Page 107 of A Dusk Of Stars

But now I’m fuming, and I’m starting to feel sick, too, so I snap at her, “You’re cutting me off?” I let out an angry scoff. “The goddamn audacity,” I say through gritted teeth. “To tell someone you'll be cutting them off, you first need to give something thatcanbe cut off.”

For a moment, there's only charged silence. Then her voice booms again, so brimming with emotions, it makes my eyebrows shoot up.Give something? I gave you everything. In every lifetime we spent together, I gave you everything, and in every lifetime we spent together, you chose to disregard everything I ever tried to teach you because you're just that holier-than-thou, aren't you? Well, now you'll truly be alone.

By the time she's done, my jaw is dropping open and my body is frozen in shock.

Then I feel something sever inside me, something that was a part of my being in such a profound way, I didn't even feel it, like you don't feel your own heart until you focus on its beating.

And now… Now it's no longer there.

For one long moment, I just keep sitting where I'm sitting.

I don’t care, I tell myself. I just keep pushing. I try to visualize the feeling of being as fast as a vampire.

It makes me sick to my stomach, so sick I have to lie back down.

For fuck’s sake, I curse as I stare at the ceiling, the room spinning slowly but nauseatingly around me.

Air, I need some air.

Struggling to push myself up, I get off the bed and open the window. It’s getting dark outside and I imagine students are already gathering in the Main Hall for the networking mixer they throw once the end of the school year starts drawing near.

The nausea clears and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I try to establish the connection with my wolf, to sense her. But there’s this absence that’s a little unsettling. My wolf’s not pleased with me and that’s not good. Not good at all.

Maybe I really need to blow off some steam and take a break from all of this Aurora crap. I guess the mixer could be fun. Raven and Alaric are going, there’ll be lots of alcohol and who knows. Sometimes they even get the music right.

Nah.

Then it hits me, that as a professor,Banewill probably be there as well.

My lips curl into a smile. I walk over to my closet and rummage for my high-heel boots, already busy creating a whole outfit in my head.

I don’t even want to think about the best course for the training sessions. But today, I’m not just lettingmyselfsee I don’t need that asshole.

I’m making it clear to the asshole as well.

Chapter 31

I’m wearing my favorite dress, flowy black reaching just under the knee, a light but large scarf with an interesting, colorful print, and my black high-heel boots. There’s this nervousness I’m feeling, but the fit of the clothes gives me a little boost in confidence.

I meet Raven and Alaric in the Main Hall, where there’s already a crowd — people chatting around the elegant high tables, getting their drinks from the bar in the far left corner and buzzing around the room trying to network.

We’re still considered to be outcasts, but the students are no longer going out of their way to ignore us.

To the contrary. While we make our way through the crowd, I see more than one person throw Alaric and me a nod. But I also see quite a few guys checking Raven out.

Of course, it’s not escaped Alaric either, I think with a smile as I watch him rush to grab a cocktail off a passing waiter’s tray. “Raven, look, your favorite.”

She takes the glass in her hand, giving him one of those little smiles of hers. Then, just as we walk past one particularly crowded spot, I see this guy leave the table and head straight towards us, his eyes fixed on her.

“Whoopsie, sorry, bud,” Alaric says when he almost bumps into him, throwing the guy off and waving for us to hurry.

Shaking my head, I rush to catch up with him, but as soon as we’re away from that particular crowd, he stops, making the two of us follow suit. He turns to tell me, “Anna, I’m so glad you’re finally showing you’re not a monster who never needs to relax…”

I quirk an eyebrow at him. “But?”

“Wouldn’t you prefer if we went to play cards in my room?” he asks. He glances around with an awkward chuckle. “I mean, this is all kind of lame, right, Raven?” And with that, he turns to her, waiting.

---