Page 11 of Sweethearts and Savages
I nodded. I’d take it. “Let’s go. We have rounds to do.”
The prevailingprofessional opinion was that I was asexual. Which made sense. Knowing at an early age what is actually in bodily fluids definitely aids in your sexual identity, or lack thereof. But watching Enit talk to my patients, and the other students, with her face so painfully open—well, it made my skin feel too tight on my body and my chest felt too full.
I thought back to that kiss. I’d just been a silly kid with an infatuation, but what I’d felt when my lips touched hers was still something I thought about.
“Stacey, are you listening?”
I realized I was looking at her but not listening. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled at me, reaching out a hand to rest it on my forearm. That's what I liked so much about Enit. She always made me feel seen. “I said I thought I might split my spare class time between here and tending the traditional medicine garden.”
Oh. I kind of liked the idea that I’d have her down here in my territory three days a week; I’d missed her. I wouldn’t say that though.
I forgot that Enit could read me better than anyone. “You can always come up and help me. How long has it been since you’ve been out of the lab?”
I frowned. “I go home every night?”
She laughed, and it was high and sweet. Musical. Researchers in the field of Auditory Science should study the sound. “I meant during the day, when you aren’t working. When was the last time you went anywhere that wasn’t the lab or your house? When was the last time you left Academy grounds?”
“July fifteenth. I went and bought the kids presents.”
She shook her head. “That was nearly six weeks ago, Stace. That’s it—it’s now part of my Omega Studies to ensure you get outside in the sunshine at least once a week.”
I nodded, not even letting myself think of the wasted hours. I wanted to spend those few hours with Enit more than I wanted to run another test.
The elevator announced its arrival, its doors sliding open. She stepped toward me, wrapping me in her arms. “I enjoyed today. I’ve missed you.”
Then she disappeared into the elevator and I was left with the feel of her arms around me and a desire in the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t yet sure what the desire was, however.
No. Definitely not asexual.
5
Enit
The biannual party in the woods outside of Eden was in full swing. Normally, I hated these things, but Christopher and Mouse thrived in scenes like this. The vibe of the place was electric, everyone wild and their potential unspent. Plus, it was only the older kids, so there was booze and always at least one couple having sex in the woods. Some people used it as an opportunity to shift forms and mingle with other shifters. Despite Eden being completely safe, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to embrace your other form.
Carmen was flirting with the new combat and weapons tutor, Sammie. Bohdie was beside him, his eyes sparkling in the firelight. I looked up at him from beneath my lashes, not game to look him completely in the eye. I was kind of embarrassed that I’d been sitting in his lap a few days ago.
“Omega,” Bohdie said softly, dipping his head.
I put my hand on his bicep. “Tonight is a party, Alpha. You can relax.”
Mouse saw my hand on Bohdie and before I could protest, she was dragging me away, making excuses that we had to go rescue Christopher. But when we got to my brother, he seemed to be doing just fine. There was a pretty little shapeshifter in his lap, whispering in his ear, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as he laughed. It wasn’t his real laugh, just that haughty one he did when he was trying to pick up girls.
Mouse cleared her throat as another pretty shifter—I think she was a wolf too if my nose was right—crawled up beside him.
“If you bitches are quite done with your pawing, Christopher, I think—” Mouse cut off as something caught her attention over my shoulder. “Oh no, that bitch did not just do that,” she growled and was gone.
Christopher watched her go, the alcohol easing the frown on his face. “Do you know what she wanted?”
I shrugged. “Probably just offloading her responsibility of me onto you, so she can go play tonsil hockey with the new combat teacher.”
Christopher frowned, pushing the shapeshifter girl off of his lap. He missed her glare but I didn’t care. “You aren’t a responsibility and no one offloaded you, Enit.”
I rolled my eyes, and suddenly I could hear Teesha yelling. We both looked over my shoulder and Christopher watched the scene warily, his body tense. But Sammie dragged Carmen away and Bohdie held Teesha back. Christopher’s eyes still watched as the tutor dragged our sister into the trees. We knew each other well enough to be confident that if Carmen was unhappy, the whole world would know it. Still, we watched with our supernatural eyesight for any sign of unease, ready to ride to the rescue. When Carmen’s angst turned to kissing, I looked away.
Which meant I looked right at Bohdie with Teesha in his arms.
