Violet sighed. “I’m sorry, I just...”
“It’s all right, I promise. My ass can take you.” I stopped in my tracks as I realized my words. I’d meant to say takeit, but...
The truth was I could takeher.
I could take her lips like the delicacy they were. I could take her and her body six ways from Sunday, to the heavens beyond if she would let me. I could take her little quips, her inquisition.
But I could not take her rejection.
I watched as her sparkle dissipated. I’d said the wrong thing, clearly.
“I, uh... what I meant was—”
“It’s fine, I get it. I know what you meant,” she said as she walked past me, her entire demeanor shifting.
I met her stride, sighing in defeat.
“Did I say something wrong?” I asked, quite perplexed. One moment the woman was flirting with me and the next...
I could barely keep up with her chameleon moods.
Violet sighed. “No, it’s just... I just haven’t been feeling much like... me lately.”
She didn’t look at me as she said the words, and I wondered what she truly wanted to say. I stopped her in her tracks as I walked in front of her, forcing her to look at me once more. Her magic flickered and her sadness ebbed as she looked at me.
“I know the feeling,” I said as I reached out to gently tuck her hair behind her ear, if only because the need to touch her was overwhelming.
She stepped closer, close enough that I knew I could turn the tables if I wanted.
Acutely aware that the students in the hall could see us. That were watching us.
For starters, I could feel the surrounding energy, equal parts interest and morbid curiosity like a heatwave around us.
But as far as I was concerned, I only saw Violet.
I’d only ever see her, and that was so much to process in and of itself.
“Perhaps we could both use a bit of a break, yeah?” I asked, hoping she would say yes. “A respite from magical sparks and shocks?”
Even though I knew I shouldn’t keep deluding myself, keep hungering for the faerie in my presence, I couldn’t resist. I needed to be near her. Despite the constant jolts of electricity and the overwhelming sense of perfection I got when I was in her proximity, when I touched her, I had to admit it was nice to just... be.
And in Violet’s presence, I felt like I could just be... me, and I liked how that felt.
“What did you have in mind?” she asked, her voice lilting enough to tell me I’d gained her attention, her interest.
“Are you a fan of libraries?” I asked.
CHAPTER20
Bane
“You know allthe quiet spots around this place, don’t you?” Violet said as she sunk back in her chair with her chai tea.
I took my seat next to her with my own cup of tea, though I didn’t care for the spice of chai. I preferred solid, simple Earl Grey with a splash of cream. As the cafeteria was actually open at this time of day, I’d made sure both of us were amply fed.
At least where food was concerned...
The library of Blackthorn was entombed with magic tomes from across the ages, as well as contemporary literature. It was quite vast and large, which made it one of the best places in the academy to hide away in.
