"Fourdays,”Skipmuttered,running a hand through his hair. “Four days until we find out who's going to come out on top of this fucking war. Excuse my language,” he muttered again, shaking his head. “My pa would kill me if he heard me talking like that.”
I chuckled briefly before lacing my fingers and setting my elbows on my desk. “Skip, Kalista is at war. Nobody's going to care if you say fucking.”
His cheeks flushed red before he nodded. “What do I do? My parents aren't going to war as they're over the age required. They have all sorts of problems. They wouldn't make it out, so I’m glad they’re not going.” His eyes started to mist as he shook his head again. “How do I let them know that I'm going to be alright when I don't even know if I'm going to be alright?”
“You don't let them know you're going to be alright. You're going to let them know that you are going to do your damnedest to go back to them, and you're going to go into war with all the competence in the world. Knowledge that we taught you everything you need to know to be in that position to fight for equality and peace. That's what you're going to do, Skip.”
He nodded, swallowing hard before jumping halfway out of his seat, and a hand flew to his chest. “Oh, fucking Fates!Uh, I’m sorry. I mean Fates.”
I didn't even have to look behind me to know what he saw. I let out a deep sigh, not bothering to turn to face him. “I'm with a student,” I grumbled, pinching my brows together.
Damien's dark chuckle filled the room. “Yeah, well, you're a counselor, aren't you? Don't you want to listen to my problems too?”
“I suppose I have to or Wren will look at me with those accusatory eyes of hers,” I muttered before flashing an apologetic smile at Skip. “Same time tomorrow?”
He nodded before grabbing his bag off the floor and practically running out of my office.
“You don't really have a good reputation at the academy, you know,” I told Damien, who plopped down in the seat in front of me.
“What would the point of a good reputation be?” He leveled his gaze. “Kian told you about the vision he learned about Wren, right?”
Worry knotted in my gut as I nodded, my horns slipping out of my skull at the same time Damien's did, and our tails both moved behind us. Sometimes I forgot that we were of the same species.
“I don't like it either,” I admitted. “The thought of her going in alone absolutely wrecks me, but I don't want anything happening to her or to any of her mates. It's not worth risking.”
Damien rumbled a growl, shifting in the seat. “Yeah, I fucking know.”
Wren materialized, sitting on my desk, and this time, even Damien jumped.
My heart almost beat out of my chest as I stared at her.
She pouted her lip, crossing her arms over her chest as she crossed her legs. “Talking about me while I’m not here.Really?”
“When did you get here?” I asked.
“When Skip left. I was being a little nosy. I figured you'd be talking about me so I eavesdropped a bit.” She shrugged her shoulders, and I chuckled.This woman.
“You were eavesdropping on us, little bird?” Damien's eyes narrowed, and his tone was accusatory.
“You do it to meallthe time.” She batted her long eyelashes at him.
A small trace of weakness slipped into his gaze as he stared at her before he growled. “You know I'm watching you.”
“I didn't at first,” she countered.
He chuckled darkly. “Every time I showed myself to you in the shadows, I could scent your sweet little pussy weeping for me.”
Her breath caught in her throat as her pheromones started to permeate the air.
I groaned as mine leaked out with hers.
Damien's chuckle was cruel. “You two are one of the fucking same, but you know what, little bird? You're just like me too.”
“How's she like you? You’re a literal psycho.”
“My little bird has a little psycho in her.”
“Maybe when you’re fucking her.” I snorted.
