A menacing growl rumbles behind me, and my head throbs. “Revyn,” I snap, turning my torso with my hips to glare at him. “This isyourfault, so shut the fuck up about it!”
He bares his teeth at Callum, already poised to leap the few feet between them and attack. A few full moons ago, that was the very behavior that made me swoon.
How quickly things change.
“Gentlemen,” Professor Hardwicke interrupts, her smile as sharp as Revyn’s as she climbs the empty seats to our row. “We do not fight over mates in class. You may express your interest in Miss—” She falters at my last name like all shifters other than the headmaster. “Well, there are designated times for such outbursts. This is not one of them.”
“That’s alright, Professor. I never expected a wild wolf to adhere to custom.” Shadows swirl in Callum’s ruby eyes. “I’m curious if his blood is as rotten as his temper. Do you know, Sienna?”
Heat stings my cheeks. Callum can’t possibly know that I tasted Revyn’s blood last night unless he wasthere.Or maybe he’s guessing. It’s not exactly a secret that Revyn and I have history. He could have been in the hallway when I kicked Revyn out of my room, too, or making an assumption that because Revyn bit me, I must have bitten him, too.
Regardless of how Callum knows, I still answer. “He tastes like the sun,” I admit softly, my gaze lingering on Revyn’s lips. “And the wind before a storm, and the earth when it rains...” My voice catches as I keep the rest to myself.
He tastes like the wilds . . . He tastes likehome.
Clearing my throat, I tear my gaze away, narrowly avoiding the chasm of sorrow in Revyn’s eyes. I feel it all the same, like a stone weighing down my lungs. Thankfully, Hardwicke resumes the lesson as though it never paused. My neck aches, the wound burning as it attempts to heal. Why couldn’t I have been born with normal gifts and heal like all the other shifters in the world?
Why do I have to be different?
Callum stares at his open palm resting lightly in his lap. My blood covers his hand and sinks into the grooves on his ivory skin.
Careful not to draw our professor’s attention, I whisper, “I didn’t mean to bleed on you.”
A slow, sinful smile curls on Callum’s lips. “Oh, Wildflower...” He takes a deep breath, and I spot the faintest bit of color hiding beneath his collar. Is he...blushing? Can vampires blush?
“This is a gift.” He stretches his legs until our thighs touch, then rests his arm where they meet. The possessive curl of his palm over my knee does not go unnoticed, but I let it linger, curious of his intentions. He does not take it any further and merely brushes his thumb across my bare skin. “Do not apologize.”
I stare at the faint, bloody handprint that remains when Callum retracts his arm. My scent fills the air, and I catch more than one neighboring student breathing deep, including Callum . . . and Revyn.
Fuck me.
Embarrassment makes me blush. I’ve never wanted to die more than this exact moment.
Callum chuckles like he’s enjoying my misery. The fucking bastard.
Leaning into my side, he whispers in my ear. “Your heart’s pounding, Wildflower.” Sliding his palm over mine, he laces ourfingers together. A wave of magic, subtle but effective, pulses out from our joined hands. Suddenly, I can no longer sense Revyn’s brooding at my back or Alistair’s burning stare from across the room. Everything goes blissfully silent, and I’m able to focus on the lesson at hand.
“Thank you,” I murmur, knowing that Callum can hear me.
He squeezes my hand, reminding me that we’re still locked together. “I will bestow many gifts to you, Sienna.” Our eyes meet, and my heart flips at the sincerity in his gaze. “There will never be a need to saythank you.” Releasing my hand, he maintains the shield as the lecture continues.
I stretch my chilled fingers.
Unlike Revyn and Alistair’s touch, Callum’s remains cold. Soothing rather than scorching. Questions roll through my mind like a fog, making it impossible to focus on Hardwicke’s lesson.
How old is Callum? How long do vampires live? If he’sreallyold, why hasn’t he found a mate yet? Or can vampires mate more than once? Shifters can’t, as far as I’m aware, but I guess I’ve never thought to ask—nor had anyonetoask?—
Callum starts humming a tune that tickles my mind. He taps the familiar beat on my thigh, more than happy to continue distracting me from today’s lesson. I bite my lip and quickly add a third mantra to my daily affirmations.
I deserve more than Revyn can give me.
I am not here to find a mate.
Under no circumstances am I allowed to befriend a vampire, no matter how badly I need a friend in this place or how close we become from our deal.
Taking a breath, I lean closer to the pretty redhead. I think she’s a witch, and that doesn’t seem nearly as dangerous as a master of illusions. “Hey, my name’s Sienna.”
Her gaze flicks from a blond boy whose skin sparkles like diamond dust. “Gemma,” she says softly, offering a small smile.“Want to join me for drinks after classes are over? You look like you need one. No offense.”
