Page 34 of A Dusk Of Stars

“What about it?”

For a second, I just look at him. Why’s he being so insistent? “Nothing in particular,” I tell him with a smile.

He seems to relax.

“But there were these books I wanted to read, and just today, I saw you had them put in the Restricted Section. I was wondering if I could get access?”

He lets out a laugh. “Miss Novak, as a first-year student, do you have access to the Restricted Section in general?”

“No.”

He shrugs. “There’s your answer.” And he gets up, seemingly headed to grab something to drink.

“But Professor MacArthur—,” I protest as I get out of my chair to follow him.

He turns to look at me again. “You really should learn to take no for an answer, Miss Novak.”

There’s a finality in his voice that forces me to say, “Yes, Professor. Thank you for your time.”

Without throwing him another look, I move to walk out of the Professor’s Lounge.

“Oh, Miss Novak,” he stops me, his voice now deceptively sweet.

“Yes?” I say without turning around.

“How are the special classes going?” he asks.

I turn to squint at him. Then I throw him a fake smile and say, “Marvelous.”

“Well, they should be,” he replies with a fake smile of his own. “Your mid-term practical exam is drawing near. It’ll be the first indicator of your success on the first-term exam.”

As if I need to be reminded, especially now that I’m about to go to one of those brilliant sessions for the second time.

I nod and turn my back to him just in time to hide the gritting of my teeth.

It seems I won’t be getting my hands on those books, I think as I start making my way down the stairs.

At least now I understand this thing with Lorcan might not be entirely personal. Either way, there’s definitely something fishy going on.

Chapter 13

It’s with a cautiously optimistic attitude that I make my way to my second special class of the year. I have my coffee and my newfound excitement about learning how to shift. And who knows? Maybe this will be the day Bane and I put our personal aversions aside and find some semblance of common ground.

At least enough not to kill each other.

It surprises me, when I find myself in front of B13 — the door ajar — and hear some young guy ask with reverence in his voice, “But wait, where didthathappen?”

“In California,” I hear Bane reply. “I used to live there, among other places.”

I glance at my watch to make sure I’m not early. I’m not, so I walk into the classroom and see him sitting on the edge of his desk, surrounded by a mix of male and female shifter students. The ginger one, I believe, is Finn Brennan, the one Bane is here for.

“Wow, that’s awesome,” one of the girls says just as Bane turns his eyes onto me.

“Ah, morning, Miss Novak,” he says with an easy smile.

It all throws me off, but I guess you never know with this guy. “Morning,” I reply, but it’s not without hesitation that I start making my way to my desk.

“Why don’t you all make yourselves scarce,” Bane says as his eyes sweep over his fan group. “Work calls.”

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