1. “I doubt anyone cares about me around here.”

"Welcome to Demonology 101."

What is going on? Why is Lucian in my classroom? And why does he look even more gorgeous than usual? Is that a glimmer in his eyes?

His gaze lingers as he paces in front of the black chalkboard, and whatever hum has been going around the room dies down. "I will be your teacher and guide in the world of demons and gods."

A girl at the front shoots her hand right up, and Lucian discreetly rolls his eyes.

"I thought our first class was Potion Making for the Novice," she says.

"Potion making has been moved to next semester. When Dean Colchester heard of my expertise, he decided demonology is far more crucial than learning to make juice."

The same student raises her hand again.

"How are you experienced to teach us demonology? No one knows much about demons, let alone if they really ex?—"

Lucian faces the class and my breath catches as his wings materialize behind him and his hands set on fire.

"My name is Lucian, and I'm a hell-demon of protection. You can call me Master Lucian. Any further questions?" His voice is several octaves lower than normal and several classmates lean back in their chairs, the color washing off their faces.

The girl in the front shakes her head. Lucian tucks away his wings, adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and puts his hands in his pockets.

"I thought so. Now…let's see what you know about demons."

He goes around the room quizzing the students, but no one seems to know much. Hell, even I don't know much, and I'm dating one. The one teaching me right now, to be precise.

How did this happen?

We've been together for a week, whatever capacity or form that has taken. Is he my boyfriend? And why does the term feel insufficient when referring to a hell-demon?

Regardless, it's been a week since we met and he freed me from the Taylors' blood bond that had trapped my mother and me. We've talked a lot, we've fucked a lot—far more than I thought I'd ever want to before I met him—and he never mentioned his new position at Lockwood Academy.

Was he trying to surprise me?

Well, consider me thoroughly surprised.

"Everything you know…is wrong. Demons are the same as gods and vice versa. None of us are saints, and none of us are pure evil. We're as varied and complex as humans. We're as unique as witches. We have our domains, but we all share a set of standard advanced powers the rest of you don't. Like our strength and stamina, our ability to heal, and the power to create spells as easily as taking a breath."

I wonder if he'll tell them about his potent load. The reason why I'm a fully manifested witch.

The memory of the way he claimed me, the way he entered me and kissed me while making me his, assaults my senses. I have to bite my lip to stop from popping a boner in class.

I have a feeling this will be a recurring concern this semester. And beyond, if he continues teaching all levels.

It's not even the teacher thing. I mean, not that I'm complaining. I've never had a thing for teachers, which doesn't say much since I haven't had a thing for anyone before him.

Well, maybe Tom Ellis from the TV show Lucifer, but even he had been just a celebrity crush. One I fantasized about rescuing me all the time.

But now that Lucian is standing before me, all tall, dark, handsome, and speaking with authority and prestige, I can see why some people have a thing for their teachers.

I wonder how many of my new classmates are fantasizing about him right now. How many are picturing themselves in their beds, being claimed by Master Lucian?

Well, I have one up on them because he's already claimed me, and he's mine. No matter what they dream up in their little heads, he only belongs to me.

I cross my legs and try to listen to the words coming out of his mouth.

Will this boner ever go away? For fuck's sake.

"Here's a fact no one will tell you. The majority of demons need a human host. They need either a willing participant or a dead one to walk this Earth. Demons from the Infernus dimension, or hell as it's more commonly known to humans and demons alike, don't. Chances are, if there's a demon near you, they're a hell-demon, but even then, we tend to prefer our dimension over your human realm."

"Why?" someone behind me asks, and when I turn, I'm taken aback by the composed young man with unruly blond hair and high cheekbones.

He's kind of handsome, but that's not what concerns me. It's that he looks familiar.

I keep staring at him, but he doesn't notice me, too absorbed by Lucian's answer.

Who is he? How do I know him?

When he folds his arms and cocks his head, it comes to me as clear as yesterday.

A year ago, I'd returned home after a long day at the apothecary. But neither Kevin nor Mason called me to their rooms. No. It had been Michelle who needed me.

She'd handed me a handful of papers—a bunch of recipes—and sent me to the kitchen to sort out dinner for Mason and his new college friends.

