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“I can do both.” I leaned in and nuzzled his cheek. “Let me give this to you.”

He stroked my jaw, holding me to him. “Doing this is so thoughtful, so selfless, soloving.Thank you, Kai.”

“I’m not all bad then, hmm?”

“She doesn’t really think that, you know?”

I started. “What?”

“I’m not reading you, it’s just obvious. I mean, you know thatIdon’t think that. I’m the only one you actually show your softersides to, so I know well what you have to offer. Doing this spell for me is a major testament to that. But Ariana doesn’t know you as well, not who you are now, anyway. It’s been a long time since you were those carefree kids running about together and making flowers bloom with your magic, fixing broken wings of birds and ladybugs. With your recent harsh actions toward her, I could see you worrying that she actually hates you, and isn’t just saying that to bite back at you. But she doesn’t.” He lifted a shoulder. “I might have readheremotions while she was at our table earlier.”

“Hmm.”

“The highly interesting thing is why it bothers you so much. Don’t you think?”

He ruffled my hair. “Enough of this.” I gestured at the textbook he’d brought out from his bag while he’d been talking away. “Did you read the required first three sections?”

“Twice.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, I’m actually looking forward to it. Especially working withyou.That doesn’t happen all that often in a class setting because of the disparity between our power levels.”

“I noticed you’ve been using your magic more recently. I’m impressed.”

“Well, I figured it’s our last year. As worried as it makes me, if I don’t push it now while we’re in this safe and controlled environment, I might never do it, you know? I mean, it’s kind of sad that it’s taken me all this time to come to that conclusion, but it’s better late than never, right?”

“It definitely is. Well done.”

As I conjured my own textbook into being with a flick of my magic, and set up the interactive panel to prepare to take notes and draft some spells once the class got going, we fell into a comfortable silence as Nyx set up on his own side of the desk.

A wave of awareness rolled through me, and I turned my head discreetly to see Ariana walking in.

Mmm,looking as stunning as ever.

I really liked that little black skirt on her. The way it bounced against her ass and gave me a nice callback to our little playtime in the shower where I sank into that tight little hole of hers and made her come all over the tile for me. Fucking delicious. Her waves were pulled back into a high ponytail now, something I’d noticed that she did before every class that had a lab component to it. She had a white lace camisole on and her security blanket in the form of that well-worn brown suede jacket of hers over the top. She was hugging her textbook to her chest as she walked in and headed for the back row.

When she saw me, she flinched, then gritted her teeth, before headed off to the left side of the room, still on the same row as us, though.

Before I could watch her further, Nyx patting my arm drew my attention.

I looked away and focused on him, as he told me, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. With everything happening—Ariana, Vorzyr, our last year starting up—it kind of got pushed onto the backburner.”

“What’s going on?”

“During the birthday party, Warlow Boyd approached me. He offered me an opportunity. He wants me to become part of a hybrids-only team that he’s putting together within the Guardian Movement that will address hybrid-specific issues and needs. It would be sort of like an apprenticeship and only on a part-time basis while I’m here at the Academy.”

“That’s a great honor.”

“I know. I couldn’t believe it. I’m still wrapping my head around it actually.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised. You have a unique insight that could definitely assist other hybrid beings. You have a strong relationship with Warlow, too. This sounds like a perfect role for you at this juncture.”

“Yeah? You really think so?”

“I do.”

“Are you okay with it, though?”