Page 85 of Mortal Shift
“You’d be saying the same if it was me, would you?”
He folded his arms over his chest, making the muscles in his powerful forearms stand out in a way that did something funny to my heart. I cleared my throat.
“That’s not important,” he said. “So, I’ll assume you’re coming on the equinox.”
Coming…
I cleared my throat again.
“Um, er, yes. Okay. But if you want us to go on the hunt, you’re the one who has to get us chosen.”
“Oh, you’ll play your part,” he said with a gleam in his eye.
I opened my mouth, but he turned and left before I could find any actual words. As the door swung shut behind him, I turned to Ling.
“What the fuck is an equinox?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Shut up and sit down. Anyone not on a chair in five seconds is banished from their dorm for a week.”
Nyra was as charming as ever. I stayed very still in my seat, just in case she thought I was trying to do the opposite of what she was saying, because I really didn’t fancy sleeping under the stars for a week. At least Nyra didn’t seem to actively seek me out to make my life a misery, which put her one up on most of the instructors here. She was strict, but as close to fair as I’d seen inside these walls, despite Ryker’s deep-seated belief that fair didn’t exist. As such, I didn’t totally hate my Law & Culture lessons. Also, I figured they represented my best chance of not accidentally breaking some obscure law and getting myself killed.
“Jackson Cooper, just because this is a theory lesson doesnotmean you can sleep through it.”
Jax, seated on the other side of Cole, smirked and kicked his feet down from his desk, and Nyra’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“I will not have that attitude in my lectures. Up here. Now.”
The complacent smirk slid from his face and he cast a frantic look around for support, but everyone was busy not being a complete moron.
“But—”
“If you make me ask you a second time, your punishment will double.”
“Punishment for—?” Wisely, he clamped his mouth shut around that question and hurried to the front of the room.
“Hand.”
Jax held his hand tentatively in front of him, palm down. Nyra tutted in irritation, then flipped it over, then looked out at the rest of the class.
“Today we’re going to be discussing punishment runes. Jax has very kindly volunteered to demonstrate their efficacy.”
Jax swallowed, and his face paled, but this time he had the sense to keep his mouth shut. My hand reached for my textbook to flip it open, but I was completely unable to tear my eyes from Jax.
“Someone tell me a type of punishment rune.” A couple of hands went up, and Nyra nodded to a girl in the front row. “Alina.”
“Pain.”
Nyra tutted again. “Specifics, girl, or you’ll be up here with your classmate.”
Alina flushed furiously. “Um, crushing pain, Instructor.”
Nyra nodded. “Good.”
Jax looked like he most definitely did not agree that this was good, but Nyra paid him no attention.
“Another. Lincoln.”
