Is that what was meant for me?
Pleasure that undoubtedly will always end in destruction?
Love is nothing but a wish. It isn’t meant for monsters like me.
“All I’m getting, honestly, is it has to do with like, love. I just feel this overwhelming feeling oflove.Though I’m not really sure what that means. Is it a love for something? Someone? A relationship? A familial love?” She rattled off her questions.
In that moment I wished I wasn’t me. That I could be new, like Violet was, unmarked and looking at everything with fresh eyes.
“You are reading for Bane, so perhaps he should weigh on his intuitive interpretation...” the Professor spoke coolly, turning his gaze to me.
Violet started back at me with curiosity.
I glanced at the runes, contemplating what I wanted to say. I didn’t want to dissuade Violet or discount her first stab at intuitive reading, but I also didn’t want her to get the wrong idea.
“Yes, there’s love there, but there’s also destruction, and war. Intuitively, I’d say it’s not a good kind of love. It’s the kind that hurts.”
Violet’s eyebrows furrowed and Professor O’Connor’s gaze softened.
“But there is also the Wunjo symbol here,” he said as he waved his hand over the rune, using his magic to light it up. Violet’s mouth formed a small ‘o’, her awe prevalent at his use of magic.
“The Wunjo symbol means pleasure, while this one means love. With the position of destructionbeforethe love and pleasure, my intuition says that there is light after the darkness. But the light, or thepleasurethat love brings can not be experienced without first being in the dark.” Professor O’Connor fixed his gaze on me.
I looked away, wanting nothing more than to disappear at this moment, half tempted to snatch Violet up in my wings and do just that.
But I also knew that was crazy, right?
Kidnapping a woman I’d only just met in front of all my classmates who are already discussing my personal life like it’s the latest episode of Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld or something wouldnothelp my case whatsoever.
The bell rang, and I breathed a sigh of relief, getting up probably way too fast, but I didn’t care. Professor O’Connor’s words, Vi’s intoxicating scent, and the fact I could see Susanne and her fucking minions on their way over here was enough. I grabbed for my backpack, nearly knocking Violet over as she stood, cleaning up her runes.
“Excuse me,” I bit, brushing past them and Susanne who had made her way in record time.
“Bane, what the—”
“Get the fuck away from me, Susanne. I’m not in the fucking mood,” I said, exposing my fangs. I could feel the energy in me ricocheting, and I knew time was of the essence.
My lustful magic ebbed, calling for release as it mingled with an anger so deep, I feared I would see red again like I did when Norman tried to get handsy—er, tentacle-y—with Violet.
Susanne called my name again, the clatter of her heels on the floor echoing in my cerebellum.
I did not have the time or the patience to deal with her.
CHAPTER8
Violet
“I wouldn’t take it personally,”Norman said as he strolled up next to me, one of his tentacles clutching his books to his side.
I pushed some annoying strands of hair behind my ear, pursing my lips.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said absentmindedly as I tucked the velvet bag of runes into my backpack. One of Norman’s tentacles picked it up by the handle for me and I reached for it, but he only slung it over his shoulder.
“Ah, ah, I insist,” he said with a smile.
My gaze flicked to Wanda who stood beside him, looking as pretty as a statue with an Oscar winning resting bitch face. Seriously, did this woman emote at all or was she devoid of such things?
“Walk with us,” he said, and I turned to look at Professor O’Connor. I had a myriad of questions to ask, but...
