Page 11 of Ruined Wolfsbane

Suddenly, I feel exhausted. Exhausted with today. Exhausted with lying. Exhausted with hiding. I sag against the door, as I feel weighed down by everything I need to do to survive.

“Look at me, Briar.” Too spent to do anything but comply, I open my tired eyes to connect with his.

His brow dips, and lines appear around his downturned mouth as he takes in my defeated gaze. I startle as he gently rubs his thumb against my cheekbone. I lean into his gentle touch before I realize what I’m doing. Straightening back up, I feel my cheeks heat at my reaction to his strangely intimate gesture.

“I need to gather my things here. Why don’t you go ahead to my office while I pack up? It’s room 307.” He seems to sense I need a moment alone to compose myself.

I need more than a few moments to build my armor back up, but I’ll take what I can get. As soon as he steps back, I turn and flee out the door.

CHAPTER 6

MALACHI

Iturn around to allow Briar Wylder to leave. The beast roaring in my head demands that I chase her. Capture her. Make her mine.

Fuck.

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I rein myself in. With her reaction to my hand moving too fast, there isn’t a chance in hell she’d respond well to being chased.

At the reminder of her small body curling in on itself, a red haze coats my vision. Whoever hurt her will pay. Painfully.

I look forward to hearing their screams.

But I need her to trust me enough to tell me who it is. She’s too scared of whoever has hurt her to tell even me who it is.

That’s another problem.

She doesn’t know who I am to her. It was clear when I backed her against the door that she thinks I’m just another professor. She really shouldn’t be letting professors press her into doors like that.

How does she not know?

I don’t have the answers, only another question. It seems that I have no shortage of questions when it comes to the captivating onyx-haired beauty. Her ice-blue eyes seem to hold the weight of someone much older. Briar Wylder is cloaked in secrets. I’m not going to discover any of them by standing in this deserted classroom.

Packing my black leather messenger bag, I make my way to my office.

As I’m about to round the corner to the office, I hear her sweet voice drifting toward me. Briar’s lilting voice is a touch husky and lower than I expected. I like it.

Moving to stand on the opposite wall where I’m still hidden from view, I can see her. She’s leaning against the corkboard on the wall next to my office. She has one of her black Converse crossed over the other. Her eyes are closed as she takes deep breaths.

Briar’s on the phone, talking to someone. I can hear both sides of the conversation from here. I don’t feel even slightly guilty about eavesdropping.

“Rosie? Is everything okay? I thought you were still in class?” The voice on the other end of the call sounds feminine. Young, too.

“I’m fine, Bun Bun. I just wanted to hear your voice. It’s been a long day. I’m meeting with my advisor in a few, but I have time to talk a little.” Her face looks anything but fine. Her eyebrows are pulled down sharply, and her mouth is set in a harsh line. She also has dark circles under her eyes, as if she doesn’t sleep much.

“Oh, okay. How’s your first day, other than long?”

“It’s been good.”

I don’t know Briar well, but her tone wouldn’t convince even a stranger that she means what she’s saying.

“I know you didn’t want to go, Rosie. You don’t have to pretend you want to be there for me.”

Now, that’s interesting. Most students would gladly sacrifice a limb or their firstborn to attend this university. Why is Briar here if she doesn’t want to be?

“It really has been okay, Aves. Same shit, different day. You know how it goes.” Briar’s shoulders sag the longer she talks about her school day.

“I’m sorry, Rosie.” The girl on the phone pauses for a moment before changing the subject. “Are any of your teachers fuckable?”

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