—get her one of those flower things? Shit, I’ll call mom, she’ll know—
—What if he gets me one of those cheesy corsages? How do I hint that—
Brain, off.
Silence.
Woo, the fucking, hoo! I actually have control over my telepathy for the first time in my life. What else can this newly minted mind of mine do?
—Ludo?—
—Nymph. Do you need me?—
—Just testing how far my telepathy can go. Where are you?—
—Aquatic center, mending filter system. You?—
—Defectivum. Shit, this is awesome. I miss you, Lu—
—and I you. Who is with you?—
Ludo’s voice in my mind is deep and grounding. Even all the way across campus, he makes me feel safe.
—Donovan’s on his way. We’re going to Electis. Meet us there?—
The inner conversation with Ludo pauses for a second, then he sends me another message.
—You will be safe with the centaur. The tower is not a place I like—
—OK, but keep in touch—
—I will—
The door to Defectivum slams open.
“Tee-Tee!”
Donovan rushes across the lobby floor, picks me up, and swirls me around. “Fuck, I haven’t seen you all day. I hate it! Ooh, almost as much as I hate that uniform. Come on, let's go. I’ll tear that shit off you asap.”
Teresa and Scott stare open-mouthed and blinking as an gorgeous Elite man worships a Defectivum scholarship dud.
I give them a little wave as Donovan carries me, bridal style, out of the Defectivum building.
Donovan is like liquid sunshine, shot straight into my veins.
I find myself giggling uncontrollably despite all the heaviness we’re dealing with.
How have I existed the last year without this man?
25
Iclutch Tee-Tee in my arms and gallop down the Defectivum steps.
Unfortunately, I’m in human form, so it’s not quite as showstopping as when I’m full centaur.
She’s laughing hard enough to bust a gut. “Don’t pee on me,” I yell so she can hear over her hysterics.
Fuck, that sound is the best in the world. Well, apart from that shuddery gasp when she comes.
