12. Brody

brODY

She beat me.

She actually fucking beat me.

I can't even pretend that I let it happen. That shit was all her.

Stretching my neck, I try to ease the dull ache that remains. I refuse to use my magic. I refuse to admit that she really did me over that much.

Damn.

No longer in my sportswear, I fasten my purple cloak around my shoulders and head outside. I need to get to the next class, but I'm still locked on the fact that she took me down without using any of her magic—not an ounce. I thought I was playing it safe with her by keeping it solely about combat and not about our abilities.

I was expecting everyone else to be gone by the time I reached the pathway to head back to the main academy building, but as I round the corner, I come to a stop at the sight of Raiden, Cassian, and Kryll waiting.

Fuck.

They're not going to let me live this down.

The smirk on Kryll's face says as much, but it's Cass who speaks first.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't want to talk about it," I grumble, wiping a hand down my face, and he smirks.

"I thought your brain was going to explode from how tight she had you in that hold," Raiden states, and I roll my eyes at him.

"She has the grip of death, and there's nothing I could do about it. Are we done here?" I cock a brow at them, and thankfully, they start to walk.

"We watched her fight Leticia, remember? We know she's got skills," Cassian grunts without glancing my way, and I sigh.

"Well, I can confirm those skills are far superior to what I anticipated," I admit, and Kryll all-out laughs this time, earning himself a death glare that he pays no mind to. "If it's so funny, then tell your brother you want to go up against her next time."

"Maybe I will," he retorts with a wink. Fucker. "The real question is, how hard did your dick get with all that rolling around on the mat?"

Raiden scoffs at Kryll's question, and I narrow my eyes but keep my gaze fixed on the academy building ahead. "You don't want my honest answer to that."

"Oh, I think we do," Cassian chimes in, intrigued, and I shake my head.

"Man, I tapped out because I was on the cusp of creaming my pants."

They laugh, loud and brash, and I can't help but join in a little.

That girl is something else entirely, and I'm caught in her web. I know exactly when it happened, and I know even more so when I fucked it up.

My curiosity toward her truly started when she helped the human and took the heat of Vallie's wrath. She didn't have to do that, but she did it anyway. I fucked it up on Saturday when I came on too heavy. I've never fucking done that.

Ever.

Yet here I am, fucking it all up.

"Maybe next time you can fight with your actual fists and not your dick," Raiden mutters with a grin, earning another round of chuckles as I shake my head.

"Honestly, I would love to see each of you go up against her. You wouldn't fare any better," I promise, my dick stirring to life once again at the mere thought of it.

I really could do with finishing myself off before our next class so I can focus, but there's no time for that.

Entering the building, we follow the hallways toward the classroom. When we reach the doorway, everyone else is already seated. Including the girl of the hour. I've never been happier to have to sit in alphabetical order, especially when it puts me next to her sweet ass.

Her blond hair is fixed and neat again, braided to her head in a swirl that makes me want to untangle it one inch at a time. The gray cloak draped around her shoulders makes her big eyes even brighter as she peers out of the corner of her eye in my direction. She quickly darts away, but I don't miss the curl to her lips as she does.

Oh, she thinks she's got the upper hand now, huh?

Sauntering toward her, I drop into my seat, splaying my thighs as I drape my arm around the back of her chair.

"Hey, Dagger, have you been up to much this morning?" I ask with a grin as she struggles to hide the growing smirk on her face.

"Not much. Just took down some measly mage, but otherwise, it's been pretty quiet." Her gaze settles on mine, the challenge clear.

"Measly mage? You're bullshitting me. I heard it was some hot god of a mage who let you win."

Her jaw drops as her eyes search mine, and I hope like hell she can sense the humor.

"That hot god of a mage definitely didn't let me win. He fucking wishes he did, but he's not that lucky."

I nod, my grin splitting my face so wide my cheekbones start to ache. "Hot god of a mage, huh?" I wag my brows as she gapes at me.

"I was just repeating your words," she grumbles, folding her arms over her chest as she turns her attention back to the front of the room.

"You can't take them back now, Dagger," I push, leaning closer.

"Whatever you say, Brody."

"No. No. No. It's ‘hot god of a mage' from now on," I insist, and she smirks.

"It's not."

"You're going to hurt my feelings." I pout, and she turns to look at me with her eyebrows raised.

"Like I already hurt your pride?"

Oh, she's sassy today. I like it.

"My pride might have been hurt, but my dick was?—"

"Are you done, Mr. Orenda, or are we all going to have to hear about your genitals?" the professor asks, interrupting me, and the class falls into a fit of giggles. It seems I'm on top form with amusing everyone today.

I part my lips, ready to give the all-clear to get on with class, my genitals can wait, but a drill siren rings out, halting me.

"It looks like you're saved by the bell, Mr. Orenda. Everyone, please proceed to your homerooms. It seems the dean has an announcement to make."