Page 37 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I wasn’t hungry at all, so I made my way to the library. Something Corrin had said still hadn’t left my mind.

They like to handle things in a certain way, especially when it comes to witches.

I knew things about Mystic Riegan, but maybe I didn’t know enough.

Now that Corrin and I were a collective unit on this adventure I’d started, anything I found out could help both of us.

I felt like her and Ike had done their part tremendously, so it was only fair I discovered some information of my own.

The library had six floors, one of which had a section dedicated to the school’s history. If something was going to lead me in the right direction, it would be in that area. At least I was crossing my fingers that I wasn’t wasting my time.

I got off the elevator, looking up and checking the signs to figure out where to go. I walked past a few aisles, realizing how quiet it was up here. Usually, I would hear little whispers from other students, but this floor was just dead silence.

“Riley?” A familiar voice said, causing me to stop and back up, looking down one of the aisles. Grayson was on the floor, up against a wall, a book in his lap.

I smiled at him, looking around. “You do know there are tables and chairs, right?”

He let his book close, keeping his thumb inside to hold his place. “I like a little seclusion.”

I placed one of my hands in my shorts pocket. “That’s fair.” I nodded towards his book. “Anything good?”

“Just started but it’s good. Vampires and fae. Marriage of convenience, you know, all the good things.”

I laughed. “You are really in your vampire era, aren’t you?” I walked into the aisle, searching the shelves.

“What are you doing here? Like here as in this part of the library?”

I fiddled with the strap of my backpack. “Um, I’m looking for something on the school’s history.”

“That’s very broad. You’re going to need to be a little more specific.”

“Well, something that has to do with the school and witches.”

His eyes narrowed. “Also, really broad.”

“How so?”

He searched around him, plucking his bookmark off the ground and placing it between the pages of his novel.

“The school was founded by witches, so that part of its history would be in nearly every book you look into. The oldest ones are over there.” His lips pushed out a bit as if he was using them to point, pushing his chin up towards the bookshelves behind me.

That wasn’t anywhere on the school’s website, so it was news to me. Maybe I didn’t need a book to tell me the things I needed to know. I walked the rest of the way over to him, taking my backpack off and sitting down beside him. “So witches take up the majority of the student body, I assume.”

He reached over, pulling me closer to him. “When the school first opened, yeah, it was pretty much primarily witches and then they let in other magic wielders. Eventually they opened it to humans and the school has been known for its extensive integration ever since.”

“Hence prestigious university on the west coast.”

Grayson ran his fingertips over my arm. “Exactly. It houses one of the largest covens in the state. They’re the ones that decided to form the school.”

“Any chance you know the name?”

“Of the coven, um, let me think…” He scrunched his mouth up, then he snapped his fingers. “Celica. This is like Mystic Riegan 101, shouldn’t you know this?”

“I wasn’t aware that understanding everything about the school was a requirement for admission.” I shoved my body against his, causing him to reach down and tickle my side. I pulled my phone out, finding my text thread with Corrin.

Does your coven happen to be named Celica?”

CORRIN

Yes…why?

I assume you are aware that your coven created this school, so the influence they have has to be massive.

CORRIN

Oh fuck, how did I not think of that before?

Of course, they would want to keep things involving witches close to their chest.

CORRIN

Whatever is going on though is being done with someone’s selfish interest at play, not the coven. No wonder my mom is so wary about them. I’ll update Ike.

I should have put two and two together. I’m a little all over the place with everything going on.

I sighed, hesitating before I started typing.

You’re all good. Just please stay safe.

I went back to my past theory. My dad found out what was going on and threatened the culprit, which cost him his life.

He threatened a member of one of the biggest covens.

What if it was their old coven leader? Corrin did say they got a new one shortly after my dad died, so maybe they removed themselves from the situation…

. but stayed around to continue to siphon powers and steal witches?

Stealing witches, just to give them back with their minds rummaged through…

Nothing made any sense. My dad believed in fairness and not because his job description forced him to.

That was just his personality, and he would have done anything to fight for students he tried to help every day.

I bet he was happy to have stood up to whoever this was, he probably didn’t hesitate and stood his ground, unafraid of the consequences.

That alone had me more determined than ever to keep going, keep digging.

“Riley, are you okay?” Grayson shook my shoulder.

I inhaled, turning my head to look at him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.”

“Where did you go just now?”

I shook my head. “Nowhere you need to be concerned about.”

“You don’t know me very well if you think I’m not always worried about you.”

I tried to hide my smile, but it was coming through. “Is that right?”

