"I am."
"Regina—"
"Let me finish." I move closer, forcing him to look at me. "This isn't just because Villeneuve is literally our only option for a faculty sponsor. Although heis, and kidnapping Dale proves it."
"I didn'tkidnap?—"
"You absolutely did." I hold up a hand when he tries to argue. "But that's not why I'm doing this. I'm doing it because..." I take a breath. "Because I want to go to graduate school, Killian. I always did. Before Kyle, before the coven, before everything went to shit. I wanted to study theoretical magic. To understand the deeper mechanics of what I am, what I can do."
His expression shifts. The anger bleeds away, replaced by something softer. "So… this isn't about feeling beholden to Villeneuve? It's something you actually want?"
"Yes." The admission surprises me with its certainty. "It's something I actually want."
Sean's right. I was just afraid of failing.
Oh my gods. Did I just admit Sean wasright?
MaybeI'vegone off the deep end.
Killian is quiet for a long moment, and through our bond, I feel the war happening inside him. The alpha wolf that wants toforbid this, to keep me safe from any potential threat. And the man who wants me to have what makes me happy.
"Fine," he finally groans, the word sounding like it's been dragged out of him with pliers.
I blink. "Fine?"
"I'll support you." He moves closer, his hands finding my hips. "Even if it means my mate is working for my literal arch-nemesis."
"It's a one-sided rivalry," I point out, fighting a smile.
"Doesn't make it less real." His forehead drops to rest against mine. "But I have conditions."
"Oh?" I drape my arms around his neck. "And what might those be?"
"I want to go to work with you. In my wolf form. Wearing one of those service animal vests."
I laugh, the sound startling in the otherwise silent kitchen. "You're not serious."
"I'm dead serious." But there's a hint of humor in his eyes now. "Emotional support wolf. It's a thing."
"It's absolutely not a thing."
"Then we could start a trend."
I'm about to tell him that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard when footsteps sound in the hallway. Rowan appears first, looking dazed.
"Why," he asks with impressive calm, "is the janitor eating nachos and playing Grand Theft Auto with Sean in the den?"
"Killian kidnapped him," I say flatly.
Rowan doesn't even blink. "Oh. That checks out."
Micah appears behind him, glasses askew. "I felt the panic through the bond. What happened?"
"Killian tried to solve our faculty sponsor problem by acquiring Dale," I explain.
"Acquiring," Micah repeats worriedly. "Like... purchasing?"
"Like abducting," Rowan clarifies.
