Page 28 of Zodiac Monsters

I stared at him, stunned.

Fucking.

Stunned.

Who was this rational, unaggressive man speaking to me? Was this the difference between moonstruck Adrian and normal Adrian? Was he actually a level headed person sometimes? “How exactly is that going to work?”

“Let me take you out.”

“What?” The word came out more like a gasp. I didn’t even know I was capable of a sound so high pitched. “Are you asking me on a date?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m just suggesting we go to dinner and get to know each other.”

Oh, how completely, not at all similar to a date.“That sounds like a date.”

“Intent to form a relationship would make it a date. I’m proposing a study session.” He sighed. “I know I said we can’t be friends, but I would like to at least understand your perspective, so I can do better about respecting your needs and comfort. I’d like to have a professional relationship going forward, and that’s difficult when we’re both in the dark about the other person.” His ability to deflect from the fact that this was obviously a date was impressive.

And that was when I got suspicious.

“You said we couldn’t spend time together outside of class. What made you change your mind?”

Once again, I prayed that he wouldn’t answer that with “well, I got jealous when you fucked my brother.”

“Inevitability, fairness, responsibility.” He ran a hand through his longer-on-top brown hair. “It’s my fault you’re in this situation where you have to worry about every month’s moon in the first place, and as your mentor, it’s not acceptable that I might leave you in a vulnerable position due to ignorance. The mature and fair course of action would be to answer your questions and help you to better arm yourself.”

“Really, is that why?” I pursed my lips, palpable doubt written all over my face.

“That, and if there’s a risk of any given month going terribly wrong, I’d rather have control over the location and situation.” There it is. “We can’t have an emotional relationship, but we can have a structured and scientific one.”

Uh huh. “Fine. You win. Let’s go on a logical, platonic, professional, solitary dinner and get to know each other.” I should have turned him down, but at this point, I was so beside myself, I couldn’t seem to find the words. It was advantageous for me to go along with it anyway. I could ask him questions and compare notes with what Marcus told me. I’d wanted to get to know him, so I should be happy that he was now more receptive to it, right? It was almost as if the changing signs subtly altered his personality each month, even outside of transformation.

Only, I’d been so focused on Marcus and my job lately, I’d hardly thought about what I was to Adrian. He’d already rejected me so many times, it was silly to keep pushing when I had other people who wanted to spend time with me.

And yet, I bore his mark too, and I was still just as tied to him as anyone else. But he was so closed off and inaccessible, that it hardly felt like it. I guess that was intentional.

“Perfect. Two weeks, I’ll pick you up and take you out somewhere nice.” Somewhere nice, but not date-like, obviously. Just somewhere where I’d need to dress up and look my best, like all friends do together.

Wait a minute…

“Isn’t the full moon in two more weeks?” I stated with a moment of realization.

Adrian chuckled, then he patted me on the shoulder. “Two weeks.” He repeated, before he stepped away and headed for the door. It was easy for him to escape without further inquiry, purely on the basis that I was at a loss for words, and my brain had fully short circuited.

I didn’t know if this was a game to protect me, get to know me, or because his Incubus hadn’t been fed, but despite any effort I’d previously made to pursue him, I was now very much questioning my life path.