Page 12 of Ruined Wolfsbane

Briar’s eyes fly open, and her mouth forms a cute little O. She takes a moment to get over her shock before speaking. “Fucking hell, Ava. You can’t ask me if my professors are fuckable. Where did you even hear that word?”

“I’m thirteen, not three.” My lips turn up at Ava’s offended response. “I know what fucking is. I heard some of the other girls describing Mr. Davis as fuckable. I think he’s gross, though.”

“Good! You shouldn’t think any of your teachers are hot.” Briar leans her head back against the wall as she’s reassured that Ava isn’t chasing her teachers.

“I don’t. Geez. Can you really blame me for wanting to make sure my only sister doesn’t die a virgin, sad and alone, only kept company by a bazillion dogs?” Ava’s tone is petulant and sweet at the same time.

Briar makes a strangled noise at Ava’s question. “I’m not…. You know what? We are so not talking about my sex life.”

“Or lack of,” Ava chimes in with a small giggle.

“For fuck’s sake, Ava,” Briar says in exasperation. She still has a small smile on her face, so I know she’s not as annoyed as she’s trying to seem.

“Okay, fine. Can you at least tell me if your advisor is hot?” Ava’s relentless.

“I’m not going to answer that.”

“Oh my God! He is!” Ava cackles, pleased at getting a response from Briar.

Sighing, Briar responds, “Yes, he is, okay? All of my professors were today. I’ve gotta go, though, Aves. I really don’t want my advisor overhearing this conversation.”

Well, that’s certainly good to know. From my glance at her schedule earlier, I know she had Xander’s and Bastian’s classes before mine. Even if she doesn’t know who we are to her, she’s still attracted to us.

“Okay. FaceTime at six still?”

“You bet, Bun Bun. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love you.” Briar’s voice sounds wistful, like she’s already missing her sister.

“Love you too, Rosie.”

After hanging up the phone, Briar clutches it to her chest. Her lips are still tipped up in a small smile. She looks as peaceful as I’ve ever seen her.

Eavesdropping on her call with her sister has only left me with more questions than I started with. Shaking my head, I know I won’t get any answers by standing here staring at her. I retreat to the end of the hall before turning back to my office, and I purposely make my footsteps louder so she can hear me coming.

CHAPTER 7

BRIAR

Ava’s going to be the death of me. I can feel it.

Do thirteen-year-olds really talk about how fuckable their teachers are?

Christ. I need to have the sex talk with my little sister. I am so not prepared for that.

At least Malachi Grimm didn’t hear that gem of a conversation. Thank the universe for small mercies.

I hear his footsteps in the hall, so I straighten up. I try to wipe the blush off my cheeks from thinking about any of my three professors being fuckable.

Malachi Grimm rounds the corner and strides toward me. “Sorry it took me a few minutes. I got caught up with a conversation.”

“No worries.”

He steps up next to me to unlock his office door. With him standing so close, I can smell his smoky, campfire scent. It curls around me like a warm embrace.

As he pushes through the office door, I turn to follow him. Malachi Grimm’s office is bigger than I expected. There’s room for his large walnut executive desk and two midnight blue velvet wingback chairs. Across from his desk, he also has a cognac-colored leather sofa, two navy upholstered chairs, and a glass coffee table.

Opposite his desk are three arched windows that bathe the space in early afternoon sunlight. They overlook the same forest as the window in the alcove I found earlier.

What really captures my attention, though, are the bookshelves covering every available inch of wall space. He has to have hundreds of books in his office. My hands itch to peruse Malachi Grimm’s impressive collection.

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