Page 33 of Whispers of Wisteria
“Yes,” Ms. Protean said.
“Do I know the other fae girl?” I bet no one bugged her about chaperones. I needed to meet her—to compare notes.
“I doubt it. She’s a junior in Communications. Her name is Zahara Sadek,” she said. “Please sit down. Your fidgeting is worrisome.”
I sucked in a breath and moved to a seat. “Sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.” She rummaged around in a drawer, then pushed a white napkin and a small water bottle across her desk. “Take that.”
“Take…” I began, then spotted the two orange pills. “Oh, no thanks.” I’d forgotten—this was yet another con with being around shifters during that time of the month. “I’m fine.”
She stared at me, one gray eyebrow slowly raising. “You must, or Mr. Abernathy has threatened to send that horrible creature of his after me.”
She pulled out a bright red cellphone and perched a dainty pair of glasses on her nose as she read, “He says, and I quote, ‘I leave it to you to care for the blossom of my soul. Otherwise, I will destroy everything you hold dear.’ There are more veiled threats of an unsavory nature, but the gist is that you’re to take this ‘second-class medication’ until he can ‘hold you in his arms once more’.”
Oh my God.
I hid my face in my hands as my embarrassment burned down to my toes. “I’m so sorry!”
“Why now?” She lowered her phone and peered at me over her glasses.
“Because…” Wasn’t it obvious? “He’s just so…him.”
“That’s how an onmyoji loves someone.” Ms. Protean lowered her phone back to the table. “They feel with all their heart, even though it might sometimes be annoying.”
“That can’t be true,” I muttered, pulse soaring. “They don’t all have the same personality.”
“No…” She braced her arm on the table. “They don’t. However, onmyojis are passionate, even if they have different ways of showing it. Once they’re fixated on something, they’re obsessed. It can be rather unhealthy.”
But… That wasn’t true at all—because Damen didn’t love me.
“On a different note, here’s some advice: go to the doctor. You shouldn’t be in this much pain. Have you been around Mr. Ducharme since your cycle began?”
“No!” I was close to panicking. “Why?”
“He’s your mate, Bianca.” Ms. Protean closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Even if you wantedto hide this from him, he can tell. Nobody knows how a mated dragon will act, but I can’t imagine he’d let you pretend this away. Besides, you also have Mr. Montrone and Mr. Kohler. It’s no wonder Mr. Abernathy is concerned. For your own sake, be proactive and visit the doctor. This is not something you should ignore.”
“It’s fine!” I snatched the pills and put them in my mouth before guzzling the water. I had to be careful. I doubted I’d get away with hiding from everyone for a few days.
I could only hope my luck would hold out and it wouldn’t beterriblethis time. I had to stay hydrated, and definitely no puking and fainting.
“No one has reason to be worried,” I added. Especially not once the pills kick in.
I, most definitely, was not worried. Or I tried not to be.
Ms. Protean remained silent. I hadn’t convinced her of anything.
Thankfully, though, she let the subject drop. She leaned forward, locking her fingers under her chin. “Have you given my offer much thought?”
“Thought?” I asked, but I knew what she meant.
“I didn’t want to presume. If you stay on campus even though you’re on leave, you might as well get credit. After all, you were easy enough to find when I needed you.”
I blushed. “How did you know where to find me?”
“I have my ways.”
“It was Cécile, wasn’t it?” I narrowed my eyes. I knew she was spying on me.
