Page 27 of Escaping Hallow Hill Academy
He’s so damn obnoxious.
The truth is, I’m fucking grateful to him for saving my leg a few nights ago. Even if we never spoke of it again, even if we never made plans to meet up and investigate because I don’t trust easily, I am still grateful.
I turn to him, and his features are blank and devoid as I extend my hands. Empty emotions but watchful eyes. Always watching.
Even as he slides his smooth palms under mine and takes in my every changing emotion. I give away none. My face is as stoic as a general’s.
“Your breath just hitched, little Sekar.” A smirk toys with the sharp corner of his lips. Heartbeat did too. Erratic. Demanding. Wanting,” he whispers.
“I was just thinking how soft your skin is and how vanilla you must be in all points of your meager little life.”
The vampire’s smile turns wolfish.
“I do believe you’re the first person to ever call me vanilla. But I do appreciate you telling me how much you think about my sex life, Sekar.”
Holy Lady of Death, have mercy on this stupid, stupid man.
“Now that you’ve initiated skin-to-skin contact,” Sills says, and of course, the wording just causes DeVoure to smile harder, “let’s create a temporary Soul Search.”
“What?” I ask loud enough to gain every person’s attention in the room.
“A temporary bind,” the Professor explains like it’s nothing. Like tying my soul to this vampy limp dick asshole is no big deal.
“I think I’ll pass,” I blurt.
And now my heartbeat really is hammering. It’s pulsing in my ears so loudly, it’s like an ocean just flooded my brain, and all I can think about is being tied to another living (or unliving) soul. I—I’ve never had anyone. I’ve never needed anyone.
And I especially don’t want or need this ridiculous man attached to me. I don’t even trust him enough to do this.
He’d be like an idiotic leech. A leech I’d put in danger, I’m sure.
And I refuse to be responsible for him. Even for however temporary of a time Sills has in mind.
“You’ll pass?” The professor repeats with high-raised brows and hard-narrowed eyes. “I think you mean you’llfail. And failure is not an option here, Miss Lucero.”
A strange tingling of pain cuts into my spine from the cruel academy gift I’ve been given. The thing sinks deeper into my skin. So deep, I gasp, and worst of all, fucking DeVoure tries to comfort me.
“Hey, it’s okay,” he whispers, his fingers sliding gently over mine in a more pleasant way than I’d have ever expected.
Pleasant?
Shit. I must be stroking. That must be it. Why else would I think that?
I blink hard at the slicing agony as it begins to dull to a piercing ache.
“You’re okay,” the vampire coos annoyingly again.
“I’m fine,” I grit out through my teeth and readjust my hands out of his coddling touch.
“Ready, Miss Lucero?” Professor Sills’ gaze isn’t conniving. It also isn’t sympathetic either, though.
Business is business. I get it.
And I, too, hate when people waste my time.
“Yes,” I say with a lift of my head, my gaze settling on the man seated in front of me as I place my hands beneath his.
Those dark judgmental eyebrows of his lift in surprise. The pity in his eyes isn’t what I expect. I suppose I expected Rue’s emotions to be as shallow as a puddle of piss.
