He takes a step back, curling his finger at me. “Come with me and you’ll see.”
I scoff. “If you’re not going to tell me, I’m happy to decline. I have enough of my own shit going on,” I say with a huff, refusing to play whatever game this is with him.
Before I can even register what’s happening, he eliminates the small distance between us, snatching the books from my grasp as I gape at him.
“Hey,” I grumble, quickly trying to gather them back from him, but I pause the moment his stormy eyes burn into mine.
“He has his first solitary training session with Drayker.”
My irritation, the uncertainty, and the gnawing at the back of my mind all melt away as I nod. “Lead the way.”
My blazer is barelyon as I tap out a quick text to Ocean.
Elodie: Rion needs me. I found the books. They’re hiding in the little alcove to the left. If you can’t grab them, no problem, I’ll get them later. Sorry to disappear! Hold a ceremony for my lost drink while I cry for it.
I’m already mourning the sweet deliciousness I won’t get to consume now, and it’s all his fault. I glare at the vampire who manages to stay two steps ahead of me despite my hurried footsteps. Deep down, I know it’s not his fault, but he’s the one here for me to aim my frustration at, so he’s just going to have to deal with it.
Despite my agitation with the man in question, I quicken my pace to keep up with him, desperate to get to Rion just as quickly as he is. Although there’sa thought that keeps niggling at the back of my mind.
“Why am I needed?” I blurt out, earning an instant, pointed look from Kael. His steps slow slightly so he can walk beside me instead of me chasing after him. I wonder if he notices.
“We both know why,” he finally mutters, shaking the lapels of his blazer as he keeps his gaze fixed ahead, and my eyebrows rise.
“Do we?”
He sighs, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. “He likes you.”
“Well, duh. I’m fabulous,” I tease, tossing my purple hair over my shoulder for extra measure, and he snickers, but the humor is nonexistent.
“Of course. Nothing to do with the sweet taste of your pussy at all then,” he states, leaving my jaw to fall slack, but I quickly gather myself and roll my eyes at him. I aim a finger his way, but my retort doesn’t come as he sighs. “Rion’s connection with Professor Drayker is… complicated, to say the least, but the balance completely shifted when you arrived,” he explains, making my chest squeeze with emotions I can’t decipher.
“Why?”
He stops, turning to face me head-on with his brows furrowed. “Did you miss the part where Iexplained he likes you and that pretty pink pussy of yours?”
“You think my pussy is pretty, huh?” I clap back, my tongue moving before my brain can catch up, and I feel my cheeks heat as he gives me another pointed look before turning to carry on walking.
I keep at his pace as he drags a hand down his face, and I try to focus on the matter at hand, even though all of this talk about my pussy has her coming to life.
Needy bitch.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “Isn’t she his guardian?” I mutter, and he scoffs.
“She was.”
Was?“Who is now?”
Another glance from those ridiculously intoxicating green eyes. “Me.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Wow, you’re gaining some real responsibility here,” I joke, stilted on what else I’m supposed to say when I can’t wrap my head around why he would do that. I don’t truly know what the responsibilities entail, all I know is he likes to think he can boss me around, but we both know that’s not true. Even more than that, it says something for Rion to ask that of him. All I get from the grumpy vampire is another head shake.
Taking a deep breath, I try again. “Why isn’t she his guardian anymore?”
“You’re not asking the right questions,” he bites, a tick rippling at his jaw, and my lips purse as my pulse flutters.
“Then tell me what I should be asking,” I breathe, and his hands ball into fists.
“Her being his guardian was never the issue,” he grunts. “If anything, she was great at it; she’d been doing it long enough,” he rattles off, pressing his fingertips into his temples. “But she knew him better than anyone, and that’s not from being his guardian.”
