10. Nora

10

NORA

A week of classes passed rather quickly in a blur of work, frustration, and some rewards. Being here reminded me of my own time as a student, and I could understand now why all of my professors had been irritable and exhausted.

Out of all of my students, three of them showed promise. Bianca Graham, Eric Barclay, and Steven Blackwood.

The rest were hopeless.

Not only did they not understand what they signed up for, they were entitled. Especially the Dean’s son. Labs would begin in another month, and I was contemplating trying to manipulate the son of a bitch into another field.

The last of the students filed out of my room. It was Friday and I was ready for the weekend. I’d spent nearly twelve hours a day in the classroom my first week, and I desperately needed the break.

I needed a whisky. But, I didn't want to go to the pub and deal with seeing the trio of assholes. They’d stayed out of my way this week, at least, so that had been a relief.

I still needed to confront Alec at some point. Sneaking into my home and leaving oranges was just bizarre and a total breach of privacy. I’d changed the locks on my door Wednesday night, and yet the oranges kept appearing—at least now on my doorstep and not my table.

Not to mention a pair of my undergarments had gone missing. For that, though, I would not accuse him in case they were simply lost…

For a moment, I imagined his steel eyes and dark hair. He was far too beautiful to be a professor. It was irritating. The only thing that stopped him from being perfect was his abysmal attitude towards everyone.

A knock on made me look up. Dean Andrews stood there with a pinched expression, which was his norm, it seemed.

“Yes?” I asked.

He came in, his eyes wandering around the room. The ceilings were tall and it was large enough that a draft seemed to always find its way within the stone walls. “How are you doing, Nora?”

“I’m doing well.” I continued to study him. He wanted something and was doing a poor job of hiding it.

“Settling in?”

“I am,” I said. “Have you had any breakthroughs with the murders?”

He paled as he stopped in front of my desk. “The what?”

“The murders,” I said. He blinked and I bit my tongue for a moment, using the pain to centre my temper. “The professor murders?”

“Oh,” he said. “I haven’t. Well, we haven’t. But don’t mind that, dear, I’m sure they’ll find the culprit. How is the tower treating you?”

The cold outdated tower that was practically off campus and away from the rest of civilization? “It’s fine. I am concerned about it when the winter arrives, but I’m sure I’ ll make do.”

He nodded. “If there’s any work or repairs needed, simply let the grounds keeper know. He mentioned he met you in the library the other night.”

Ah. I hadn’t returned the books yet. I still needed to read them, but this week had been exhausting. “He did.”

“Did you happen to check any books out?”

“I didn’t,” I lied. “I did some reading on a subject in preparation for classes, and then he asked me to leave. Understandably given how late it was.”

“I see. There are two texts missing from my private section…”

I wasn’t admitting to anything. I didn’t trust him. “You have a private section of the library?” I asked.

He bristled, although he did his best to mask it. “I do.”

“Perhaps a brave student took a couple books? I was reading about how our mind processes dreams and?—”

“I see,” he interrupted. “Well, perhaps you’re right about it being a student who took them. Wouldn’t be the first time.” He let out a heavy sigh and turned to survey the room, the sweeping window arches and vaulted ceiling. “This building is full of so much history, much of it violent. Some knowledge should not be given so easily. Did your friend tell you anything about this place?”

“He didn’t,” I said. “Although I’d like to know more.”

“It was supposedly built on top of a hill that was said to be a home for the fae. Others say it was a burial ground in the early eleventh century. Needless to say, there are many things that are bizarre and even dangerous. You know not to go into the woods alone?”

“I’ve heard,” I said.

“Good, good. There are beasts out there.”

My blood chilled. “Like wolves? ”

He didn’t move for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, of course. Wolves and such.”

He was such a horrendous liar. Was everyone here delusional?

“I’m sure you’ll find who took your books,” I said, redirecting him. The two books were in my room under a pillow, but I wasn’t about to tip him off to that. “If you’ll excuse me, this week has been rather exciting and I would like to go home and rest.”

“Of course, of course. I’ll get out of your way, then. If you need anything, let me know.”

“I will. And if you need my services to help find the murderer, I am here.”

He gave a thin smile. “Of course.” With that, he padded his way back to the door and left me with a less than enthusiastic wave.

