Gods, I wish he had never shown his face that night. My cheeks burn at the memory of his tongue beneath mine, pliant and warm andsucha wicked temptation, just like the rest of his godlike physique. Seriously, who has that many muscles? Is it an alpha thing? Revyn’s stacked, too, and Iknowthat man doesn’t exercise. I used to drag him out of bed for morning runs, not the other way around.
Frowning, I peer around Callum to check for Revyn among the writhing bodies in the nearest study rooms.
At least he isn’t flaunting his latest conquests.
My stomach pitches like I’m in freefall, and I draw a shallow breath to counteract the feeling. All that does is bring the bitter taste of regret to my lips—but for whom, I’m not entirely sure. When the scent of burnt pine gets stuck in my throat, I glare at the witch actively smoking a thin paper roll behind the checkout counter.
As if I need a reminder of Alistair’s mouth.
“With enough lower back strength, he can arch his pelvis at a deeper angle. It looks more difficult to achieve than it actually is, I assure you.” Callum’s gaze flicks to mine, the ruby shimmer in his eyes little more than thinly-veiled arrogance. “If you’re truly curious, I’m happy to provide a demonstration.”
I’ve barely been listening, too wrapped up in my own thoughts to pay attention. “What? No, not that.” My cheeks flush at the slow smile curving on Callum’s rosy lips.
Clearing my throat, I barely avoid staring at his mouth. Sex with Callum might get my mind off the other two, but that feels like eating out of the palm of his hand. It’s exactly what he wants. When he and I are alone during tomorrow night’s full moon . . . I’m trying not to think about what could happen.
Alistair’s voice echoes in my head, his barbed words cutting like knives.
Are you trying to break as many hearts as possible, or are you naive enough to think that your actions don’t have consequences?
Sleeping with Callum would definitely have lasting consequences. Point taken.
“I was talking about Alistair,” I clarify, frowning at the taste of his name on my tongue.
Gemma sighs as she drops her chair down to four legs. The sound clatters but doesn’t echo as it normally would.
Too many warm bodies in the library today.
“What about him? Is he being a diva again?” She purses her lips but doesn’t mention her distaste for Alistair out loud, thankfully. Her feelings aren’t a secret, but the less time she spends with the Dire heir on her mind, the better. Ever since I revealed his actions the night she disappeared in the hallway looking for booze, she’s had it out for him. Telling her about last night would only make things worse.
I blow out a breath. “Forget I mentioned it.”
Still, my mind lingers on the feel of his lips. The warmth of his body. That rumbling sound caught in his throat when he’s holding himself back from sinking his teeth into my—fuck.Warmth pools between my thighs as I remember the feel of his mouth on my neck and the throaty moan he let slip past.
I clench my hands in my lap to keep them from shaking. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as heady as any drug, begging me to find release. I take shallow breaths and talkmyself through fleeing the library. The panting and groaning in the background is enough to drive anyone to madness, but especially a shifter ignoring their baser instincts. I should be fighting, fucking, or running to burn the excess energy off. Instead, I’m sitting at a table pretending that I’m not about to crawl out of my skin.
I need a fucking break, and the moon isn’t even full yet.
“Sienna,” Callum murmurs, startling me by placing a cold palm on my bouncing knee. “Is there something you forgot to tell me?” When I don’t answer, he tightens his grip. “I can shield you from more than?—”
I roll my eyes before he can finish his sentence. For a vampire, Callum is oddly ineffective at keeping Alistair at bay during the night. Though, Alistair wasn’t part of our arrangement. Could I ask Callum to keepbothof my problem men at bay? Would he do that for me?
My gut tells me that he would be more than happy to negotiate a new deal in his favor.
I run my fingers through my tangled hair. I didn’t get nearly enough sleep last night to navigate the minefield of men in my life. “I don’t need your help?—”
With a snap of his fingers, Callum activates his powers. The library disappears in a cloud of smoke, and the sunlit field where we first met during the entrance trials takes it place. Gemma’s nowhere to be found, but neither is the mountain of books we’re meant to review before our first exams of the semester.
I’m never going to graduate, let alone make the top of my class at this rate.
“For fuck’s sake,” I growl, ready to rip Callum’s head off. Ihateillusions. Clenching and unclenching my jaw, I stand rigid as Callum adjusts the finer details of his magic. A warm breeze. Butterflies flitting about. The solid earth under my feet. None ofit is real, and knowing that makes my skin itch. “If I wanted to go for a walk, I would have gone outside, asshole.”
He holds his arms out like a ringleader showing off his newest exhibit. “Come now, Wildflower. Don’t be dour.”
I swat a butterfly fluttering too close. Eventhatfeels real.
Looking pleased with himself, he closes what little distance exists between us in a few long strides. “I wanted to speak privately without drawing unwanted attention.” He teases my fist open and takes my hand. “Don’t worry, you’re completely safe. It merely appears as though you’ve spaced out at the table.”
I purse my lips. “What about Gemma?”
