5

“ T ell me, human girl,” Mel begins while brushing Poppy’s hair, “what does an orgasm feel like to you?”

I sigh, looking up from my papers. “Really? Why would it be any different from yours?”

“She has a point. We take a human form now,” Poppy says, wincing when Mel hits her head with the brush. “Ow! You bitch.”

Mel ignores her twin. “Have you nearly died from one?”

I choke on air. “What?”

“I take that as a no. Then it’s clear you have the worst sex life in the universe.”

“Nearly dying from an orgasm sounds horrific, so maybe yours is the worst.”

“I cannot die,” is her reply.

“Then you can’t nearly die,” I retort. “And I used to have a great sex life, I’ll have you know.”

Humming, she continues brushing for the next few minutes, and I continue writing notes for my next class. After vanishing the brush from her hand, she starts to braid Poppy’s hair to her scalp.

She doesn’t continue the subject, so I quickly finish my notes, close my book, and pick up my sandwich. We’re sitting in the food hall. We usually sit in the courtyard, but the weather is bad, so given our short skirts and the fact we have no protection against the rain, we hide in here.

Dane and his group of hooligans are a few tables over, and I can hear Orsen speaking about Mel and how nice her ass is.

In the last twelve hours, he’s sent her ten messages, a video of him showing her his bed, and asked her to her face if she wanted to go for a quick round before class.

He’s ruthless.

“Oh fuck!” Orsen yells, quickly getting to his feet and jumping as water pours from his pants, coming from over his waistband.

Smoke pours from his skin to heat himself up, and he glares up at Mel while she whistles, continuing to do her sister’s hair. He isn’t going to retaliate—he wants her too much to get mad at her. Instead, he chuckles, wipes himself with napkins, and winks at her.

This is a regular occurrence now. The pair are brutal. She’s either torturing him with her powers, or she’s complaining about his dick pics. I think she secretly likes it too. It’s not that Orsen isn’t hot; he is, but he’s a little out there for me. Boisterous, wild, loud. Plus, he’s dead set on having my friend—who just happens to be the total opposite of him. The only thing they have in common is that they seem to enjoy sex. Not the vanilla kind, but the kind that makes me want to put on a chastity belt and claim innocence for the rest of my life.

I can feel Dane’s eyes on me as I put my books into my leather satchel then fold my paperwork to add it to the bag. It’s weird that I can suddenly sense him everywhere. He could walk into the room, and with my back turned, I’d know he was there. It’s like the energy changes around me, but only I can feel it. When he left my room last night, the silhouettes in my walls wouldn’t stop dancing. The shadows shuddered across my floor, and my bed shook when I told them to get a grip.

I don’t look at him as I get to my feet. “I’ll see you both at class? I need to use the bathroom.”

Lie. I need to get away from him.

“Don’t be late. We’re practicing emotional kissing today.”

I groan. “Awesome.”

“Hopefully the professor partners you up!” Poppy yells as I walk away from the table. “And I hope, for your sake, he’s hot!”

Dane’s stare follows me out of the room, and I fight the urge to give him the middle finger like the mature adult I am. An adult who somehow has to study how to be a human for the next year.

I dodge students as I make my way to the bathroom. I lock the cubicle, sit on the pan and relieve myself, then drop my head into my hands. It’s been weeks, and I still haven’t woken up to my work alarm, in my bed, wrapped up in blankets with Toodles pawing at my face.

So many times I’ve talked myself into believing this is a dream—a long, terrible nightmare that I need to wake from.

I pull out my phone, dial “911,” and press it to my ear. But the line is dead. It’s the same when I call my work’s head office, and again when I try to call my old mobile number.

I stupidly click on Dane’s to see if it’s maybe the signal in the bathroom, and it rings.

I freeze and hang up.

Idiot. Absolute idiot.

I clean up, wet my face in the mirror, and ready myself for my next class. The one I’ve been dreading. Because there’s no chance I’ll get away without being partnered up for this one.

When I woke up this morning, I thought my week couldn’t possibly get any worse. Another day in hell, even if I’m one day closer to graduating and getting off this goddamn island.

However, the universe seems to be playing a joke on me. When I make it to my human relations class three minutes late, I try not to look at the two students on the bed in the middle of the room. Fully dressed but groping each other over their clothes.

The professor sits at her desk, arms crossed, appearing bored and more human than anyone else here. At least she doesn’t look like the mortal studies teacher, with a tail sweeping everything off her desk.

“What did I tell you? You need to kiss her with tongue, and stop acting like a statue. I scanned you—you are no virgin.”

