Page 2 of House of Malice
Val smirked, amused by Galia’s anger and her sharp-as-daggers words. “Oh, Rathone.” Val slid down from the pool table and stalked towards where Galia sat, then gripped the arms of Galia’s chair, leaning forward until they were very close and intimate.
Galia cleared her throat, glaring at Val, and that only amused Val more, because her smirk spread into a predatory smile.
“You and I both know that if Gondalez wouldn’t stomp all over you while implementing his plans for us, you wouldn’t be here now, all desperate for us to believe you.” Val’s words were laced with cruelness, and it made all the hairs at the back of Alecto’s neck rise.
Val straightened her back, gazing down at Galia.
“Let me think about what you just told us,” Val said finally. “When do you need to swear the oath?”
Galia sneered. “He didn’t give me a deadline.”
“Very well then,” Val said. “Until he comes back to you, I’ll think of the best way to approach this.”
“I’m not going to be your puppet,Valeria,” Galia spat and stood up. They were the same height, so they looked each other in the eye as equals. “If we plan to stop him, we do this together, or we don’t do it at all.”
Val smirked and nodded. “As you wish, Rathone. But I’ll still need time to think about it beforewecan work on a plan.”
After Galia left, Alecto asked Val, “Are we seriously going to ally with the Rats?”
“Too soon to tell,” was all Val said.
2
Blaze had a very hard time focusing on Professor Gabetown and his lecture on magical plant cross-fucking or some shit.
Alecto sat next to him, her attention fully on the professor who stood next to a huge wall of plants in his greenhouse.
She was eerily calm and beautiful this morning. It was a breathtaking view. Sometimes, if he looked too long at her, Blaze’s chest would get so tight, he had trouble breathing.
But he just couldn’t stop.
Without looking at him, Alecto leaned in closer and whispered, “If you don’t stop staring at me, I’ll temporarily blind you with a spell.”
Blaze chuckled. He grabbed her chair and pulled her closer to him. She clicked her tongue and turned her furious blue gaze at him.
Finally, he had her undivided attention.
“I find you so much more interesting than Professor Gabetown and herbalism,” Blaze murmured.
“I’m glad to hear that. I would find it concerning if plants were much more interesting to you than me, knowing that I’m much more fun.” She smirked.
Her gaze turned from angry to mischievous. Blaze wanted to kiss her.
A heavy book landed on their desk with a thud next to the planter with their fire ivy.
Blaze turned his head and found Professor Gabetown standing in front of them, his face serious.
“Why are you taking my lectures, Mister Leveau?”
Blaze smiled. “Because I was missing a few credits to fill up my schedule.”
“At least you’re honest, I suppose,” the professor said. He adjusted his glasses and continued speaking to all the students. “Pick another plant, one that has qualities that would complement your current one well. And then start the process of magical cross-pollinating with the remaining time you have today. If you have questions, don’t bother me. Your workbooks have all the answers you need. You must simply know how to use them.”
With one more stern look at Blaze, Professor Gabetown walked away.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” Alecto asked, shaking her head. “It would be amazing if there were at least one professor who didn’t loathe having you in their class.”
Blaze ran a hand through his hair. “They don’t get paid to like me, so who cares? And as long as I graduate, everyone’s happy.”
