Page 23 of Taken By the Fae

“They’re welcome to it,” I shoot back.

Tristan slides his hands into his pockets. “The alternative internships were three different law firms that all specialize in personal injury, several apartment leasing offices, two veterinary clinics, and a country club. Do any of those sound appealing to you, Aurora?”

I hate the way my stomach dips when he says my name.

No. I hate that Idon’thate it.

I bite the inside of my cheek as I consider lying.

“Go for it,” he says with a glimmer in his eyes. “I can hear your heart beating erratically and feel every emotion passing through you.”

Fuck. Me.

“Fine. I’ll do the interview,” I snap, exhaling through my nose as I try not to panic at the idea of Tristan knowing exactly what I’m feeling. It makes sense, considering he survives on human energy, but it’s incredibly inconvenient. As if I needed more of a disadvantage here.

I walk closer, selecting the chair that keeps one between us. I pull it out and set my bag on the table. When the sandalwood and citrus smell of him reaches me, I suddenly wish I’d taken the seat at the other end of the table.

“Ready?” he asks, his eyes shifting between mine.

Not even remotely close.“Yes.”

He offers me his hand. “Good morning. I’m Tristan Westbrook.”

I hesitate, but place my hand in his and shake it. “Aurora Marshall.”

“Come on. You can do better than that.” His tone is light as he adds, “Do I make you that nervous?”

I snatch my hand back. “No.” My response is too quick as I drop into the chair. “Let’s just do this.”

“Very well,” he says before he returns to his seat, shooting an amused glance at the chair I’ve kept between us as he unbuttons his jacket and sits.

I pull my portfolio out of my bag. Opening it, I slide my resume out and set it on the table. I flick a glance up to find him watching me, and I push the paper toward him. He picks it up and reads it over before setting it back down, then says, “Your volunteer work is impressive.”

I blink at him. I wasn’t expecting a compliment. “Thank you.”

He meets my gaze. “What are you aiming to gain from this internship?”

“Experience, of course. That’s what anyone in my position would say. This isn’t for me to get a taste of what my career might be to see whether I like it. I’m in my final year of this program. I don’t have time to change my mind. Before walking into this interview, I would’ve said this might lead to full-time employment after I impressed my mentor, but circumstances shape my answers, so I’m going to stick with experience.”

There’s a hint of a smile on his lips as he nods. “Have you been in positions of power in the past?”

“Yes. I’ve led several school events, and over the past few years, I’ve been one of the head members of the student union.”

“Do you seek these positions of power?”

“If you’re asking if I like control, I think you—” I stop myself as Tristan sits there with an annoyingly impassive expression, just listening. Having his undivided attention is equal parts nerve wracking and heady. “Yes, I do,” I finish, folding my hands on the table.

“You seem quite driven.”

“I like to think so,” I say. “I know what I want, and I plan to do whatever it takes to achieve it.”

He clicks the pen in his hand, and the smile that touches his lips makes me want to look away as it warms my cheeks. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“Any other questions?” I need to keep this meeting on a narrow path, wrap it up, and get out of this room before I suffocate. Because annoyance isn’t the only thing racing through my veins right now. As I fight to hold his gaze, I can’t help the unexplainable sense of… safety in his presence. There’s a part of me, one I don’t understand in the least, that believes I’m not in danger with him. In danger of running my mouth and getting in trouble, though, that’s another story.

There’s a flicker of surprise in the fae knight’s gaze before his expression smooths. I have to think he notices or feels the anxiety pouring off me, because instead of taunting me some more, he asks, “Do you have a copy of your class schedule?”

Handing it to him from my portfolio, I cringe at the way my hand shakes. I knew this interview would make me nervous, regardless of the mentor, but Tristan holding that position is heightening that tenfold.I just need to get through this.Folding my hands in my lap, I sit straighter, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth to calm my uneven pulse.

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