Page 33 of Every Shade of Shadow

Before I can utter a word, questions pop up in my head.

Does he know what I've done?

Is he here for the book?

There’s a moment of heated panic where I wonder what I’ve done with it until I realize it’s safely stashed under the mattress.

The Professor’s gaze sharpens as he looks me over. He’s as immaculately presented as always, a dark vest over a darker shirt. "You seem…distressed, Ms. Fairchild. Is everything alright?"

"Just a bad dream," I lie—I think. I can't meet his eyes, afraid he'll see the truth in mine. "What can I do for you, Professor?"

"May I come in?"

He sounds almost pleasant.

My mouth goes dry.

He knows alright.

But I’ve already invited darkness in—what harm can there be in inviting in the Wolf as well?

"Of course," I say, stepping aside. "Please."

Is anyone seeing this, seeing him entering my room at this hour? That’s got to be a no-no.

Even if they did, something tells me they’d keep their mouth shut. Darkwood doesn’t seem like someone you’d want to tattle on.

The door closes behind him with a soft click. I stand motionless, watching as he faces me, his expression unreadable.

"You lacked focus today, Ana." His voice is low, almost gentle. “Can I call you Ana?”

Ana. Lamb. Fuckdoll. Whatever you want, I think. “Sure.”

His hands go behind his back. Well, Ana, I must say I am concerned."

He’s looking me over, the predator hungry for its meal but happy to wait, slowly biding its time.

I swallow hard, warmth flooding my cheeks. "I apologize, Professor. I’ll try better.”

"Mm." He takes a step toward me, and I have to fight the urge to step back. His eyes glint in the dim light. "You’ve been dabbling in Shadowcraft, haven't you, little lamb? And all alone, too."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

So he does know.

It’s no surprise, really. He seems to have an innate power to be inside my head at any given moment.

And why is it he has such power over me? To reduce me to naught but desire?

I mean, this can hardly be appropriate practice, a professor entering the room of a student in the middle of the night.

I open my mouth, but no words come out. He knows. Denying it will only make things worse.

"I warned you of the dangers," he continues, shaking his head in disapproval. "Shadowcraft is not a game for amateurs, regardless of what horny students summoning a shadowy fuckbuddy might think. It can consume you if you are not properly trained, it will split you limb from limb, even breed within you. I’ve seen such horrors in these halls, perhaps even in this very room.”

"I'm sorry," I whisper, feeling like a child again. I wrap my arms around myself, small under the weight of his disapproval. "I was curious. I thought I could handle it, but—"

"But you were wrong." Another step closer. The heat radiating from his body is palpable, the intensity of his gaze undoing me fast. Once more, I feel naked in front of him. "Shadowcraft is not something to trifle with. If you continue down this path, it may change you in ways you cannot imagine. Are you ready for that?"

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