Mason had just started at Lockwood Academy. He'd asked a handful of guys over for dinner, where Kevin proceeded to show off his wealth and power. But, of course, he never told them the full truth of how he got it. He never told them he taught his son to use sex magic to bind their victim and their power to them.

Because, no, I wasn't their only victim. Both father and son often visited brothels or picked up sex workers off the streets and sucked the life and magic out of them.

Not enough to hurt or kill them, but enough to boast about their range of magical powers for days at a time.

Unfortunately, their wandering ways didn't mean I got away scot-free. No. No matter how much they got outside the house, it was never enough. They still wanted to unlock my eldritch powers.

I wonder if one of the reasons they never gave up was because they could sense or taste it in my blood. If they could feel the potential, like Lucian, but unlike him, they couldn't unlock it.

I guess I'll never know and that's okay. It's enough that they're cat food now and will never hurt me again.

The blond guy stares back at me and purses his lips, shaking me out of my trip down memory lane.

I snap my attention back to Lucian.

The blond guy had been at that dinner. I'm sure of it. But then again, so were a bunch of other rich students. But if he had been at that dinner, surely he should be a sophomore now. Why is he in my freshman class?

Lucian smiles at me, and before long, everyone starts packing up their things and making their way to the next class.

I stay behind, sitting at my desk until we're alone.

Lucian stops at my desk, looking down at me through his clear lenses. My fantasies from earlier invade my thoughts again.

"Hey," I say.

"Hi, darling boy."

Goosebumps prickle my neck. I love it when he calls me that.

"You didn't tell me you got a job here."

"I didn't."

"Why?"

He pulls a chair from the desk in front of me and sits backward on it, making my cock twitch with even more need because, apparently, I also love a rule-breaker now.

Not that it should surprise me after what we did to the Taylors.

"Does that frustrate you?"

I shake my head.

"No. I'm just…wondering. Did you think I wouldn't approve?"

"Not at all, my darling boy." He reaches out and grabs me by the chin. "I only wanted to surprise you. That is all."

I force my lungs to breathe past the heat spreading through me and nod.

"I am."

He smirks. His thumb brushes my bottom lip, and before I think too much about it, I bite it.

"I…didn't know you were interested in teaching."

Heat pulsates inside me and I want nothing more than to push the desk aside and climb into his arms, but I'm sure Lockwood has rules about such things.

"I'm not. I'm interested in protecting you. The thought of being away from you for hours at a time every day is too harsh to bear. As is the idea that anything could happen to you and I wouldn't be here to stop it."

I'm full-on sucking his thumb now, and you know what? I don't even care.

"You think I can't protect myself?" Even though it comes out garbled with his thumb in my mouth, Lucian shakes his head.

"Of course not, darling boy." He takes his wet thumb out and brushes my cheek, leaving chills across my skin. "I know you can. But consider me your backup. Your armor. Your bodyguard."

I honestly don't care if he thinks I can't protect myself. I like being around him. I love having him with me. And considering I've spent the last five years locked up at home or the store, the rest of the world is…kind of intimidating.

"It's less scary with you here."

"I'm glad, my darling Yu-jin. That's all I want in life. To make life easy and fun for you. I don't want you to hurt ever again."

He opens his arms, and I walk around the desk so I can sink into them, feeling the impact of every one of his words.

I don't want to hurt again either.

"What did the dean say when you told him I'm your boyfriend?"

Again, such a stupid word. So silly. I'm sure there's a far better one out there.

"I didn't."

I pull away.

"What? Why?"

Is he embarrassed by me? Is everything he just said a lie?

"Because I can keep a better eye on everyone and make sure no one has any sinister plans against you."

I smile.

"Thank you. But I doubt anyone cares about me around here. No one even knows me."

Lucian pulls me back into his arms, and I close my eyes, feeling his warmth radiate through me.

Is there any place safer than here in his embrace?

"That's what I'm here to make sure of. Once I can confirm no one wants to hurt you, we can go public."

I hope that's the real reason.

Even though I know he loves me and I love him back, I can't help feeling insecure.

Maybe he only wants to love me behind closed doors.