When I saw Bart again, I was going to slap him. I understood now why he didn’t take the job for himself.

I slid my bag around my body and set off for the path that led to the greenhouse. I passed hordes of students as I went, aware of their whispers. Parties, secret swims in the lake, alcohol—none of it I was interested in hearing or knowing about.

The door to the path outside was already wide open. The world looked completely different in the light of day. The trees to either side were far less ominous, even beautiful. A couple of straggler students stormed past me, one crying as he went. I raised a brow as I came to the maze. It was fairly easy to navigate and delivered me to the front door of the greenhouse.

Alec stood there, arguing angrily with a student who looked like they were about to break down. Their eyes darted to me and they took off like a frightened deer.

“He’s a monster,” they sobbed as they fled.

I snorted as I stopped in front of Alec.

“Can I help you?” he gritted out.

Steel eyes met mine, cold and angry. His dark hair was raked back, his brows drawn together.

I hated how he immediately put me on edge. I wanted to kneecap him just for being a bastard.

“I wanted to address an issue with you,” I said firmly. “Preferably somewhere private.”

His jaw set. “I cannot imagine what we might need to address other than you stealing fruit from my tree.”

Was he fucking serious?

“I haven’t stolen anything,” I growled. “You broke into my home and put the oranges there. A complete broach of privacy and space, I might add.”

Now amusement glittered there. “Miss Woulfe?—”

“Doctor. Dr. Woulfe.”

“Dr. Woulfe. Why in the hell would I break into your home to give you a piece of fucking fruit?”

“Why would I break into your greenhouse to steal it?!” I countered angrily.

He grabbed the strap of my satchel and yanked me forward, his face close to mine. My heart skipped a beat. His scent was warm and inviting despite his asinine demeanour.

I felt eyes on us and heard a stray giggle. He glanced up and practically snarled. “For fuck’s sake, I can’t escape them.” He pulled me through the door of the greenhouse, slamming it behind us. “There are two young ladies in my class that giggle every time I growl. Can you explain this to me?”

“They probably find you attractive,” I said. “And you are somewhat mysterious, which would make you more intriguing.”

I brought my hand down over his wrist and twisted, breaking his grip on me free.

He took a step back, studying me warily.

“Don’t ever grab me like that again,” I said. “Or I will break your nose and then those students will quit university because their handsome botanist was disfigured by the psychologist.”

He snorted and it was clear he was fighting a smirk. “Then stop stealing from me, and I won’t have to have conversations like this.”

“I have not stolen from you. You told me not to come back to the greenhouse, and I haven’t until now. I have been busy this week working unlike you.”

“I have been working just as much as you have,” he sneered. “I practically live in this fucking place.”

“You have such a foul mouth and it does nothing to make you more intimidating.”

He barked out a laugh. “You are the most unbearable person I’ve ever met. You should leave.”

“No. I didn’t steal from you. I have no reason to lie. Do you?”

“Of course not. I just want the oranges to stop disappearing. I need them for other things .”

I raised a brow at his emphasis. “Then who is bringing me oranges?”

He threw his hands up, clearly just as frustrated as I was. “Maybe it’s your lover.”

“ Lover ?” I’d never sounded so disgusted by the word.

“Professor Louis Brown.”

I stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. It was absurd. It was so bloody absurd that I had no words. Alec looked exasperated as I wiped my eyes.

“I assure you that I am not dating nor sleeping with anyone, especially that stupid son of a bitch. And honestly, even if I were, it certainly wouldn’t be your business.”

“It would be if he threatened me.”

He couldn’t be serious. I crossed my arms and studied him. I wasn’t sure if I believed him or not. “What do you mean, threatened ?”

“He told me to stay away from you.”

“Well, I can’t imagine why. You aren’t my favourite person I’ve encountered but at least you didn’t try to convince me that fairytales exist.”

It was his turn to raise a brow. That same glittering amusement returned. “Fairy tales?”

“Monsters,” I clarified.

He crossed his arms now and the two of us squared off, even though he was quite a bit taller than me. I could take him down, though. The thought of straddling him made me stiffen.

Don’t even go there right now. He is off limits.

