42. Brody

42

brODY

I t feels like an eternity since I last laid eyes on her. I'm too scared to blink in case she disappears again. Kryll and our girl were off living their best lives while we were dealing with the weight of the academy in their absence. Next time, I call dibs on vacation time.

I know she was injured, and I'm certain there's a part of me that's jealous I wasn't the one to heal her, but I'll get over it. Eventually. There's definitely a piece of me that is jealous right now, though. There's no denying it. The mere mention of another ball has us diving into another dance class, but this time, she's not my partner.

Cassian crowds her space instead. He looks down at her with a sense of awe, which I know reflects in my eyes too. She's everything. I've known it all along, and now the others are finally catching up.

"Brody, participate or get out," the professor snaps, pulling me from my thoughts. I glare at him, my dance partner sighing as I hold out my hands.

"Surely, you can pair me with someone better," she states, hand on hip as her lips twist, and I roll my eyes.

"You're not my first choice either, Vallie. Actually, you're not even my last choice. That's how vile you are. Get the fuck over yourself," I say, irritation coursing through my limbs. Of course I got paired with the she-devil herself.

I know I need to be the bigger person and see past her shit so I can focus on the class, but that's easier said than done.

"Are you okay?" Addi's at my side in a beat, ignoring the snarling vampire in front of me as she puts her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm good," I breathe, nodding for extra confirmation, more for myself than anyone else, but she sees right through me.

"Are you sure?" Her gaze shifts to Vallie for a brief moment before circling back to me, and I nod.

I should tell her now, mention the phone call she missed while she was away, but I just want to bask in her presence for a little longer. I want to enjoy a moment with her without my father tainting everything once again.

Shit, I could have sent it in a message already, now that I have her number, but I'm not about that kind of thing. I want to be able to read her expression as I speak.

If she senses the swirling in my mind, she doesn't utter a word. Instead, she leans up on her tiptoes, planting a kiss to my cheek before she sashays back off to Cassian.

I watch her go. Every step. Earning another grumble from my unwanted partner.

"Get over yourself, asshole," Vallie snaps, and I snicker.

"Oh, wow, Vallie. Your words wound me." I plant a hand to my chest and take a step back, eager to put some distance between us.

"Brody, if you're not going to do this, then I?—"

"I am, Professor. You just happen to have partnered me with the worst person possible," I state, giving him a pointed look.

His chest rises and falls with a heavy breath as he looks between us. "You're my best dancer, Brody." I grin at the statement, my shoulders rolling back as I stand taller. "Fine, choose your partner."

"Wait, what?" Vallie says with a gasp, but she goes ignored as I point my finger at the one I want.

"I should have known," the professor grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sighs again. Apparently I'm a handful today, but I want my girl, what can I say?

"You're screwing me over, asshole," Cassian growls, eyebrows furrowed in irritation, but my smile doesn't waver.

"What can I say? I'm the best dancer. He said so," I insist, pointing at the professor. "And I'll dance the best with my favorite partner," I add, watching Adrianna's cheeks turn pink as she rolls her eyes at me.

"Trade," the professor calls, before turning away to watch the other students.

"You owe me for this," Cassian mutters as he shoulders past me, and I nod.

"I do."

I don't glance back, my eyes trained on Adrianna as I approach. Her hands immediately lift to my chest when I'm close enough. I place one hand on her hip and the other reaches for hers as I lace our fingers together.

"Hey, Dagger."

"Hey," she says with a smile that instantly makes my chest ache. "This is great. Now you can tell me what's going on," she states as we start to follow the steps of the rhumba. The professor likes to set the bar high with little time to practice, but it just means I get more time up close with my girl.

"Nothing's going on," I murmur, turning us, and she follows my lead perfectly.

"Bullshit," she says with a scoff, giving me a deathly pointed look, and my shoulders slump.

"Obviously, you know me too well. I can't discuss it here though. But more than anything, I just can't take my eyes off you." It's the truth, and even though her features soften, she sees right through my crap.

"You're a sweet talker."

"For you I am," I reply with a wink, and her rich laugh wraps around us.

"We both know that's bullshit too. Your charming player ways?—"

"When I was trying to play you, did I say anything like that?" I interject, my turn to give her a pointed look, and her eyes narrow.

It takes a moment, but she quickly shakes her head. "No."

I walk us through the steps of the dance slowly, our gazes focused on our feet, before I look back at her. "Exactly my point. I never pretended it was anything other than what it was."

