Page 56 of Self Studies

Coach Robin met my eyes, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded and leaned into Beryl.

The woman inclined her head. “You were nailed in the chin by a plastic air-filled kickball.” She rolled her eyes. “I doubt more than your pride’s suffering. You’re excused for the rest of the day anyway.” She changed her gaze to Beryl. “I hope to see both of you in class tomorrow.”

* * *

I stepped out of Beryl’s shower to find a different hoodie waiting for me. A smile came unbidden to my face. I dried off. Rolling my wet hair into the towel, I snuggled into the ratty gray garment. It smelled like Beryl, and I hugged myself, loving his scent of spice and man.

Beryl stood as I re-entered his room, a goofy grin on his face. He picked me up and placed me on top of his desk. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I tilted my head up. His mouth devoured mine, and I pressed into the safety of his embrace. A piece of me never wanted to leave.

But it wasn’t that simple.

“Beryl.” I managed to get his name out without moaning as I removed my legs from around his hips. “We need to talk.”

“I’m here, my goddess,” Beryl said. “Whatever you need, I’m listening.”

“No. We need to talk.” I pushed him away.

Like our very first meeting, there was no way I had the strength, but he moved nonetheless.

I crossed my legs on his desk and motioned for him to take a chair. Beryl hesitated. For a moment, the carefree, relaxed face he always wore slipped. By the time his butt hit the seat, it had reappeared.

He folded one of his muscular arms behind his head. “Alright, Dot, what do you want to know?”

“Everything.” The word slipped out before I could think about it.

Beryl laughed, I scowled. Heat flooded my cheeks. It wasn’t funny. Maybe a little, but I was trying to be serious.

When I didn’t laugh with him, Beryl sobered a little. “Sometimes, you’re a woman wise beyond her years. Then sometimes you’re a little kid.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I let silence fill the space between us.

I studied Beryl. He didn’t go to classes. He talked about the Institute's security system like he had access to it. He had enough real money to create bounties and buy health potions—bounties for dragon scales.

“Would you have killed the dragon if it wasn’t me?” I asked softly.

Beryl pulled his arm from behind his head. “No. You know it doesn’t work like that. When you die, all your scales disappear with you.”

I tugged on my braid. “Ah, I didn’t know that.”

“Your soul beast is an extension of you. When you die, so does your magic,” Beryl explained, watching me. “My bounty explicitly said no killing and had a bonus if the dragon came willingly.” He frowned. “Apparently not a big enough one.”

I took a deep breath, tension releasing from my stomach. “Why do it at all?”

Beryl rubbed his hand across his face. “I have expenses. I deal in information and technology, neither of which are cheap.” He shook his head. “I won’t tell you more. You can’t get dragged into this with me. I’ve already destroyed too many lives.”

My heart ached for the pain in his voice, but I needed to know. “Do you kill students?”

Beryl dipped his chin. “I wish you didn’t have to ask that.” He took a deep breath and sat up straight, looking me in the eyes. “No. I only deal in items.”

The tension filling my body released.

He looked away, his eyes pinched. “I got greedy. You’ve no concept of how much your scales are worth. You’re a walking fortune.”

I thought about the patch missing on my side. Pieces of my very being Damon stole from me. Although the thought should have sent me spiraling down, it didn’t.

Over the last day, Beryl had ample opportunity to take my scales by force. He could have asked for them. Although I had no idea how to get them off, I would have gladly handed them over.

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