“Oh, of course. I read about her in The Egyptian Book of the Dead.” Phoenix’s eyes are bright with recognition.
“That’s the best place to start your research.”
Phoenix jumps up from her seat abruptly, already pulling her purse onto her shoulder.
“You haven’t even touched your latte,” the Professor objects, gesturing to the untouched drink.
“I hate to dash off like this, but time’s running out on the dissertation if I want to incorporate this new material.” Phoenix offers him an apologetic smile. “Thank you so much for your time, John Paul. You’ve been incredibly helpful.”
“Of course, of course, I understand completely. Your devotion to your studies is what makes you such an excellent protégé.” He stands up as well and holds his hand out to me. “It was wonderful to meet you, Signore…?”
Phoenix’s eyes widen like she’s appalled at herself for never actually introducing us properly. Or maybe because she hoped to make an escape without him ever learning my name.
“Layden,” I say while grasping his hand in a deliberately bone-crushing handshake. To his credit, he only winces a little.
“Signore Layden,” he says before letting go and shaking his hand out with a pained expression. “Quite a grip you’ve got there.”
Phoenix glares at me with clear warning in her eyes. “Well, time to be off. I’ll see you later this week after office hours to go over my most recent revisions on my chapters?”
The Professor grins far too wide for my liking. “Wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
After Phoenix turns away, he has the audacity to wink at me. Like we’re two men sharing some understanding about a woman between us.
I barely keep back my snarl. It takes even more restraint not to put my hand possessively on Phoenix’s lower back in a show of protection and intention as I guide her away from Fuckface.
“You really think Vlad’s gonna like you getting close to that guy?” I mutter once we’re far enough away from the cafe.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She turns on me with fire in her eyes.
“Nothing,” I backtrack, but I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice. “Just that we’re supposed to look married, remember? On our honeymoon. All that. What’s he gonna say if he catches you carrying on in your professor’s office after hours?”
“We’re not—” She cuts herself off when her voice hits another octave. She takes a breath. “Carrying on. Jesus, why do you have to make it sound so sordid? He’s just my advisor and a man I respect in my field.”
I can’t help the scoff that escapes. Respect. Sure.
“You know what?” She spins on me in the middle of the sidewalk. “Fuck you.”
“Me? What did I do?” I’m genuinely confused by the sudden vehemence.
She glares at me like she wants to murder me where I stand. “You came back.” Her voice breaks slightly on the words. “I was perfectly happy here. I had a life.”
She gestures so hard at the university campus behind her that it looks like she might dislocate her shoulder. “I have friends.”
At my stare of disbelief, she stomps her foot in frustration. “I have Sabra anyway. And I have a future planned out. One that doesn’t involve blood and my grandfather determining my every single move. I’m doing what I want to do for once in my existence.”
“Looks like it still involves blood to me,” I point out, unable to help myself.
She gets right up in my face. We’re close enough that I can see the hurt underneath the anger in her eyes. “Studying it academically, not spilling it. Not having it spilled on my behalf. Not putting compulsions on people so they lose their fucking minds trying to please me.”
Her voice drops lower, more raw. “I was doing just fine until you called and dragged me back into all this shit with Vlad and blood oaths and fake marriages.”
The pain of regret pierces through my chest, but she’s got me too frustrated to make sense of it. All I can do is get back in her face. “Well, you started it. Maybe you should have left me alone that day in the woods ten years ago. But you didn’t, did you? And actions have consequences.”
“Oh, I get that, buddy,” she says low while shoving me in the chest hard enough that I have to take a step back. “You’re a fucking idiot if you don’t think I understand consequences by now.”
She stomps all the way back to where she parked the car. I watch her go, hating the way she’s hurting. Hating that I’m the one who caused it.
I want to keep arguing with her because I hate the despair I heard in her voice. So I follow her.