Her eyebrows crinkle with confusion. "But?—"

My hand slips from her waist to press a finger against her lip. "I've never felt what I feel for you about anyone else. I told you that already. I've told you from the first moment I was inside you that once wasn't enough. It never will be."

I don't know who moves first, and I'm not entirely sure I care when our lips meld together. My body ignites at her touch. I tilt her head back, desperate to deepen the kiss, and just as my tongue slips past her lips, a huff of frustration vibrates down the back of my neck.

"That's it, Brody?—"

"Okay, okay. I'm good," I insist, leaning back from Addi with a sigh. She smirks at me as the professor saunters off once again, and we fall into step with the box moves.

"So," she starts, searching my eyes for something, anything, and even though I can't go into detail on my father, there is something I can offer her.

"So, while you were gone, I was doing some research."

"Research?" she questions, eyebrows raised as I nod.

"It's a lot, want to help?" I ask, and she tilts her head at me.

"What's it on?"

I clear my throat, nerves quickly creeping up my spine, but I manage to mutter the words. "Spells used to suppress a wolf."

She gapes at me, eyes widening as she nods. "I'd like that," she rasps, our steps faltering again as she smiles up at me.

"Good." My chest warms, leaving me pleased with myself, when she presses her lips to mine. It's quick, fleeting, and over way too quickly, but not too quickly for the professor it seems.

"Again?"

"I'll stop. It was me this time," Addi insists, not moving her gaze from mine.

"Actually…" another voice interjects, pulling our attention to where a girl stands beside the professor.

"What do you want now?" Addi asks with a sigh, tension rippling from her, and I frown.

"I was just wondering if you were aware of the new moon two days ago."

New moon? My gaze narrows. Ah, fuck, this is the girl who muttered bitch under her breath earlier. I knew I should have hurt her then. That's what I get for being a nice guy.

Addi rubs her hand against my chest before stepping away from me.

"Let's get on with it then," she grumbles, patting her hair to make sure it's all tightly fixed to her head.

Cassian quickly rushes through the crowd that instantly stops their dancing to focus on the drama unraveling before them.

"No, I'll?—"

"No you fucking won't," Addi retorts, raising her hand to stop him in his tracks. His mouth opens, ready to object, but she doesn't give him the chance, and it's hot as fuck. "You can fight for your own shit when I don't have so much pent up tension desperate to be released."

Addi turns to the girl, who audibly gulps once she has my girl's full attention, and I grin.

"Let's go, bitch. Say it," Addi snaps, shrugging out of her cloak as she faces off with the wolf.

It takes the girl a moment, all eyes set on her, giving everyone a chance to step closer. Raiden and Kryll included, who step between Cassian and me to watch.

"I challenge you to a duel for Cassian Kenner."

The maniacal grin that spreads across Addi's face is venomous, and I love it. "It will be my pleasure to bring you down a peg or two."

"You won't," the girl bites back, finding her strength, and Addi scoffs.

"Do you want to commit to hand to hand combat only or are we using our abilities?" She quirks a brow, waiting for an answer, and the girl wets her lips nervously.

"I'm not scared of your abilities," she states, standing tall as her eyes beam amber, her wolf letting its presence be known.

"Good."

Addi lifts both hands as she takes a deep breath, summoning her magic before she launches them at the poor, delusional girl.

Wind whips her off her feet, her cry of panic echoing around the gathered group as the professor stares in horror, but keeps his mouth shut. Once the wolf girl is dangling upside down, Addi blasts a wave of fire in her direction, stopping the burning inferno a mere inch from her face.

"Concede?" she asks, voice bored as the girl's screams grow wilder.

"Never!"

"Are you sure? I can burn you to death until all that remains of you is the smell of roasted bitch," Addi warns, cocking her head at the challenger.

Tears stream down her face, panic consuming her. A few grumble at the mention of burnt flesh, but I grin like a manic fool. She's everything, and I am in awe of her.

Even now, when she wields such magic, she pauses, offering her enemy a way out. Whether the girl takes it or not is her problem, I'm going to love my girl either way.

Love?

Do I?

I blink, my throat drying as I watch her.

All of the sounds disappear as I feel my world tilt.

It's all because of her.

The wolf girl taps out and Addi withdraws her magic, but all I can do is stare in awe at her.

Love.

I love her.

I fucking love her.

I'm so screwed, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

She's the sharpest fucking dagger on campus. Screw that, she's the sharpest fucking dagger in the kingdom.

And she's all mine .