Page 124 of Twisted Ties

“You aren’t always careful with the truth, though, are you, Professor?”

“I never lie,” he growls.

And through my mind, I flash every half truth he’s ever told me and every time he’s denied me the truth.

“In my office now, Miss Blackwaters,” he snaps. “And the rest of you, eyes down and get reading.”

He storms through the rows of desks and into his office. Slowly I rise from my seat, aware everyone is watching as I follow him in. He slams the door shut behind us and waves his arm through the air.

“Impregnable spell. No one can hear us and no one can enter,” he hisses, before turning slowly to face me, his face full of rage. “You can’t talk to me like that in class.”

“You’re going on a date?” I spit out at him.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m going to visit my mom, Rhianna.”

I frown. “Then why did you say–”

“It doesn’t hurt if everyone thinks I’m going on a date. Helps to counter any rumors that might start stirring about the two of us. Rumors you just stirred your goddamn self. Acting like my jealous fucking girlfriend in class.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, Professor. You did that deliberately. You were trying to provoke me. To hurt me.”

“I’m not. I’m trying to protect you.”

“You’re trying to protect yourself and your job.”

“I don’t even want this shitty job.”

“Then why are you here?”

“People like me and you, Rhianna, aren’t offered many choices in life. I don’t have the family and connections Azlan does. I may detest this job. But I can’t afford to lose it.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t ask to be your fated mate.”

“And I didn’t ask to be yours. But here we are.”

I point down at all the books scattered across the table. “That’s why you’ve been reading up about it. You’ve known about this bond as long as Azlan has and you also chose not to tell me.” He doesn’t answer me, just glares. “What were you searching for in these books, Professor?”

“A way to undo or to remove the fated mate bond,” he says with no emotion at all.

I flinch, trying my best not to show it, but his words sting, sting like he just slapped me hard around the face.

“You said no more lies,” he says more gently.

“You didn’t want to be bonded to me?”

“You just said you didn’t want to be bonded to me, Rhianna.”

“I said I didn’t choose it. I didn’t say I didn’t want it.”

“Do you want it?” he asks, his arms falling to his side as he takes a step towards me. My bond strains for him, quivering and shaking in my core.

“What does it matter? You don’t.”

“Shit,” he says, raking his hand through his hair. “I didn’t want it at first. I didn’t know you. You were an unregistered. Twelve years younger than me. My student, for Stars’ sake, Rhi. So, yes, I was looking for a solution, a way to make it all go away.”

“And were you successful? Did you find what you were looking for?”

“No.”