He turns a deep shade of red all over, and his partner winces from the heat. He quickly cools down, apologizes to her, and does as he’s told.

“Great!” She stands from her desk chair, leaning over to get a better view. “Yes, good! I can sense the emotional connection strengthening. Trust and comfort are massively important when it comes to intimacy in humans. You cannot go out into their world and expect to be brutes like you are in your own. Humans are delicate and need to be treated as such.”

I groan inwardly and drop my gaze to my lap, to the book hidden in my bag. Reading helps pass time, but the only books here are educational, guides to torture, and spell books. I accidently took one back to my room and read it while I was bored, and now I know how to summon a demon.

The library here is full of strange stuff. The books aren’t even half of it. Safe to say none of them are to my liking, but I’m settled reading a story about crimes committed in the Fire Realm, and I’d rather read about dragon laws than watch two students slowly falling in love with each other. Or whatever it is the professor wants from them.

“In this semester, we’re going to learn about the emotional side of sex. As I said before, humans need gentle and caring partners. If you wish to leave this island and somehow form a connection, then the last thing you want to do is hurt them.”

Students grimace, and I keep reading.

“You have your partners, and I have all of your logs, including activities outside of our lessons. To pass this class, your score needs to be above seventy percent. This will be shared between you and your partner.”

The twins are sitting with their partners, and Orsen keeps whispering in Mel’s ear. I can tell she’s getting pissed off—she’s got this demonic look in her eyes every time she glares at him.

He might wake up dead tomorrow, immortal or not.

Dane must have ditched class because he’s not here, and of course the professor doesn’t mind. He was with his friends before the lesson, so he’s obviously intentionally skipping.

Not that I care. I’m just glad I have one less person planning my murder today. With everyone focused on everything else, I have fewer haters, and fewer scowls aimed at me.

Unsurprisingly, they aren’t a fan of me, but I’ve yet to wake up with only one nipple or half a heart. They’ll get to me eventually, and I hope by then, I’ve either sprouted an immortal life, or I get good enough with a sword to defend myself.

They aren’t going to survive a day in my world. If they can’t stand me for being a human, how the hell will they be able to live with billions of them?

My phone buzzes in my bag, and I look over at Mel, knowing it’s her. She and Dane are the only ones with my number, and hell will freeze over before he willingly messages me.

Poppy wants to stick to the rules of only having contact with her partner, the little do-gooder. From what I’ve heard this morning from her sister, Poppy’s been having a wild time with her partner, and poor Mel has had to cast a spell to soundproof her side of the room, so she can get some peace and quiet.

“More tongue!”

Someone giggles, and I go back to reading my book.

My phone buzzes again, and I finally give in and grab it. Under the desk, I unlock the screen and see two messages from Mel.

Mel: Orsen said Dane was in your room last night. If I don’t receive details, I will pull that chair away from under you without lifting a finger.

Mel: Don’t ignore me!

Instead of replying, I look up at my white-haired friend. She’s currently having a silent argument with Orsen. He seems mesmerized, unable to take his eyes off her face.

She is beautiful, to be fair. His only request since partnering is that she cut her nails because he doesn’t want her to carve his organs out while he’s, and I quote, “ hammering into her. ” I think Orsen will fit in with humans easier than he thinks. He certainly acts like one of us.

The entire class goes silent as the door flies open. Dane, with a deep scowl and raging eyes, walks in, ignores everyone staring at him, and takes his seat across the room from me.

He crosses his arms, leans back in his chair, and parts his legs under the table. “Sorry I’m late,” he says, his gaze flicking to me momentarily. “I was sidetracked.”

“That’s okay, Mr. Dalton. I was just explaining to everyone the importance of trust and connection when it comes to intimacy with a human.”

He couldn’t look more disgusted.

“And for the first part of this semester, you’ll be working with your partner endlessly to gain both of these.” She goes on to explain the scores, how she tracks everyone, and that they’ll be joint tasks.

His brow raises. “And who am I partnered with?”

The professor stares at him before pressing a hand to her chest. “I didn’t pair you with someone already? My apologies, Mr. Dalton!” She rushes to her desk, flying through paperwork before her eyes find me. “Miss Winters also doesn’t have a partner.”

Dane’s spine straightens. “No.”

“Yes. You will be a pair. Please sit together.”

My eyes go wide, and my mouth drops open. “Excuse me? Why?”

“You. Are. Partners.”

