Page 15 of A Dusk Of Stars

I throw a look over my shoulder to see the Pied Piper walk in, and when I look back at Bane, I see him smirking at me, once again motioning at the empty seat next to him.

He knows I’m forced to take it now.

And I do, avoiding his lingering gaze as I drag the chair as far away from him as possible. I hear a low chuckle that makes a sting of defeat burn through my skin and the anger flare up deep inside me again.

“Welcome, everyone,” the Pied Piper’s bored drawl booms and echoes as she comes to stand next to her chair, “to yet another year here at the Academy.”

The room breaks into thunderous clapping. I join in, my lips pressing tight as I refuse to look to my left, where I can sense the asshole getting even more comfortable inmychair.

“Now, I’ll address you all again a little later,” the Pied Piper continues, “but right now, let’s hear from the head housekeeper, who’ll be notifying you of all changes regarding our regulations and restrictions.”

The head housekeeper gets up and starts droning on like he does every single year, but I’m too busy contemplating what to do about the asshole.

I notice the way some of the front-row students are gawking at him as he opens a bottle of scotch and pours himself a drink.

He himself seems to be busy glancing atmeevery couple of seconds, making my self-consciousness and my anger keep spiking all at once.

How is he managing to get me this worked up? And more importantly, will Ireallylet him take my seat?

Before I can make up my mind, I sense him lean a little closer to me, his eyes fixing on my profile.

I turn to look at him just as he says, “I don’t think we’ve been introduced.” He holds his hand out for a shake. “I’m Jericho—”

“I know who you are,” I cut him off and turn to face the Hall again.

I was the one practically defending you, I think with bitterness flooding my mouth.

He pulls his hand back. “Right,” he sneers, a tinge of amusement in his voice. “So, what’s with the chair,Miss Novak?”

This makes me freeze.

“I thought Librarians didn’t care where they sat,” I hear him go on, “as long as there were dusty books lying around.” He seems to take a second to glance around. “Oh, I see the conundrum.”

I force myself to calm down and turn to look at him. I guess the question is in my eyes, because almost as soon as they land on him, he shrugs, leaning back in the chair a little.

“I’ve been briefed,” he says simply.

I smile. “The brief didn’t include where you’re sitting tonight?”

He blows a laugh through his nose. “So youarethe human.”

I frown. Is he really not sure?

It’s at that moment that one of the professors behind him gets up to go to the bathroom and I realize what I could do about the chair. I start looking around for Serra. “You’re doubting what they told you?” I ask Bane, a little absent-mindedly. “I knew money couldn’t buy love or chairs, but properly vetted information at least?”

Serra’s a stickler about these things, she’ll be coming to fix it without me even asking for it.

The next thing I know, the chair I'm in is moving with a scrape against the floor, and my head is snapping to my left to see he’s dragged me closer to him with this pissed-off look on his face.

“Hey,” I protest with a frown.

I try to drag myself back, but the grip of his hand around the armrest seems to be enough to keep me locked in. Before my reflexes can kick in, the asshole leans in and takes a whiff of me.

He fuckingsmellsme.

There’s a moment of silence as his features twist like they did the first time, only this time it looks as if he’s going to grab me.

He doesn’t. He just keeps staring at me, his nostrils flaring.

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