He was about as safe as the poisons in this greenhouse.

“What makes you so certain they don’t exist?”

I let out a very tired sigh. “Not you too.”

“It’s a valid question. Why can’t they exist? We don’t know everything about this world.”

I shook my head at him. “Do you not hear yourself? You sound delusional. I understand that your area of study is plants, but mine is?—”

“Has anyone ever told you that you have quite the ego?”

“Yes and I don’t care. What else would you expect from a woman who has fought tooth and nail to simply be heard in a room where she is the smartest? I have to spend twice as long arguing. Twice as much time working. I have to be a bitch to make a point. And the same can be said for you and your ego. Certainly the other professors seem to dislike you.”

He let out a soft hum and then smiled . “They fear me. It’s far more than dislike. But then there’s you. You’re not scared of me.”

“No,” I said. “Far from it.”

“And why?” He took a step closer and I tipped my chin up to meet his gaze. There was a beat of silence between us before he spoke, his voice low and deep. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

“And you have no idea what I’m capable of. But I do. And I know that if you take one more step towards me, I will put you on your knees.”

The corner of his mouth tugged. “Is that what you want to do to me? Put me on my knees?”

I glowered at him. “What do you want from me?”

“I’m wondering the same about you.”

Our words were becoming a careful dance, a game of chess. His presence was so all consuming and I felt as though I were challenging a demon. One that fed off my frustration and confusion.

Why would Louis have warned him to stay away from me? Especially after our failed dinner, it was clear we were not friends. And out of the three of them, I didn’t expect him to try and do such a thing.

“So, Brown warned you away from me. What else did he say?” I asked.

“Not much else. I punched him and went to class.”

“You… you punched him and went to class?”

“Yes. He touched my arm.” He said it so factually.

“Oh, charming. It’s almost like someone grabbing you without your permission is offensive.”

A dark chuckle left him. “You’re clever and brass. How did you make it here? The Dean doesn’t like challenges. He wants everything to be easy. He wants to feel like a king.”

That, I could agree on. The longer I was here, the stranger it felt that I’d been accepted in the first place. “I gathered that much,” I said. “A colleague of mine recommended me and they accepted. I’m not going to question why. ”

“You should question why,” he said. “You’re a scientist, are you not? Even if you reek of old money and entitlement.”

I fought the urge to kick him. After the week I’d had, I almost gave in to that violent thought. “And you reek of dirt.”

He didn’t care. “For someone so logical, it's bizarre to me that you cannot see the oddities right in front of you.”

“What oddities? Can you clarify? Or are you just going to be vague like the three other men who tried to convince me that creatures of folklore exist?”

He offered nothing, instead just staring at me.

“Right. Nothing. Next, I’ll be taking lunch with a witch, when in reality she would just be another challenging intelligent woman. I am here to teach classes and future psychologists, not chase after murderers and monsters.” And I’d had enough of this interaction. “I must go. I am in need of a bottle of whisky and hot bath and time away from idiots.”

“Excellent, don’t come back.”

I rolled my eyes at him and turned to open the door. His palm slammed against the wood and he leaned in, his voice dark and seductive in my ear.

“Monsters do exist, Dr. Woulfe. The best thing you can do for yourself is leave before they devour you. But if you find yourself ensnared by one and in need of help—don’t call on me. I’ll simply watch it tear you apart.”

A chill worked up my spine, goosebumps raising over my flesh. He wasn’t touching me, and yet I could feel him, as if he were writhing beneath my skin, a dark deadly disease.

I grabbed the door and yanked it open, stepping out. I did my best to keep every step steady, my expression the same, my body language the same.

It wasn’t until I was back to my tower that I felt like I could breathe.

I could still feel him, like a cloak I couldn’t shed or an unwanted second skin. Everything within me felt alive, but in a way that made me want to set myself on fire.

I froze as I reached my tower. A bottle of whisky sat on my doorstep.

Someone was fucking with me.

I picked it up and hurled it at the stone wall, the glass shattering and golden liquid spraying everywhere.

The internal screaming was so loud that I swore the birds that scattered into the air had heard it.

Every interaction I had with that bastard made me think he was the killer. That he was the one who murdered the three professors.

Now I just had to prove it.