Page 41 of A Curse So Cruel

That makes me smile, but I still don’t take her hand.

She starts to reach out toward me, like she’s determined to help me up.

“Kenzie!” Thane barks, startling us both as he comes up beside me. His dark brows are pulled low, his expression as serious as ever as his gaze swipes over me and then settles on my roommate. “You’ve been lagging behind the group for long enough. Join the others.”

Kenzie’s back straightens, but she doesn’t budge. Before she can say something I know she’ll regret, I blurt, “Girl, go. There’s no point in us both being punished.”

She purses her lips, begging me to get up with her eyes, but I stay where I am, making it clear I have no intention of continuing with this torture session. The defiance seems to fizzle out of her, and she finally bows her head slightly. “Of course, professor,” she murmurs to Thane, and she sets off at a faster pace, running to catch up with the others.

I turn my gaze to Thane. A sheen of sweat coats his brown skin, and as his warm-brown eyes remain on me, desire makes my core clench. I squeeze my eyes shut.He’s the reason you’re on the ground right now. What is wrong with you?I chastise my vagina, but as usual, the hussy doesn’t listen.

I roll over so my back is pressed against the ground, and I blow out a long breath, relaxing my shoulders and feeling like I’d quite happily let the ground swallow me whole.

“Get up,” Thane growls, sounding more grumpy than usual.

I crack an eye open, and for a split second, I swear there’s a hint of worry in his expression as he stares at me, but then his thick brows lower more, and he simply looks irritated.

“Can’t,” I reply, snapping my eye shut again. “I live here now.” I’m still breathing rapidly, but the air is coming a little easier now.Huh, who knew? Guess I wasn’t dying after all.

“You’re being pathetic,” Thane growls. “It’s a shorter run today. Only three miles.”

Three miles?Okay, if I’m honest I can’t actually picture how far that is, but I do know it’s more than I want to run. Just the thought of getting back up again makes my body ache. “Can’t,” I repeat. “Twisted ankle.” I add in a groan for good measure.

It’s a ridiculous excuse, because I’m pretty sure Thane would try to make me run even with a broken ankle, but I figure it’s worth a shot.

I’m surprised when I hear a thud near me, and soon after, large fingers start prodding at my ankles. The touch is methodical, but fire and ice races along my skin, making my calming heartbeat start racing again.

Thane curses under his breath, but he doesn’t stop touching me.

My eyes snap open. “What are you doing?” At the sight of him crouched near my boots, the air rushes from my lungs, and I’m breathless all over again. Heat swirls in the shadow professor’s eyes as he stares at my feet, prodding at my ankles, and I have the startling thought that I hope it’s not because he has a foot fetish. I mean, I can appreciate that some people are into that, but it’s not for me.

“I’m examining you,” Thane replies with a clinical tone as he removes my boots. His movements become rougher, his fingers pressing firmly against my skin, and I’m not sure what he’s doing, but at one point his fingers brush against the bottom of my feet. I can’t help myself. The laughter bubbles up, bursting from me at the ticklish sensation.

Thane’s gaze shoots to my face, his eyes narrowing. “Your ankle is fine,” he says as he slides my boots back on, and there’s an undertone of disbelief and disappointment in his voice.

I wonder if I should fess up and tell the truth, but then I think of how far he’ll make me run. What did Kenzie say? We’d only run one mile? The moan that comes out of me is genuine, because the thought of running another two miles truly does sound like torture.

“No really, it huuurts,” I whine, scrunching up my face as if I’m in pain. It’s not my proudest moment, but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Thane stands, crossing his arms across his broad chest as he stares down at me. His left brow twitches, and there’s the slightest hint of amusement in his gaze.

“Have you eaten?”

“What?”

“Breakfast. Did you eat?”

When I shake my head, he looks annoyed. Shadows pool around him, and a chocolate bar forms in his hand. Not just any chocolate bar, but the exact kind I’d conjured up the night before. He drops it onto my belly, and I don’t wait. I tear into the packet, ravenous now that I’ve forgotten all about the nightmares from the night before. Thane watches as I devour each bite, and when I’m done, there’s a satisfied look in his eyes that makes my stomach flip.

“If you can’t even run three miles, you’re not going to last, cub,” he growls, though despite the gruff words there’s a warmth in his voice now that wasn’t there before.

Cub? As in, a bear cub? Oh hell no.“I’m not a cub,” I retort dryly.

“Well, you’re sure acting like one,” he replies. “On your feet.”

Fine, if he’s going to call me a cub, two can play at that game.“I can’t,daddy.I’m wounded, remember?”

His thick brows lower, and he gives me a steely look.Huh. Does that mean he’s not a fan of the nickname?