Page 67 of Self Studies

The weight of both their hands left mine, only to focus on my breasts—Beryl delicately pressing one while Saffron squeezed and sucked the nipple of my other into his mouth.

I opened my eyes, only to see them glaring at each other from across my body like it was a battlefield, and they’d reached some unhappy truce. Saffron slid his hand down to my thigh, and Beryl quickly followed suit, nudging my legs apart.

“Two fingers, plunge, and pull up, keep pressure on your clit with the heel of your hand,” Beryl said.

With a cry, I did as he said. I arched into the motion. When my clit wasn’t quite getting hit precisely like I wanted it to be, I adjusted my hand until I got what I needed. Freedom added to my excitement.

Beryl’s lips found mine, followed shortly by Saffron's. They tweaked my nipples and caressed the seams of my pelvis. Although my build-up had been slow, suddenly, every drop of pleasure condensed into one wave and crested.

“Holy shit,” I said. My body spasmed around my fingers as I orgasmed.

My breaths came out in little gasps. I left my hand on my clit, feeling it throb as I slowly calmed down. Saffron cupped the side of my cheek. I eagerly turned toward him for a kiss. Beryl’s built arm pushed us apart.

“Self-gratification and imagination, right, bro?” Beryl said coldly.

Saffron controlled himself and adjusted the visible hard-on in his shorts.

I eyed the two mages. “What about the two of you?”

Beryl stood, also adjusting. “I won’t repeat it. You’re not responsible for us.” His tone took on a hint of accusation. “No matter what Boy Scout says. This was about Dot, and only Dot.” He looked hard at the mage across from him. “Right, Saff?”

Saffron narrowed his eyes and took a breath to speak, but a knock sounded at the door. I quickly scrambled under Professor Garnet’s covers while Saffron cracked it open.

“Oh, I was expecting Professor Garnet.” The voice sounded like Roisin. “I have her uniform and bookbag. It had a spell on it again. Your girlfriend's a bitch, Saffron.” Roisin paused. “I probably shouldn’t have said that. Um, is Aphrodite okay?”

“She’ll be fine,” Saffron answered, opening the door wider so the bookbag could fit through it. “Professor Garnet’s in a meeting. I would assume Aphy will be back in her dorm later tonight.”

Roisin poked her head into the room as she handed off the bag. She gave me a wide-eyed look before Saffron shut the door in her face.

Beryl grunted. “Mercedes is going to be livid.”

Saffron scowled at Beryl and ran his hands through his platinum tresses. The reminder of Mercedes changed Saffron’s entire demeanor. “Aphy, get studying for your Aptitudes. They’re tomorrow.”

“If you feel up to it,” Beryl added.

I froze. “I just got here. I didn’t think I would have to take them. What even are the actual Aptitudes? I thought they were the data the Institute collected on us.”

Saffron made himself a spot on his side of the bed. “They’re a stress test. Twice a year, and every time it’s different. The goal is to force you to control your magic under pressure. Sometimes it’s physical and others mental. We never know until we’re in the test. It’s all about control.”

Beryl took up his side of the bed again. “They’re barbaric.”

“It’s the only way to know the graduates of the Institute are fully in control,” Saffron argued. “Mages are not in here for no reason.”

“Ten people,” Beryl said quietly. “On average, we lose ten students every Aptitude, most of them kids.”

Saffron gave Beryl a skeptical scowl. “We? You haven’t been a part of ‘we’ in the time I’ve been here.” He turned to me. “Work on control. Try to understand your fear and why it's affected you so strongly.”

I curled up under Professor Garnet’s blankets and hugged myself. My thoughts tried to turn to Damon, but I didn’t let them. Instead, I repeated what Saffron said earlier. “It wasn’t real.” Despite my attempt to sound strong, my voice trembled.

Beryl scooped me up and into his lap. His hands splayed across my bare stomach under the blanket.

Saffron frowned before moving forward. Two fingers pressed into the underside of my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “No,” he said flatly. “As much as we like to categorize things, good and evil are shades of gray. Magic’s neutral. As far as I can tell, emotional manipulation when you are horny is the closest you get to evil.”

Beryl kissed the side of my cheek. “And with what we’ve taught you today, you shouldn’t need that as much anymore either.”

Saffron scowled at Beryl. “Remove yourself and let her study.”

Beryl squeezed me. “You’re not evil, my goddess,” he whispered in my ear as he followed Saffron’s directions. “Don’t let this place beat you down.”

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