The prospect would have made me press my thighs together in anticipation at one time. Now, though, it was just annoying.
There were far more students than I expected in a class about the Hunter’s Guild and how they policed the supernatural. There was even a mixture of species in the class, not just human servants.
As someone who had spent a lot of her time on the policing end of the Hunter’s Guild, I didn’t expect many supernaturals to care to know about how they worked. I figured they hated the guild the way some humans hated their police force — despising anyone in authority.
Julian thankfully was distracted by a few pretty females loitering around his desk, so if he noticed me, he didn’t show it. By the time he addressed the whole class, it was full, and I could sink down in my seat and hide.
Sitting on the edge of his desk, Julian’s gaze slid across the room, assessing, analyzing, searching. The only sign of how he had weighed the classroom was a slight dip of his lips. He stood straight, hands behind his back, and addressed the room.
“I’m Professor Fawley and, if you don’t know which class you are in, you shouldn’t be in here.”
He paused for a moment. It was quiet enough that I could hear the heart beats of those around me. The authority he commanded before the room kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
“Until recently, when I was asked to teach this class, I worked as a hunter. Hunters, as you are aware, are our world’s form of a police force. While they used to only focus on vampires a few decades ago, they have since expanded to all supernatural creatures.”
With only a moment’s pause, he continued. “This semester, we will cover the rise of hunters: their purpose, their methods, how to stay off their bad side, and the consequences both political and societal of having a separate force to police the supernatural world.”
Moving around the front of the room, he stopped before a chair where a male was slumped over his phone. “You. Why are hunters so proficient at their jobs?”
“Uh…” The guy looked up from his phone, shifting in his seat. “I mean… their sense of smell?”
“Right, a hunter’s strongest tool is their sense of smell.” Julian continued stalking across the room until he’d crossed to one side of the room, near the door, and inhaled. “Once they have your scent…” His eyes slowly moved up the stairs and locked onto me. I inhaled sharply. “They can chase you to the ends of the earth.”
The threat in his voice made me shift in my seat. His gaze was heavy on me for a long moment before he broke away.
Julian continued his lecture, occasionally calling on students, though mostly just talking. When class ended, I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to sneak out like I had into class.
So I didn’t even try. I sat in my seat, slowly putting my things away while I waited for the classroom to empty.
Once it was just him and me, I lifted my bag over my shoulder and inched my way down the stairs.
“Nice to see you were able to hide your general disdain of vampires from your lecture.” I stepped off the last step a bit harder than needed.
Julian pushed his glasses up his nose before leaning over his desk, flicking his mouse over the screen. “I’m a professional, Durand. I can—”
“Billings. Or Jack.”
His gaze lifted up to mine.
“You can’t call me that here.” I stopped in front of his desk, crossing my arms over my chest. “If people know I’m a Durand, no one will talk to me.”
“Very well.” Julian straightened, letting his gaze slide over me. “Billings it is.”
I snorted.
“Have something to say about that?”
“Just typical.” I shook my head and huffed a laugh. “Can’t call me by my first name unless you’re fucking me, huh?”
Julian stepped around the desk. A hand tucked in his pocket as his jaw tightened. “I’m still your commanding officer, Billings.” No doubt he purposely used my last name to keep the distance between us.
“Didn’t bother you when you had your dick inside me,” I snapped back, tired of this back and forth. Him pretending it didn’t happen, me trying to get him to take me seriously.
Ever since it happened, Julian had kept a distance between us and doubled down on treating me like I needed a handler instead of the capable hunter I was.
“And I told you that was a mistake.”
“Pfft, yeah, as you’ve reminded me constantly.” I stepped closer until I had to tip my head slightly to meet his gaze. “The fact of the matter is that it happened. We aren’t at the guild. You’re here as my partner, not my commanding officer. So there won’t be any of the usual bossing me around.”
