Wavewascertainthatsome deity somewhere was taking offense to the number of orgasms she was getting and was extracting payback.While her work in the library was going smoothly despite Risha’s visits, and he made a point of looking her up every single time, the rest of her campus life was under fire.Quite literally.
Ginny had warded their apartment against all sorts of things, most lately fire spells that Elena and her minions loved throwing at the place.She had tried to start rumors, break Wave off from her non-boyfriends and friends, and cause trouble with her teachers.
Mostly, it had fallen on deaf ears, most of the students either ignored their little spat or limited their involvement to whispers behind her back.Nothing that would really rattle Wave, but when one week turned to two and then three, she was starting to lose her patience.
The bitch just couldn’t swallow that Wave wasn’t interested in Irishen.Or maybe it had nothing to do with her interest and all to do with his.
Diana had finally told her some of what had happened.Mainly, it had made Wave mad at Elena.Irishen had dropped Diana for Elena and her apparently better status.From the way Diana told it, Irishen had been a cold, callous, and uncaring asshole.
His only saving grace had been that he hadn’t actually hurt Diana physically, but he hadn’t stepped in and stopped Elena when she made Diana’s life hell.Not like he was stepping in now, shielding Wave, who didn’t need it like Diana had.
It wasn’t the whole story, but Wave’s urge to shove a lava dildo up his ass had lessened.Elena, on the other hand, could definitely use one in hers.Wave wasn’t about to discriminate according to gender.Although something with permafrost probably suited her better.
“You are late,” Dr.Kelsey sneered when Wave hurried through the door to her fire theory class.She wasn’t, there were several other students filing in after her without a word.However, where most teachers courteously bowed out of student disputes, Dr.Kelsey was in Elena’s pocket.
“My apologies,” Wave said quietly and took her seat.She wasn’t going to needle him any further.This class was the only one on fire-related elements available for her this semester and Wave wanted to shore up her weak point.She could suck it up for two hours every week.
“Right,” Dr.Kelsey called the class to attention.“We’ve been talking about theory for a few weeks now.I think it’s time for a little live demonstration today.”His black horns gleamed in time with the mean glint in his black eyes.
Cold dread filled Wave’s stomach.He was a powerful fire demon and didn’t care to mask it.They shouldn’t have any hands-on exercises in this class.It should be focused purely on the theory of fire variations.Wave didn’t need to turn her head to see who had asked for the change.
“Ms.Flameward, would you care to show the class in practice what we’ve been discussing?”
“Of course, Dr.Kelsey.”Elena rose from her seat.“I’d be delighted.”She walked to the front of the room.
She easily demonstrated flames in different temperatures while Dr.Kelsey explained their properties and best usage.
None of that fooled Wave.She kept her shields up and cursed her inability to properly internally shield against flames, flickers, and the rest.She couldn’t pull massive ice or water walls up in the classroom.
“And now we are going to try catching flickers,” Dr.Kelsey said.“If you manage that, Elena will send you flames.”
Wave bit down her groan.This was going to be a long hour.And she wasn’t wrong.When Dr.Kelsey finally called the class to an end, Wave had burns all over her arms.At least he hadn’t let Elena shoot flames at her when she failed to catch a single flicker.
Disgusted, Wave looked down at herself.Her shirt was ruined, and she had tiny red splotches all over her skin.Splendid.She would have to get back to the dorm and change before anyone realized she was healing from those too fast for a storm spirit.With her natural healing unimpeded by a power-buildup-fuck-fest, these injuries would be gone in an hour or so.Totally fine for someone powerful, but for a storm spirit, they should take at least a day.
Glancing at the clock, Wave cursed.Shit.She was due at work in half an hour.She couldn’t show up looking like this.And it was Thursday.She had shielding practice with Jarred and Marc after that.She absolutely, no way, could show up at the house with a burned shirt.
Time to beg for yet another favor.Wave dug out her phone and called Chrissy.She desperately needed a change of clothes, and she was her fairy godmother in all things fabric-related.Even if her evil sorceress side made an appearance and put Wave in a dress, it was a risk she was willing to take now.
Chapter 27 – Marc
MarcwaswaitingforWayla to get out of work when the click of high heels echoed down the street, and he glanced up.Inwardly, he groaned.His stepmother, in an expensive pencil skirt and a silk blouse, was barreling down on him with a frown on her face.
“Marshall,” she snapped as she reached him.“What is this I hear from your father that you are not coming home on Sunday?”
“Hatty,” Marc drawled.“I don’t know what you are hearing.”
“I’ve told you a million times to call me Heather, if you refuse to call me Mom,” Hatty the Harpy replied.
“I guess you’ll have to tell me again.”He crossed his arms and glared at her.He wasn’t calling her mom, not now or ever.Marc’s mother had barely been laid to rest before she wormed her way into their lives.He had always suspected that his father had been having an affair with her before that time, but never found any proof.
With her heels, Hatty was as tall as him, if not a smidgen taller.He had a feeling she had chosen the heels for that reason today.She tried to look down at her nose at Marc and look hurt at the same time.She didn’t succeed on either.
“What do you want, Hatty?”Needling her was one of the joys in his life, and seeing the tick in the corner of her eye brought him childish satisfaction.
“I want you to come home.We are having a family dinner for my birthday before your father takes me to some surprise destination for a holiday.”
Marc snorted.“Family dinner that includes how many people?”Before she could answer, he spied Wayla coming through the library door and slipped past his darling stepmother.“Sparkle,” he called out and enjoyed the smile blossoming on her face.She met him at the bottom of the stairs, and Marc leaned in to kiss Wayla just as the harpy slid next to him.
