Page 55 of Monsters Within (The Creatures We Crave 1)
As we walked down the path, I moved to Lucien’s side as he slung his arm around my shoulders. A thought came to mind, and I poked his side to get his attention. When he glanced down, I smirked. “You know, I think I like the idea of not being allowed to see each other. It’ll be that much more thrilling when we break the rules.”
His eyes widened a fraction, and a smile curled his lips up as the meaning of my words dawned on him. “Well, who knew you’d be a fallen angel instead?”
My chest shook with my chuckling response. It was a much more fitting description of me, I thought. Plus, I loved black. I’d totally rock a black set of wings.
“You’re convincing me slightly,” he murmured as we caught up to the group.
It was quiet until we passed the gate and crossed into the dorm area. Professor Saggia turned, walking backwards in a way that was quite impressive and spoke to her agility. Sweeping her right hand out, she spoke. “We typically only admit twenty-five students for each new incoming class. There is a very rigorous entrance exam that all applicants go through. Only the top students get to fill the spaces.”
Shit. We hadn’t had to do the same entrance exam, and I knew from previous experience that any sign of favoritism would quickly get us on the other students’ shit list. That was the last thing we needed.
“Not everyone makes it through their time here, and seeing as this is our first year with the demon sector up, we only made enough dorms to fit the expected class size. That only left one extra room open with two fitting to a dorm and thirteen buildings constructed.”
Apprehension trickled through me as I realized for the first time I’d have to share my home with someone else. What if they hated me? I’d never been able to make friends before, and it would make my time here exponentially less enjoyable if I had to share a space with someone who disliked me.
It was as if Professor Saggia read my mind as we stopped in front of the last dorm in the line that was tucked further into the forest. “I think you will also be pleased to know that your roommate is number one in the class. She has immense power with exceptional control for her age and will be an excellent ally if, heaven forbid, someone tried to hurt Alexandra in their home.”
Double shit. The top student? I really hoped this chick wouldn’t be like Chloe if I happened to trickle up the ranks. Not being able to escape her in my private space would be a nightmare.
“Are you sure that Alexandra can’t stay with us?” Elwin asked, voice dejected and sad.
Professor Saggia’s lips thinned as her shoulders dropped a fraction. “It is part of our rules to keep our students separated to encourage focus on their studies.”
Elwin’s golden hair fell forward as his head dropped. My heart squeezed at the sight, and it must have done the same to our professor, for she cleared her throat and whispered while looking around for anyone else. “But—you are all adults here, and we can’t technically shame you for any activities you partake in. We won’t be monitoring your comings and goings outside of scheduled class hours.”
This caused my sweet monster to perk up, renewed excitement blazing in his emerald eyes.
“I’m assuming we will be staying in the current guest house?” Kylo asked as he crossed his arms across his chest. I could see the wheels turning in his head as he looked up at my new dorm and down the path towards where they’d stay. He was absolutely calculating how long it would take to get from one to the other.
Professor Saggia inclined her head. “That is correct. But move-in day for students isn’t until tomorrow, so you don’t need to separate yet, Alexandra.”
Okay, this wasn’t so bad. They wouldn’t be far away, and we still had tonight until we had to figure out how we’d make this work. Once again, a lot depended on the kind of person my roommate was. She could rat me out on purpose if I snuck out or if the guys snuck in. I’m sure if someone complained enough, I would get in trouble for disturbing her studies or some shit.
That was for tomorrow Alexandra to worry about, though. Current Alexandra was more than ready to relax for the rest of the afternoon and night.
“Thank you for getting our schedules and showing me my dorm, Professor.”
At my thanks, she walked past us and added, “Don’t worry about meeting me for private lessons Monday night, by the way.”
Confusion scrunched my face up as well as Kylo and Elwin’s, and I called out to her retreating back, “Why not?”
“There’s always a party the first night of school with all the sectors coming together,” she answered, chuckling as if it was amusing to her.
“Wait, you said the sectors weren’t allowed to mingle though?” I reminded her, my brain feeling scrambled as I tried to recall the rules.
“They think we don’t know about the party,” she answered as she stopped and looked back at us. “It’s best to let the students get the partying out of their system and the desire to break the rules done and over with on day one. The hangovers the next day are going to be punishment enough.”
Talk about the coolest professors ever.
Without further ado, she continued on her path, and I turned back to my monsters, shooing them towards the guest house. “Let’s go. I’d love to take a bath and relax the rest of the day. Want to watch a movie together?”
It was odd, thinking about having a minute to relax and do normal things after such a hectic couple of days, but I was immensely looking forward to it.
They quickly agreed as we made our way to the house and settled on watching a comedy despite not knowing what we’d actually have to choose from. But it was clear we were all against action movies, having had enough of that in our own lives, and I didn’t even try to push them for a chick flick.
When we entered the home, I realized that I hadn’t even had an opportunity to explore the space yet. As the three of them bounded up the stairs with the promise to meet back down here in thirty after they showered, I took the rare moment of alone time to explore before heading to take my bath.
Padding over to the wall of windows in front of the kitchen, I glanced out and sighed wistfully at the large infinity style pool that was reflecting the beautiful setting sun off its water. I’d have to find time to take advantage of the amenity.
