Page 12 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I flicked one of my braids out of my face as I stood in front of the massive building that held most of the mental magic faculty, along with my nine in the morning psychology class.

Corrin had woken me up an hour before my alarm when I’d heard her making pspspsps noises.

I looked around the room for a cat but found that she was talking to her phone screen.

She’d flinched when I groaned at the clock on my desk, finished her call quickly, and rambled on about how Jax was her familiar.

Witches were allowed to bring their familiars to the university and drop them off at what she’d called a humane zoo for their soul pets.

On the way out of the room and down the hall, she’d explained that as much as she missed Jax, if he was here, she would want to just visit him all the time and take him on cat walks.

If she ever really needed him, he would find his way to her no matter what.

The talk of pets made me bring up a picture of Beau and show him to her, which she’d squealed at and demanded I show her more. I demanded she buy me coffee.

I turned my body to see the building where my dad’s office was located.

I bit the inside of my cheek, gripping the ends of my checkered flannel with my fingertips.

It was breezy this morning, but I knew the sun would be out soon and the breeze would be fully welcomed.

I had a gap between this class and my next, which gave me plenty of time to go over the police report I had gotten and printed out yesterday.

Corrin had a class immediately after this, so I could at least be alone.

“Riley, are you coming?” My roommate had her backpack slung over one of her shoulders, waving at me.

I sighed, walking over to her as we followed a bunch of other students inside the building. The classrooms were much bigger than the ones at my community college, especially the general classes that were placed in large auditorium style seating. Corrin pulled me into the third aisle from the front.

I sat down in the swivel chair, watching as students spoke amongst themselves. I overheard one particular conversation that had my ears perking up.

“I hate these stupid changes at the last minute,” one girl said.

“This was supposed to be a relatively easy general course. I have my herbs to worry about. For fucks sake,” another one replied, pure frustration in their voice.

I furrowed my brow, turning to Corrin. “Do you have any idea what’s got everyone so riled up?”

Corrin looked around us, mirroring my expression.

She patted the shoulder of the guy next to her, leaning in to talk to him.

I waited, rather impatiently, when she turned back to me.

Her eyes were a bit wider than before and it was like she wanted to laugh but not from humor.

She took out her phone, frantically swiping until she got to her class schedule.

I tried to lean over her shoulder and see, but her fingers moved too fast.

“Oh, fuck.”

“What? Oh fuck, what?” I tried to grab her phone from her.

“Do you remember when I told you that Asher doesn’t like to sub and only likes his mental magic classes?”

“Yes…” I answered slowly, trying to figure out what he had to do with anything.

She pressed her glossed lips together. “Umm, well unfortunately, the incredible Mr. Winslow isn’t our professor this semester. The schedule has changed, but at least we get eye candy.”

I reached for her phone again, but my hand stopped short of grabbing it when the door opened. I turned my head along with everyone else to see the man walking across the room towards the desk in the middle.

My eyes traveled from his shoes all the way up to his face and fuck …

was it a face. I had seen Asher St. James before, but I’d never really given him a once over and he’d never truly given me the time of day.

Being able to sit here and actually look at him was a tiny bit thrilling even though I was nearly shitting my pants that I would have to spend an hour and thirty minutes with him every Monday and Wednesday.

He was more casual at his house. Fitted joggers and a t-shirt were standard while in the comfort of his own home, but this attire he had on now was almost foreign to me.

I hardly recognized him with a fitted button down and slacks.

His glasses were rectangular with thin black frames and sat perfectly on his nose, framing his face.

His beard was trimmed, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off defined forearms and a few tattoos that I hadn’t noticed until right now.

Tiny ones that I couldn’t make out from where I sat, but it looked like stars and maybe some words in cursive.

He was tall, maybe a few inches taller than River.

His hair was almost identical to his brother’s, but while River’s hair curled at the ends, Asher’s hair didn’t have a curl at all.

It was cut short at the sides and the top was kept longer.

He had definitely put something in it to maintain the messy but tame look he was likely not going for, but it was happening.

He hadn’t looked over his class yet but just rifled through a few papers in his messenger bag.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you if you were hoping to get Mr. Winslow as your professor, but we can’t always get what we want.

There is still time to drop out and get into another class, so I implore you to do so because I would rather you want to be here.

If I discover later on that you ignored my warning, then I will have so much fun making it so that you wish you hadn’t. ”

He looked up finally and I let my eyes scan over some of the students who looked as if they were visibly shaken.

“I know what they say about me and well…” He chuckled a little to himself.

“It’s all true. I’m not your friend; I’m not your buddy.

I’m your professor. And I have much better things to do with my time than to teach an undergraduate psych course, but if I have to deal with it, so do you. ”

He started going on about the syllabus that he assumed none of us read over and then I heard giggling above me. Asher abruptly stopped talking, turning his head to find where the noise had come from.

“Something funny?”

The girl behind me opened and closed her mouth, the words escaping her.

“Clearly something is much more entertaining than this class. We should all know what it is.” He circled around his desk, leaning back against it.

The girl looked to her friend at her side, who was looking down, hoping that he wouldn’t call on her next. “Nothing. It was nothing.” Her voice was low as if she was trying to make herself as small as possible.

“How about you come down here and let us all know because it’s an early morning and I would love a good laugh.” There were a few small snickers from around the room and I was mortified for her.

“Mr. St.—” She started to say and as if on cue I heard myself mumble, “Give her a fucking break.”

It was like Corrin stopped breathing next to me and I realized what I thought I’d mumbled, was said a little too loudly.

I wished I could pull my braids entirely in front of my face to hide, but it was no use.

I lifted my eyes to the front of the room to see green eyes staring back.

Green eyes that filled with recognition the minute they landed on me.

I had been hoping for an oh, I know her sort of expression to develop on his face, but I wasn’t so lucky. Asher looked more irritated than delighted to see me. He looked up at the ceiling, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“Miss Monroe, I think it would be wise of you to remember that this is my classroom for the next semester and how I choose to discipline my students is my decision alone. As I said earlier, if you don’t like it or my teaching, you are free to leave.

You can see the door from where you’re sitting; I’m sure you are smart enough to know how to use it.

” He narrowed his eyes, his tone deep and soul cutting.

I wasn’t so easily undermined but there was something about him that had me staying in my seat.

“Asher…” His name slipped out of my mouth so easily, it was too late to take it back.

Corrin nearly choked on air and I wanted so badly to kick her from under the table. Asher’s eyes flared a little at my addressing him so casually and I wish I could’ve run out the door without any consequences. It was too late for that.

He tapped his knuckles on his desk before he started to walk up one of the staircases that separated sections of seating.

He stopped when he got to my row, placing his hand on the end of the long desk and giving me a smile that was as cold as ice.

“A reminder of what’s in your syllabus. Address me as Mr. St. James or Sir.

Yes, Mr. St. James. No, Mr. St. James. Yes, sir.

No, sir. All very simple. Easy enough for you to comprehend? ”

I licked my lips, wondering if this is why River didn’t like talking about his brother so much. “Yes.”

His eyebrows raised expectantly.

I cleared my throat, refusing to look around the room at all the eyes on me. “Yes, sir .”

Asher’s shoulders stiffened a small fraction, but you could have missed it if you weren’t looking.

I could have sworn his eyes dilated for a moment as he looked me up and down.

He let out a harsh breath before he descended down the stairs, demanding we take out our textbooks and flip to chapter one.

I glanced up at the clock above the whiteboard and refrained from letting out a groan. It had only been twenty minutes.