Pattison’s green eyes sparkled the same way Inferno’s did when he was between my legs. That was creepy. “Professors, ready for the big news?”
Russell unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat. “Yes. May the best man win.”
I took a seat across from him. “Or woman.”
“I want you to remember that we’re all here one family,” Pattison said. “You are both remarkable teachers with excellent records. If I could have given you both the job, I would have. But it’s not the way it works. One person can fill this seat. And after a vicious debate with the board, a decision has been made.”
He took a deep breath and eyed us both. My heart skipped a beat. My stomach tied in a thousand knots.Spit it out already, Devil.
“Congratulations Professor Legend. You’re the new Psychology Head of Department.”
I gasped and exhaled in relief. The first thing I wanted to see before I even said thank you was the look on Russell’s face. His eyes smoldered. His jaws were tight. His tongue swirled inside his mouth.
“Professor Green, say congratulations to your new boss. I hope you can work under her command as well as you have for me,” Pattison said
Russell’s face turned crimson. He clenched his fist. Was he going to punch me? He looked like he would. “Congratulations. I’d be delighted to work with you and see what you’ll bring to the department.”
“That’s the spirit. Enjoy the holidays, Professors.” Pattison escorted us out of his office. When Russell stalked away, Pattison asked me to come see the board members before we were all off for the year.
As happy as I was, my stomach was acting out. I was hoping I could just leave. I just had to suck it up for another fifteen minutes. “Thank you, Professor. I’m very grateful you chose me. It means a lot.”
He started down the hall. “You were my best candidate from the start. You earned it.”
The devil’s best candidate didn’t sound so favorable now. “Did I? How?”
“By possessing qualities Russell would never have and by not being afraid of using said qualities. My seat is rimmed with fire. Only a person that can handle the burn is worthy of it. Remember?”
Fuck. I’d ever paid attention to these words he’d said the first day I came here. Not even when I knew who he truly was. I swallowed, my eyes twitching. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your acceptance of the dark side is marvelous, Vixen. That tells me things.”
A huge wave of nausea hit me. “What things?”
“Don’t sweat it now. We’ll meet again so soon and I’ll explain everything. Now, enjoy your victory. Rejuvenate over the holidays. You have a great year ahead of you.” He gazed at me with a smile. “Look at you. Already glowing.”
I froze for a second. “Glowing?”
The devil’s smile stretched wide.
Puke.
I bent over and barfed everywhere.
A hand rubbed my back, and another held my hair backwards. “It’s okay. You’ll be just fine.”
Another hurl.
“Get it all out.”
When I straightened, the devil was still looking at me with the same smile. I took his hand off me. “Thank you. I gotta go.”
I ran to the bathroom, cleaned myself and drove to the nearest drugstore.
CHAPTER 39
SLASHER
“We should put it outside above the front door, not above the stupid TV,” Mad Dog said.
