Page 136 of Fractured Fates

“He’s not a goblin. He’s a cherub.”

“Doesn’t look like one.” The cherub sticks its tongue out at my professor and flutters off before he’s kicked.

“Why are you lurking about out here …” His eyes trail down my body. “In your grandmother’s nightdress.”

“I’m an angel.”

Stone points to Pip. “He is no angel.”

Pip grunts, turning his back on the professor and snuffling about in a cloud.

“So, why are you lurking about out here?”

“I’m required to guard the decorations.”

“Required by whom?”

I roll my eyes but don’t answer.

The professor steps forward into the starlight. He’s dressed in dark chinos and a shirt.

“I see you’re embracing tonight’s festivities.”

The professor snorts, leaning against a tree trunk and crossing his arms. “Hanging out with a bunch of drunk and horny students is not my idea of fun.”

“Hmmm,” I say. “What is it about this party? Everyone seems high on pheromones and love potions.” I’ve already been a rude awakening for five different couples and one threesome who hoped to sneak off into the gardens for what I can only assume is a rendezvous.

Stone rubs at his forehead. “Rumor has it you’ve been spending all your free time in the library and yet you still know fuck all about fuck all. Doesn’t your little friend tell you anything?”

“She’s been rather occupied with decorations.” And Trent asking her out.

Stone lifts his eyebrow and I immediately slam down the meager defenses I’ve been practicing. I’m not sure Winnie would appreciate me revealing information about her love-life to our professor.

Stone shakes his head in a manner that tells me he isn’t impressed by my feeble attempts.

“Well,” he says, “when a boy likes a girl, or a girl likes a boy, or maybe a boy likes a boy and a girl, and a girl likes a girl …”

I can’t help laughing. “Oh god please, you’re a bad enough teacher most of the time, I do not need a sex education lesson from you!”

The professor’s eyes flash dark and I feel heat crawl up my neck.

“I mean … I thought … I thought you were going to say the influence of the full moon and the tides was influencing people’s behavior.”

“No, just the regular old influence of alcohol and teenage hormones.”

“Disappointing.”

“Disappointing?” A smile hovers on his lips.

“The full moon stuff would be more romantic.”

“It isn’t.”

“You sound like you’re talking from experience.”

He cocks his head to one side. “Are you digging for information about my love-life again, Blackwaters?”

“No, I’m not sure I’d like what I’d find.”