Page 45 of House of Malice
Blaze put his hand on her thigh, squeezing it. “I’ll pay someone to take notes for me. I don’t intend on paying any attention to the professor, only you.”
His hand inched just a little bit higher up her thigh, and Alecto pressed her legs together. Blaze’s smirk was mischievous, but he didn’t push any further.
Throughout the class, Alecto did find it hard to concentrate on what the professor was saying. Whenever she had to read something in the textbook, she found herself skimming and having to return to the same passages over and over.
Blaze’s presence next to her was exhilarating. Pleasant tingles danced on her skin all over her body, and her stomach was full of flutters.
He kept his hand on her thigh, and once in a while, his thumb would move back and forth or in circles. But that was all he did. And it was more than enough to keep her brain scattered.
When the lecture was over, Alecto was so distracted, she almost forgot that she had to talk with the professor.
“I’ll wait for you outside,” Blaze said and kissed her.
Alecto nodded and walked up to the professor’s desk. “Professor Fallo, can I speak to you for a moment?”
Professor Fallo lifted her head from the textbook and smiled. Her smile was always warm and cozy, like the gentle rays of morning sunshine in the early autumn. “What’s up, Alecto?” she asked. “You picked a very interesting topic for your paper. I can’t wait to read your analysis.”
Alecto nodded. “Yes, I am very fascinated with the topic. Actually, it’s good you mentioned it—it was exactly what I wanted to talk about with you.”
“Do you need help with finding more reading materials?” Professor asked. She shuffled some of the papers scattered on her desk. “I had a list somewhere.”
“That would be great, yes,” Alecto said. “And also, I was thinking maybe I could get into the archives to read more about Mistress Venefica and her trial? I would prefer to read the original documents, rather than history books only.”
Professor Fallo glanced at Alecto over the top of her glasses. “Very impressive, Alecto. I love that idea! Though I have to warn you that it might add an extra layer of difficulty to your assignment. Those original documents can be complicated.”
Alecto awarded the professor with her most charming smile. The one she reserved for occasions when she needed to please adults. “I don’t mind. I love a good challenge, and her story is fascinating enough for me to be invested in it.”
Professor Fallo smiled and nodded. “Very well then.” She gave Alecto a piece of paper. “This is the reading list on the topic, just in case.”
Alecto took it. “Thank you. And are you able to give me the request to access the archives? Or should I ask Miss Bellthrove directly?”
“Ah, yes, of course,” the professor said.
From the first drawer of her desk, she pulled out a folder. She took out an official paper with Venefica’s emblem, which professors and administrators used. She scribbled a quick note on it and then added her stamp before passing it to Alecto.
“Here you go, dear,” she said. “If you bring this to Miss Bellthrove, she’ll be able to give you directions on how you can access the archives. Good luck on your research.”
Alecto smiled once more and left the classroom.
Alecto rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them up. While the weather during the day was warm, the nights were still pretty ruthless.
“She’s late,” Jolene said, tapping on the base of the statue of the Gods in the middle of Darly Park. “That’s not very common for Galia, is it?”
Val shrugged, unbothered.
“What if she changed her mind and betrayed us after all?” Andro crossed his arms.
“She swore an oath,” Val said with a sigh. “She cannot betray us.”
Andro didn’t look convinced.
Alecto sensed there was an argument rising. Desperate to avoid the bickering, she changed the subject. “I spoke with Professor Fallo today. She gave me the entry request form for the archives.”
Val smirked. “Love to hear that. Have you spoken to Miss Bellthrove yet?”
Alecto shook her head. Blaze inched closer, and their arms brushed. Even though there was no skin-on-skin contact, pleasurable chills went down her back.
“I was going to administration first thing tomorrow morning,” Alecto said.
