He takes us in with a curious tilt of his head, and I know how we must look.
Our eyes are wild from the whirlwind of Ian’s breakthrough and all the work we’ve done since, our clothes covered in chalk dust. Ian’s hair stands on end from him running his hands through it. We’re tired, but exhilarated.
“Saints, you two are such fucking nerds,” Simon says brightly. “Did you solve it?”
“Yes,” I say, feeling Ian’s surge of pride as he surveys our work. “We solved it.”
CHAPTER42
Not having Ian as a professor is just as weird and jarring as it was to have him as my teacher once more after Cadigan hexed him and fled the campus. We get to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and we don’t have to juggle him leaving before me—he doesn’t have to leave the pack house at all.
I’m loath to leave him, but with the resistance mission and exposé behind us and midterms looming, I can’t miss a single minute of my classes. Still, when my newest mate kisses me so sweetly, teasing and tantalizing, I almost forget that I’ve fallen behind in my Draughts and Potions, and Intermediate Spellcrafting classes.
The one class I haven’t fallen behind in is Intermediate Casting, because Ian never let me. Even at the height of my affinity, combat magic and self-defense training, he made me make time for my casting homework, helping me through anything I struggled with.
So, I’m confident, if not a bit apprehensive, as I head into Intermediate Casting on Monday morning. I pause so abruptly just inside the doorway that Marcus nearly runs into me.
Professor Hayes is behind Ian’s usual desk, looking over a sheaf of notes.
Saints, am I in the wrong classroom? Normally, I have Professor Hayes in the afternoons for Applications of Magic.
“Ah, Miss Rose,” he says with a beaming smile. “Good morning. You’re in this session of Intermediate Casting? Professor Reinhardt resigned last week, so a few of the other professors and I will be filling in for him until we can find someone to teach his classes full time. Saints, to lose two casting professors in a single school year is quite the blow.” He stares down at the stack of papers in his hand. “Another blow? Professor Reinhardt’s appalling penmanship. He left me all these notes, and I haven’t a clue what some of them say.”
I step over to his desk and peek at the top sheet. “I’ve been reading his scrawl for three terms now.” And his research notes, and supplemental lesson plans he’s crafted for me, his notes in his old Latin textbook, the sweet little love notes he leaves me… “Perhaps I can be of some help?”
I help him through Ian’s scribbles until Alyssa steps into the room and stops just as abruptly as I did.
“Miss O’Neill, I assure you, you’re in the right place,” Professor Hayes says.
But it’s me she gawks at. I excuse myself from Professor Hayes and meet her at our usual worktable.
My omega best friend balls up her hands on her hips. “Something’s different about you today…”
I smile shyly and pull the neckline of my sweater and the collar of my blouse aside to reveal Ian’s bite.
“Girlie!” she says in a dramatic whisper. “Holy frickin’saints, is that why Professor Panty Melter resigned? So he could nibble on your neck?”
“Rad sent the headmaster some, um, incriminating photos he took of the two of us. When presented with them, Ian resigned. Then, one thing led to another…”
“I know how it is with alphas,” Alyssa says sagely. “Hot damn, girlie! But that was hardcore villainous of Rad. He lost. Can’t he just leave you the hell alone?”
Saints, if it were only that easy.
* * *
Leigh takesme in when I step into the omega lodge for Omega Seminar and cocks her head. I show her my third and newest bite with a grin.
“So, your pack is complete, Miss Rose. I’m so very happy for you.”
Saints, how I want it to be. I have three amazing alphas and the world’s sweetest, bossiest beta. And yet, my pack still feels incomplete. And yet I still pine for the one alpha in the world who’s immune to me.
“Holy shit, Junie! Three bites? That’s a knot for every slot! But you’ve still got two hands, so…”
“Miss Jordan!” Leigh gasps, scandalized. “I don’t know whether to scold you for your language or your crassness.”
“Aren’t you glad you have someone to keep things interesting?” Bitsy asks with a cheeky grin. “Besides, you’ve got a big pack and you still have heats. You know where all the parts go.”
“I… I do not recommend oral knotting,” Leigh says, her cheeks flaming red. “It isn’t pleasant for either party involved.”
