Page 21 of A Lesson in Obedience
7
Asher
EARLIER
I’d spent most of the time in my office attempting to do work and prepare myself for when school reopened, but the minute I opened my computer, I found myself just staring at the screen. The past day replayed in my head and every little noise outside my office door sent my shoulders sky high and my pulsing anxiety elevated. Campus was quiet for the most part except for the students who had chosen to stay in their dorms, but overall, the majority of people went home.
I wish I wasn’t as connected to this fucked up situation as I was. I was only in this mess because my brother had decided to be in love with a girl who just happened to be the focal point of an insane person. An insane person I technically…worked for?
I could have been on the outside of this. I could be monitoring my brother and offering my aid from a healthy distance, but oh no, of course I had to be involved because River was my fucking brotherand I had given into a carnal need not too long ago with Riley. I didn’t even know if I liked her enough to even care this much, but somehow, here I was…. caring.
Thirty minutes of me trying to let myself believe that it was just sex and her pussy was probably pure magic, so that’s why I cared, turned into me rushing out of my office and heading to my car.
I pulled up to my parent’s house, clutching my keys in my hand so tightly I thought the metal would stab through my palm. I used my key to let myself in, slamming the door behind me.
“Dad!” I yelled, looking around the pristine entryway. “Dad!”
“Asher, stop yelling, please,” My mom scolded, rushing out from where the kitchen was to the right. “Your father is in a meeting.”
“A meeting? Where is he?” I asked, looking towards the staircase.
She grabbed my arm, holding onto me with more strength than I knew she had. My mom was human and ultimately obsessed with my dad. He had given her everything she’d ever wanted when they’d met, made sure she was well taken care of and with his powers, he knew what she wanted before she even opened her mouth. I didn’t think she was ever privy to what this man had put us through or why. She had always gone on some spa trip or something else my father had to do to get her out of the house, knowing she was happy and elated to have a doting husband.
I took after my mom so much that looking at her face was like looking into a mirror. Her features were more delicate, but she was still so beautiful and I remember telling her that often when I was younger. I reached for her hand, removing it from my arm and squeezing.
She smiled at me. “I miss you. You and your brother. You never visit anymore. I know your father can be a little hard to be around, but I miss my boys.”
“Mom, you have to listen to me…”
“I’m right here, Asher. Don’t bother your mother. If you wish to speak, come to my office,” my dad bellowed from the top of the stairs. He looked so relaxedand unbothered.
I groaned, moving around my mom, but not before planting a kiss on the top of her head. I took the stairs two at a time and turned to head to my dad’s office door. The room was cold when I walked in, like just being in here with him sucked any warmth from the room. He was casually sitting in his chair, leaning back and staring at me.
My jaw tightened with the way I was grinding my teeth together. I closed the door, trying to keep my voice leveled. “You need to fucking explain to me what?—”
My mouth clamped shut when I noticed that we weren’t alone. The other person filled my insides with just as much if not more rage than my own dad did.
“It is very impolite to not greet guests, Asher. I know your father taught you better than that.” Chancellor Fowler leaned up against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His voice was like honey, charming and smooth. His words came out with such easiness and playful energy, almost like he hadn’t just turned Riley’s life upside down in a matter of a few hours.
“I don’t make it a habit to listen to my father, especially if you’re the company he keeps,” I snapped.
“Oh, you raised a feisty one, Thomas. He reminds me a little of myself when I was growing up.” The chancellor laughed, clucking his tongue and wagging his finger at me. “Students must love your wit.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I demanded. The two of them here couldn’t be good and I didn’t think they would be forthcoming with anything at all, but I couldn’t leave here without something new to mull over.
My dad waved his hand back and forth as if dismissing my question. “Just assessing our options.”
“Nothing major,” Chancellor Fowler added, shrugging nonchalantly.
I turned to my dad. “You picked Grayson to fuck with River, didn’t you?”
He sighed. “You both always think the worst of me. I don’t pay much attention to students’ powers; there are faculty members forthat. He was the first shadow wielder that came to mind. Lucky for us, he had a lot to lose if cooperation was going to be difficult for him.” He picked at something on his sleeve. “I won’t pretend like I don’t know about your brother’s affection for him. I did not do it maliciously, but if it, I don’t know, was a way to somehow get it into River’s ungrateful little head that he should learn to respect me then well, so be it.”
I didn’t want to defend Grayson by any means, but this was wrong.
“If it makes you feel any better, poor Grayson put up a fight, but ultimately, his family and his education were a priority, and I commend him. I didn’t know he had such a connection with my daughter. The look on his face, the devastation was…” I had to blink before I realized that Chancellor Fowler was almost smiling at the memory of Grayson becoming a victim of circumstance and unintentionally throwing Riley under the bus.
My long legs got me over to him in seconds and I got in his face. “Leave her alone. Leave all of us alone. You traumatized her, what in your delusional mind makes you believe that she will ever want you in her life, you sick fuck?”