“Mhmm.” He brought his face closer to mine, brushing his lips over my own. His hand slid up my leg, creating circles along my bare thigh.

“I should let you get back to your book,” I whispered against his mouth.

He reached up to touch my cheek, his thumb grazing my skin and leaving heat in its wake. “Is that what you want, trouble?”

I wrinkled my nose, remembering what he called me when he shared me with River. “What did you say the other night?”

“What do you mean?”

“You called me a different name that night. Aking sinta . I’m wondering what it means.”

Grayson ran his thumb over my lips, smiling at me. “What if I don’t tell you? Are you going to pout about it?”

I opened my mouth, wrapping my lips around his thumb and sucking. His focus never left me, his mouth dropping open a little, I released his thumb, letting my tongue linger on it. “No. As long as it’s not something mean.”

“Believe me, it’s not. It’s something nice.” He dipped his head down, moving my braids out of his way and kissing my neck. “Unlike all the things I’d like to do to you.”

I bit my lip, moaning softly. He slid his hand down my stomach and rubbed between my legs. My words came out breathy. “We can’t have sex in the school library, Grayson.” I tried to say it with conviction, but it sure didn’t sound that way.

He chuckled, continuing his tortuous rubbing. “Who said anything about sex?” He unbuttoned my shorts, reaching inside and plunging his fingers inside my panties. “I just want to hear you come.”

I spread my legs out a little wider, feeling a little empowered as he watched me. He made no move to kiss me, but his eyes would scan my body, then return to my face gauging each of my reactions. His fingers slid over my clit, circling it and taking it between his fingers, pinching.

I gripped his shoulder, pressing my lips together even though I wanted to be so loud. “Put your fingers inside of me.”

“Say please, aking sinta .”

I groaned as he teased me, skating his fingers over my pussy but not putting them inside. “Be a good boy and put your fingers inside me, please .”

He shuddered and pushed in one of his fingers, slowly, watching my expression change into one of pure pleasure.

Grayson pressed in another, letting his face fall into the crook of my neck.

I squirmed against his touch, wanting him to move faster, but he was just rocking his hand back and forth.

It was sensually antagonizing, but I wasn’t going to tell him to stop.

It made the orgasm that was building that much more thrilling and the build up was making me feel light-headed.

He thumbed my clit, pressing against it, while letting his fingers stroke inside of me.

I was getting that same feeling I had when Asher was using his powers on me.

The right friction, the right rhythm, and I couldn’t fucking believe I was doing what he’d said and chasing that climax that he’d left me without.

Grayson curled his fingers just right and I started to pant, needing to release all the sounds I wanted to make. He stuck his hand behind my head, curling his arm around so that he could press his hand to my mouth as I came. I let all my noises out against his palm, causing them to sound muffled.

When it was over, he released my mouth, planting a kiss on my lips. He took his hands out of my shorts, putting his fingers into his mouth and sucking off my taste. I rebuttoned my shorts, watching him with hooded eyes. “Let me guess, you aren’t going to wash my scent off your hands?”

He winked at me. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

I pressed my hand to my face, peeking out between my fingers. My phone vibrated and I took a look, seeing a text from River.

RIVER

Coming in libraries, are we?

I looked around, assuming he was lurking somewhere.

How do you know that?

RIVER

How do you think?

I looked at Grayson, a little confused.

“How does River know what just happened? He can’t use his power on campus.”

Grayson gave me a playful smile. “He isn’t on campus.

He went home after his morning class. Me letting him in on what happened isn’t a campus violation, so I was graciously letting him have a little play by play.

He did tell me that you can get a little loud, so I should cover your mouth.

” He waved his hand around at our surroundings. “Library and all.”

I rolled my eyes, looking back at my phone.

Are you jealous?

RIVER

Haha, no. As long as you’re happy and so is that pussy, then I’m a happy man.

I am happy.

I would be even happier when I could just focus on this and not everything else that had nothing to do with them.

RIVER

Perfect. Keep it up and you’ll have a very eventful weekend, gorgeous.

I’m going to tell Corrin she can bring her partner. Is that okay?

RIVER

Asher won’t be home, so you could literally bring whoever you want.

I smiled at my phone, clicking it off and pushing off of the ground. Grayson kept his eyes on me. “Leaving so soon. I thought you had school history research to do?”

“I actually figured that out. And I should probably grab something to eat and caffeine. I could take a nap after…” I motioned towards the area we were in, alluding to what had just transpired.

“You’re welcome, trouble.”

He handed me my backpack. “We’re back to that?”

Grayson picked his book back up. “I like keeping you on your toes. Don’t pretend like you don’t like it.”