I’ve spent every day since we found the i’xal researching, and I’ve come up with nothing. Yesterday, we walked around the beach with it, but the stone never glowed like Caspian said it should.
Caspian places a hand over mine to still my fidgeting. “Yes.”
A heavy sigh leaves my lips. All day, I’ve felt off, agitated and jumpy. It might be nerves about my meeting with Dr. Anderson, or the way Branson glared at me during my morning class, or just the cloudy weather, but all I want to do is retreat to my bed. Preferably with Caspian.
“Dr. Anderson hasn’t exactly been supportive—apart from that very weird confrontation on Friday.”
Caspian holds the door to the anthropology buildingopen for me. “The cuff is a clue to Ocearus. If he’s involved in that search, he should be included in all parts of it.”
“So mature of you.” I smirk, stopping in the doorway to the archeology building long enough to kiss his nose.
“Aren’t you two cute?” At the sound of the rough voice, I turn to see Dr. Anderson’s friend walking toward us. He looks like a surfer boy, albeit a rich one. Brick colored shorts paired with a white shirt unbuttoned just a bit too far, shaggy hair highlighted by the sun that looks like he just came from the ocean. There’s an intricate tattoo spreading down his upper arm that looks like some sort of fish, but it’s difficult to tell with half of it covered by his sleeve.
A wave of embarrassment washes over me as I remember how he was privy to my altercation with my parents. He even got them kicked out of the restaurant. Would it be petty of me to thank him for that?
“Newly bonded, right?” he asks.
“Yeah, um, this is Caspian.” I turn to my mate before gesturing at the interloper. “Caspian, this is Dr. Anderson’s friend…” I trail off, realizing I don’t remember his name.
“Phoenix.” He takes Caspian’s hand even though Caspian didn’t extend it and brings it to his lips in a gesture that’s pure gentlemanly showmanship. I’m surprised that what sparks inside me at the action is very different from the expected jealousy. My skin flushes hot, and I swear Caspian’s scent deepens, though I shouldn’t be able to scent him right now.
Without letting go, Phoenix twists Caspian’s hand to look at the sigils on his palm. “What are these?”
Caspian looks at me, clearly unsure how to respond. His nostrils flare like he’s trying to scentPhoenix to determine if he’s trustworthy, but the older alpha must be wearing scent blockers because I can’t get a whiff of anything off him. Caspian doesn’t seem uncomfortable, though, if anything there’s a little spike of arousal through the bond that makes me squeeze my thighs together.
“They’re just decorative,” I whisper, answering for Caspian who seems to have frozen in place.
“Hmm,” Phoenix traces a curve of the sigil with his thumb. “They’re beautiful.” His gaze jumps up to meet Caspian’s.
I should feel possessive and protective, but the heat in Phoenix’s eyes has something warm unfurling low in my belly. It’s similar to how I felt with Dr. Anderson in the restaurant bathroom. What is wrong with me?
A grin spreads across the alpha’s face, so wide dimples appear on his cheeks. It feels almost like he can tell the effect he’s having on Caspian and me, even though there’s no way he can scent me through my blockers, and I’ve liberally sprayed my mate down in extra strength descenter. Maybe he’s just used to the way people respond to him.
He flings his arm around Caspian’s shoulders. “Well, how about Caspian and I go get some coffee to bring back for you and Hunter, hm?” He glances at Caspian’s lips. “You look a little parched.”
His lips are really chapped. How did I not notice that? Did it just happen? A niggling worry settles at the back of my mind.
“I could not leave Madi,” Caspian says.
“Of course not. I wouldn’t be able to leave her side either.” Phoenix gives me a flirty wink. “But we won’t be gone long. I’d just like to get to know the couple my best friend’s obsessed with.” With his arm over Caspian’s shoulder,he steers my mate toward the door, throwing over his shoulder, “Don’t leave Hunter waiting, Madi.”
I’m stuck in place, staring after them, feeling stunned and confused. Dr. Anderson’s obsessed with us? He couldn’t mean that the way it sounded, right?
Attracted, maybe. But not obsessed.
My gaze drops to the firm way Phoenix’s arm muscles flex as he opens the door for Caspian. My mate throws one last look over his shoulder, as if to ask permission. I blink and wave him off. I’m not entirely sure what just happened, but I’ll be fine on my own for a few minutes. They’ll be right back, and I could use something cold to drink.
“Iced coffee!” I yell just before the door closes.
The air conditioning must be broken, because my shirt is sticking to my skin, sweat pooling between my breasts. I pinch the fabric and pull it away from me to get some air.
Phoenix’s words play in my mind like a stuck record. Dr. Anderson can’t be obsessed with a student, especially not me. Then again… I think of the way he looked at me at the restaurant and my skin feels too tight and hot. Someone really needs to open a window in here.
Fanning myself, I continue down the hall. When I reach Dr. Anderson’s office, the door is already open. He’s sitting behind the desk, hunched over a worn, yellowed book. He’s the picture of the ideal hot professor. He’s wearing a tweed sport coat over a slim-fit burgundy sweater, like he just walked off the set of every nerd girl’s fantasy.
I knock on the open door, and his head snaps up. “Good, you’re here.” He stands up, circling the desk, and leaning against the front, crossing one ankle over the other. “Sit, please.” He motions toward the two chairs in front of his desk, then looks behind me.
“Caspian went to get coffee with your friend,” I say in answer to his unasked question.
