Page 49 of Wrath of One

I secretly think Phoenix enjoys being a professor and telling everyone what to do and when to do it. Even if he complains about it every single day.

As a matter of fact, the only really good professor I’ve hired is the brooding werewolf standing behind him. Malek pulls at his shirt collar and tie, casting a glare Phoenix’s way.

“Professor Rutherford refuses to share our gym space,” Malek growls while Phoenix rolls his deep green eyes at the ceiling tiles.

I swear to the fucking board of directors, teachers are more dramatic than students. They have cliques and gossip and fucking tattling.

And I’m here to play mommy to all of it.

And for the love of fetishes, I cannot say that out loud or I know Saint will call me Mommy for the rest of our fucking lives.

“It’s a massive building. Share it. There’s room for two gym classes there. Do not make me choose one of you to take over all fifteen thousand students.” I stand and place my palms against my desk to keep from shaking my fists just like Glitter.

“Because she’d choose me,” Phoenix says with a cocky lift of his brow.

“She’d never choose.” Saint pulls on Syko’s arm. His steps are rushed a bit, and I know it’s because he hates making his mother wait on him.

Before he leaves the room, he gives me a wink and says, “Don’t choose. Have a harem of gym teachers. That’s every woman’s fantasy, right? Gym teachers in gray sweats and half-hard, er—”

Malek shuts the door swiftly, but not before I see the burn of Mrs. Warren’s cheeks.

These men are going to give that poor woman a heart attack, I swear.

“He keeps having his students run laps,” Phoenix complains irrationally.

My eyes narrow. “So?”

“On all fours. Even the elves and the fae. Fucking Prods are all long limbs, falling all over each other because he’s treating my class like a fucking dog park.” The incubus is all but stomping his foot now.

Glitter’s tinkling laughter hums through the room.

“And what did I tell you two on Monday when you came in here complaining about the meditation Phoenix was having everyone do?”

“It wasn’t meditation! He was teaching them to mind fuck one another like he does, I just know it.” Malek’s jaw grinds together hard.

“Oh, I fucking was not. It was yoga, for fuck’s sake.”

“And I told you two, talk it out. Like professionals.” I tilt my head at them slowly. “Now please, get out of my office. It’s nine in the morning, guys. Figure your shit out.” I stare at them hard without forgiveness, the way I stared at them yesterday. And the day before.

“Fine,” Malek says calmly.

He turns to the door and even holds it open for his coworker.

“Professor Rutherford, I would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t demon dick around in my class, please.” Malek’s voice can be heard as the two walk out.

I think I faintly hear Phoenix tell him to go demon dick himself, but I can’t be sure.

Only when they’re gone do I slump down in the warm leather seat and release the long breath stuck in my lungs.

“Fuck,” I whisper to myself.

“Fuck is right,” Mrs. Warren agrees like she’s sharing idle office gossip. “The school year’s just begun, Headmistress. You can handle this.” She wiggles in her chair a bit before pecking away on her typewriter.

I smile at her even though she’s lost in her work now.

I can’t help but like her. I’ve always liked her. Part of me always liked the idea of Academy of Six too. The idea of what it was supposed to be.

Just like it is now.

It’s now a peaceful place for the lost and broken Prods to come find themselves. Every hidden, terrifying, destructive bit of them that they come here to learn to control.

Just like I did.

The End.