Page 33 of Gothikana

A young man with glasses sat behind the reception desk, flipping through a book.

‘Hi,’ Corvina greeted him with a slight smile. ‘I have a letter I need to post.’

It was her twenty-second birthday, a fact nobody knew except the recipient of her letter.

The young man frowned. ‘Today is Saturday.’

‘Yes.’ Corvina kept her smile. ‘I heard someone takes the letters to town on Sunday. I just wanted to drop mine off.’

The man looked at the envelope in her hand, then up at her. ‘That was last Sunday, miss. I’m sorry but the next delivery will be in two weeks.’

Sweat beaded on her brow. ‘Um. This is slightly urgent. It can’t wait two weeks.’

The man glanced down at her, giving her a once-over. ‘I’m sorry but I don’t know how to help you.’

Fuck.

Fuck.

She couldn’t be late. She had until a week after her birthday. Desperation gripped at her throat. ‘You don’t understand. This is very important. Is there any way I can go to town to post it in that case?’

‘I’m sorry—’

‘You can ride with me.’ The deep voice from her back made every nerve in her body snap to attention in a way it hadn’t done in weeks, something inside her rejoicing, the feeling oddly like coming home after a long time away. She didn’t understand it.

Bracing herself for the sheer havoc his presence wreaked on her insides, Corvina turned around and saw him in a black trench coat, a shadow of scruff on his face, that distinguished streak of grey swept back in his dishevelled hair.

She’d forgotten how the cells in her body realigned in his orbit when he focused on her, the electric shock going through each one of them making her entire body warm.

God, shewantedhim.

‘You’re going to town?’ she asked hopefully, ignoring the desire singing through her system.

He gave a terse nod, his eyes taking her in. ‘Meet me in the driveway in five minutes.’

‘Wait.’ She stopped him, throwing a worried look at the young man at the reception. ‘Am I allowed to go with you?’

He shrugged, unworried. ‘Under special circumstances, yes. I’ll inform Dr Greene.’

A thrill shot through her. Biting her lip, she assented and exited the building, running to find Jade to let her know she was taking a trip to town. After a few minutes of searching, she found her in an alcove in the back lawns, making out with Troy.

She cleared her throat.

‘Hey, Purple,’ Troy greeted her, his lips shining.

Corvina rolled her eyes and looked at her slightly dazed roommate. ‘I’m going to town to send a letter.’

Jade frowned, her eyes clearing. ‘Wait, you can’t go alone. You need someone— Oh no. Not him.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Corvina reassured her. ‘It’s important, and he’s the only one going there.’

‘He who?’ Troy asked.

‘Mr Deverell,’ Corvina answered, seeing Troy’s brows go up.

He whistled. ‘Lucky. He’s got a sweet ride.’

Jade still looked apprehensive. ‘He’s a teacher, and I don’t trust him.’

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