Page 30 of Beastkin
Then, just as quickly as he saw me, he looked away, his attention focused on the blackboard at the front of the room. It was like he was trying topurposefullyignore me. What was that about?
Professor Blackwood cleared her throat, drawing everyone else’s attention to the front of the room. I quickly found an empty seat in the middle of the classroom, far enough from Karrick to avoid suspicion but close enough that I could steal glances at him. The desk felt cold beneath my palms as I tried to steady myself, my heart still hammering from that brief moment of eye contact.
“Good morning, class,” Professor Blackwood began, her voice crisp and authoritative. She looked perfectly composed, giving no indication of the life-altering ritual we’d performed in her office just hours ago. “Today we’ll be exploring the practical applications of elemental fusion. Partner work will be required.”
My stomach dropped. Partner work. That meant I’d have to interact with someone, pretend to be normal while my entire world had been turned upside down. I risked another glance at Karrick, hoping maybe we could find a way to work together without raising suspicions.
But he was studiously avoiding my gaze, his massive form hunched over his desk as if the wood grain was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. The rejection stung more than I expected. Had I imagined the connection between us last night? The way he’d held me, the tenderness in his voice when he’d said my name?
“The exercise requires precise control and absolute trust between partners,” Professor Blackwood continued, pacing the front of the room. “You’ll be combining your elemental affinities to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Choose your partners wisely.”
The room erupted into movement as students turned to their friends, forming pairs with easy familiarity. I remained frozen in my seat, watching as Karrick’s amber eyes swept the room, looking everywhere except at me.
My chest tightened as I saw him stand, his massive frame unfolding from the too-small desk. He was going to choose someone else. After everything we’d been through, after the memories and the ritual and the way he’d promised to pick up where we left off, he was going to pretend I didn’t exist.
A girl with iridescent blue-green hair caught his attention, Nerida, I thought her name was. She was a mermaid, one of the few aquatic students who could maintain human form on land for extended periods. Her skin had a subtle scaled pattern that caught the classroom light, and when she smiled at Karrick, showing sharp teeth, something twisted painfully in my gut.
Jealousy. Raw and unexpected, hitting me like a physical blow. I watched as Karrick approached her desk, his usual confident swagger replaced by something more hesitant. They exchanged a few words I couldn’t hear, and she nodded enthusiastically.
I turned away, staring down at my hands as they trembled slightly against the desktop. This was ridiculous. We weren’t... anything. We were childhood friends who’d just reconnected. I had no right to feel possessive, no claim on his attention or affections.
But that didn’t stop the ache in my chest, or the way my fire magic surged through my palms and began to char the wood beneath my fingers.
“Mr. Emberwood?”
Professor Blackwood’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, and I realized she was standing directly beside my desk. The wood beneath my palms was now blackened with char marks, thin wispsof smoke curling up between my fingers. Several students had turned to stare, including Karrick, whose amber eyes were wide with concern.
“I...” I quickly pulled my hands away from the desk, embarrassment flooding through me. “I’m sorry, Professor. I didn’t mean to?—”
“Control, Mr. Emberwood,” she said quietly, her voice carrying a warning only I would understand. “Remember what we discussed about emotional regulation.”
Right. The pendant was gone, but that didn’t mean I could let my magic run wild. Especially not in front of a classroom full of witnesses who might report back to my parents through their own networks of spies and informants.
I took a deep breath, forcing my fire magic to settle. “Yes, Professor. It won’t happen again.”
She studied me for a moment longer, then glanced around the room. “It seems you need a partner, Mr. Emberwood. Mr. Laurent, Miss Delmar, perhaps one of you could?—”
“I’ll work with Phoenix.”
The voice came from behind me, and I turned to see a girl with purple hair and deathly pale skin approaching. It was Lila, the vampire girl I’d met the day I came to Widdershins Academy. I hadn’t even realized she was in the class with us. She came over and flopped down beside me, a grin on her face.
“Hey stranger,” she said, giving me a wink. Then, in a lower tone, she added. “I see you got rid of that leash around your neck.”
Chapter 13
Phoenix
“Keep your voice down!” I sputtered, leaning in closer. “And how the hell do you know about that?”
Lila didn’t look impressed. “You don’t know much about vampires, do you? I thought all you Emberwoods were supposed to be geniuses or something.” When I just furrowed my brows in confusion, she let out a long sigh. “Vampires can see through invisibility spells,” she said. “Duh. Basic stuff.”
“You can?” I was genuinely surprised. I’d never heard that before. Then again, I wasn’t exactly allowed to study monsters.
“Yep. We can also sense silver since it’s sort of toxic to us.” She gave me a nudge with her elbow. “I bet the werewolves wished they had that power. Can’t tell you how many of them get blowjobs only to find out their partner has silver fillings.” Her face cracked into a wide smile. “They walk around all bow-legged for a week afterwards.”
I stared at her, my mouth hanging open slightly. Professor Blackwood spoke in the background, giving us our assignment for the class, but I didn’t hear a word she said.
“That’s... oddly specific information,” I managedeventually.