Page 32 of Group Studies

“None of her magic’s on you, nor can I detect any storage device,” Officer Keres said once done. “My officers are tossing your room as we speak.”

The color drained out of my face.

Beryl sighed. “I can start my collection of homemade dildos over again, I guess. I do so like things up my ass.”

Officer Keres blinked, caught off guard, and Beryl gave him a sleazy smile.

Eventually, the officer cleared his throat. He turned to me as if Beryl hadn’t spoken. “We’re watching you. If sex is making you lose control of your magic, then stop having it. Your new clasps should be here in a week. If you even think about putting your magic into another person, we’ll put you in a coma until they arrive.”

I nodded. Beryl pulled me into his arms, and I molded myself to him.

“I’m assuming that’s our cue to leave?” Beryl confirmed while I studied the uneven gray stone making up the floor.

“It is,” Director Flemmings said.

Beryl tugged me toward the door. I waited until we were far from the administrative offices before speaking.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, trembling. “I should’ve said someone else. Your room, oh gods, did I mess everything up?”

Beryl snorted and rubbed my arm as we walked. “I’m not stupid enough to keep anything in my room. Neither is Nitis. Honestly, if I stop ‘sleeping’ with you, I’ll probably get brownie points in Director Flemmings' eyes.” Beryl stopped walking and pulled me into an alcove. “Dot, you’ve got to stop blaming yourself.” He cupped my cheek and locked my gaze. “You can trust me for anything. I’ve been woken up in the middle of the night and frisked for a lot less.” His usually goofy grin became serious. “I’m also impressed, whomever you had between your legs gave you a big enough ‘O’ that it overloaded your clasps. It’s not easy to do, especially with the pain.”

I let Beryl’s assumption slide. If I corrected him, we’d go down the rabbit hole of why I’d turned into a dragon in the first place.

Beryl let out a long breath and pulled me in for a hard hug. “You need to stop protecting Boy Scout. He’s a grown man - despite my nickname - who needs to turn and face his problems.”

I let his assumption I’d transferred into Saffron slide as well. “You're one to talk.”

Beryl released me. “You can’t face a problem you don’t have.” He gave me a pained smile. “Dot. I’m purposely putting distance between us.”

At least the women in my harem are alive. Saffron had said to Beryl weeks ago. I still didn’t know why they died, but they’d abandoned him, just like his family had. My heart squeezed as I thought about a five-year-old kid alone in clasps. It couldn’t be too late for Beryl. No matter how shitty it was, the future had to be better.

Beryl snapped his fingers in front of my face, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Did you never wonder why Mercedes is the only girl in Boy Scout’s harem?”

I blinked at the change in topic. “Because Saffron prefers men?”

“Do you honestly believe that?” Beryl asked.

I wrung my hands together. When I was with him and the professor, I did seem to be the star of the show.

“Look and observe,” Beryl leaned down as if to kiss my cheek. “You’re not the center of the universe. Not everything good or bad happens because of you.” He leaned back and grinned at me. “I know you’re not used to seeing people, but while you’re not around, their lives continue.”

I shoved Beryl. “I don’t think I’m the center of the universe.”

“You act like it sometimes,” he said, giving me a playful push back.

His words stung and I swatted at him, trying to hold onto our playful moment instead of deal with my emotions. He rubbed his arm like I hurt him. With a sigh, he leaned against the window frame, letting me snuggle under his arm.

“Think about those books you checked out on mages and lineage,” Beryl said, looking out the window.

I wrinkled my nose. “How do you know what books I’ve checked out?”

“I’m stalking you, Dot,” Beryl said. “I’ve even got your phone bugged. You’ve got to stop watching all of Ghalen’s ‘art pieces,’ as Sandy calls them.”

I turned beet red at the mention of Ghalen’s weekly pornos he made with his harem and put out for the student body.

“Kidding,” Beryl said. “I watch them too. Me and my right hand.”

“I like seeing how much fun they’re all having.” I gave Beryl a sly smile. “We could watch them together?”

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