I catch pieces of emotions or bits of thoughts. I don’t let myself linger, though. And I don’t have to be a mind reader to know she’s pissed.
I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have let myself take things so far. It doesn’t matter if my suspicions are correct. Mating bond or no, I can’t be with her. It’s too dangerous for both of us.
My debt with Prince Alastor is supposed to be settled, but I’m not naïve enough to think he won’t call me back into his service. Some debts can never be truly settled.
He claims he’ll owe me a favor and I’m starting to wonder if I can use it on Harper’s behalf. I’m not in his inner circle, at least, not anymore. Whatever his true plans are for Harper, I haven’t yet figured out. I should have known when he sent me to get her that she wasn’t a usual case of a deadbeat skipping on payment.
There’s something different about her and he already has a plan. I have to be smarter. I have to figure it out before he knows I’m on to him.
And getting romantically involved with her isn’t going to help. If anything, it will draw attention to her that she doesn’t need.
Part of me wants to cancel class today. I’m not sure how I’m going to face her after what I did to her. The worst part is that I can’t tell her why I can’t be with her despite the bond pulling me to her.
My only hope is that she’s not feeling it.
Even after everything, my heart still races the second she walks in the door. I don’t even have to look up from the book I’m reading to know she’s here. I can feel her. It makes everything so much worse.
Clenching my jaw, I look up and for a brief moment, our eyes meet and my heart feels like it’s shattering into a million pieces. I want to run to her and hold her. I want to tell her it’s all going to be okay. Part of me wants to explain everything to her. But if she knew and she wanted to be with me anyway, I don’t think I could walk away.
Her being pissed at me is better than Alastor being able to use me against her. I’ve seen how he’s played people against their mates. I’ve seen his abuse of power and the pain he’s caused others. He’d kill me to make her hurt or kill her to get what he wants from me. I can’t give him that.
I have to figure out a way to keep her safe.
She settles into a chair and I can tell she’s avoiding making eye contact with me. As much as it pains me, I know I’m doing the right thing. My only hope is to get her out of this school and back to the human realm where Alastor’s power is limited.
“We’re going to start preparing for the practical exams at the end of term today,” I say as I rise from my chair.
“Those are two months away,” Jule says.
“Yes, but they’re designed for demons,” I remind them. “And they are designed for you all to do poorly.”
Teaching this class is supposed to be a punishment. But I don’t hold the biases against other supernaturals that Alastor or the other members of the high court do. I’m only a few years older than the students who sit in my classroom. I was in their shoes not long ago and never thought I’d return here. Surprisingly, the job turned out to be a good thing for me.
With the exception of meeting Harper.
It’s rare to find a mate. And it complicates everything.
I try not to look at her as I address the class. “For the next six weeks, I’ll be putting you through stations that simulate the practical exam you’ll take. You’re all on your own for the written part, but at least I can help prepare you for this.”
I walk to the back of the room where I’ve set up seven stations. “Physical demonstrations are the hardest part for non-demons since the test will be assessing demon magic. You’ll have to show something equivalent enough that the proctor is willing to give you a passing score.”
I stop in front of a four foot tall box held down with weights. “First is agility. You’ll need to get to the top of this in one movement.”
I squat and jump, landing softy on the top of the box. “If you need to use magic, do. But get up here gracefully.”
Hopping down, I walk to the next station where I set up a few dummies. “Self defense. Be able to hit a moving target. You will have no weapon, but you can summon one or use your magic.”
As I walk through each station and explain them, I start to feel better. I’m setting up all of my students to pass this exam well and earn more points toward their ranking. Including Harper.
She’s got a serious shot at blowing away all the other demons and moving up in the ranks if she can continue to channel the magic around her. And the test will be run by demons so she can use their magic without them even knowing.
I stop in front of the last station. “One on one combat.”
The class is deathly silent and I can feel the tension in the room. We haven’t done anything like this since Harper accidentally killed Carlos. I know it’s something that has weighed heavily on all of us.