Dane’s hand slams down on the desk as he gets to his feet, and all the windows burst open, papers flying everywhere. “Do not insult me by assuming I’d engage in sexual activities with a human.”

“Sit down, Mr. Dalton.”

Orsen picks up Mel’s paperwork while the biggest smirk ever plays on his face.

Dane refuses again. “Absolutely not. How dare you partner me up with this… this… human?”

The professor clicks her tongue. “A perfect match then. It seems you need this lesson more than anyone, to get over your opinions on human beings. How do you expect to have a relationship once you leave the island?”

“I’m the most powerful creature on this island, and you want me to do these tasks with…” He grimaces at me. “She’s nothing but a warm body.”

Ouch.

I shake my head. “If it makes you feel any better, I’d rather kiss a dead frog. You repulse me just as much as I repulse you.”

“Silence, mortal,” Dane snaps. “You were not asked to speak.”

I stand and pull my bag up my shoulder. “I can’t wait for the day someone knocks you off your imaginary pedestal. Go fuck yourself, Dane.”

“Get back here, Miss Winters!”

The professor might kill me, but I’m walking out of here anyway. I hate her and everyone in this school.

I’m the only human here, and that makes me a target. Yet, in every class, they’re learning how to adapt and act around my kind for a chance at survival. If they can’t handle me, a twenty-year-old girl with no family or close friends who works in a diner, they’re screwed.

I barely make it to the entrance to the girls’ dorms before vines break out from the walls and I’m dragged into a dark room. A candle lights as Dane walks in, the door closing behind him.

I roll my eyes. “You’re becoming obsessive now. What do you want, creature?”

The vines tighten around my waist and wrists.

“Obsession is a persistent need to know someone, to not be able to stop thinking of them or to control them. If I were obsessed with you, mortal, you would be chained to a wall in my room where I could keep an eye on you.” He takes a step towards me as the tight restraints pull me to him. “I merely want you to refuse this partnership.”

“I’ve refused each class we’ve been partnered in. It won’t work,” I reply, tugging at the vines. “If you don’t release me, I’m going to make this class ten times worse for you.”

“Your threats are weak.”

“So are you,” is my immature reply.

“You’re not special. If I killed you right now, no one would miss you. No one would look for you. I’ll get a new partner, and you will be buried in the dirt where you belong.”

“You try so hard to be the bully. It’s getting tiring and predictable now. If you were going to do something, you would’ve by now. Why don’t you just leave me alone? And go fuck yourself while you’re at it.”

The vines vanish, and Dane has me pinned to the wall. Bright silver eyes stare at me with rage. “I will not take part in these ridiculous classes.”

I smile, even though he’s so close, so close I can smell his manly scent, the cedarwood and spice and everything that would usually be my go-to in a guy. “Enjoy the dungeons then.”

He smirks as his hand slides up to my throat, and his thumb presses against my pulse. Dane had said days ago that he’d never physically touch me, yet here he is, skin on skin. “If I go, so will you. And I’ll gladly watch you being ripped to shreds by the immortals down there.”

He shoves himself away.

“You will refuse our partnership, little mortal. Because if I ever have to fuck you, I’ll make sure it kills you.”

Dane vanishes, and so does the tension on my shoulders, the air returning to my lungs as I slouch against the wall.

We’ll both be punished for walking out of class. I will be anyway. He’ll get off easy and probably get praised for trying to go after his human relations partner.

What the hell have I done in my life to deserve this? Of all the people here, I get paired with him in most of my classes. It’s not fair.

When I reach my room, Mel messages me to say that she finally gave in to Orsen, and that they’re going to sit by the waterfall near the forest full of secrets. She tells me to come with, and she’ll invite Dane, and I politely tell her to shove it.

I shower, get into my bed, and pull out my homework. It takes me hours, but I finally close my notebook. The candles flicker, the walls calmer than usual, and as I lie under my duvet, my phone dings.

Dane: I spoke with my mother, and she said it was important that we stay paired. Congratulations, mortal.

I pull the covers over my head and reply.

Me : You can’t threaten my life and text me like you haven’t. You are by far the weirdest dude I’ve ever met. Psychotic behavior. You really won’t last in my world. They’d make a documentary about you before giving you the lethal injection.

He’s going to give me a rundown of my death again, I can just tell. He’ll use excessive amounts of detail and make out that I’m a vile creature he’d never touch.

Yet he was hard as a rock last night. Unless arousal or getting a hard-on is a side effect of his anger. After all, I don’t know what species he is.

Dane : What is a documentary?

I’m never getting off this island.