Page 82 of Lessons with the Mothman

"I'm glad you were here tonight," he whispered.

"Me too."

I rolledthe tension out of my shoulders for what felt like the hundredth time this afternoon, then snapped them tight at the first gust of bitter air rushing in from the lake. I paused at the top step of the campus building, my curls getting the best of me as they were tossed and tangled in front of my eyes.

"Here, let me help."

My breath caught at Elias's voice, and a moment later the wind softened, gliding around the shield of Elias's wings. Soft claws rearranged my hair into a knot at the nape of my neck, and I blinked up at the fae.

"Thank you," I murmured.

His brow was furrowed as he stared down at me, no doubt searching my expression for clues to my mood. I wasn't sure what he found. I didn't have the energy to hide anything, but I was feeling especially blank at the moment. Drained.

"How did it go?" Lyle asked, appearing at our sides.

I shrugged, and they exchanged a look over my head. "It was okay, really," I said, before they could start assuming the worst. "Awkward. And I'm not sure what I offered was of any use?—"

Lyle cut in. "It's another example of his pattern."

Elias just found my hand with his, squeezing gently. I sighed, fighting the urge to lean into his chest. A month ago, I would've been utterly spooked to have Elias on campus for my sake, and I'd spent plenty of days leading up to my meeting with the team of HR representatives and investigators waffling on whether or not to ask Elias to come. He couldn't attend the meeting, and theonly reason to have him here afterwards was because…I wanted him here. For support.

So why am I resisting?I wondered, the thought striking me suddenly. Tentatively, I gave in. Elias shuffled closer, bracing me as I propped myself up against his chest. There wasn't a logical explanation for it, but some tension bled away.Pheromones, I reasoned, knowing full well that wasn't the real answer.

Lyle glanced between us, his speech on Stanton's predator patterns fading away. "It's done now," he said to me, and I nodded. "Have they assigned your thesis to a new advisor?"

I nodded. "Dr. Weathers. I had her for a class last year."

"Not an obvious choice, but she's open minded," Lyle said, nodding. "I asked them for a transfer, and they gave mine to Professor Jenkins."

Stanton was on probation with the university—barely a slap on the wrist considering—and if he could keep his hands off his students for a few years, it would no doubt pass. But it was on his record now, and an unavoidable reputation was attached to his name. After reporting our past relationship, I was mandatorily reassigned the advisor to my thesis, but the option was quietly available to all of us. Professor Jenkins made perfect sense for the biochemistry angle of Lyle's fear to arousal theory. Dr. Weathers was a less clear choice for me, but I'd already spoken to the woman and she was enthusiastic about stepping in for me, if not entirely sold on the methods of my study.

"Come on, let's go get lunch and we can do crisis planning," Lyle said.

"Are you worried about the study?" Elias asked me in a low tone as we walked down the steps together.

Lyle was ahead of us, leading the way, and Elias kept his wing around my side, his arm slung over my shoulder.

"A little," I admitted. "A new advisor might try to push an angle they're more familiar with, or this far into the work, they might not offer the same level of support," I said.

Elias hummed, and I could see his little inner gears working to solve the situation. He would probably pull an expert out of his rolodex of vague acquaintances with fascinating backgrounds. If things went sideways with Dr. Weathers, I might let him. For now, though…

I turned in step, placing myself in front of Elias, forcing him to stop at once, his eyebrows bouncing higher.

"May I ask a favor?" I asked, dropping my voice lower.

"Of course," he said, straightening expectantly, too familiar with requests.

"Tonight, will you fuck me until I'm so tired I can't even move?" I asked.

Elias froze for a moment and then his head dropped, wings folding closer to envelop us. "Can I use toys?"

I nodded quickly. "I want you to call me a good girl."

"So overused. I can do better," Elias said with a smug tilt to his head that made me fight my laughter. "I'll make you come."

"Until I'm dehydrated," I agreed. Aside from those first couple of times, Elias seemed to like asking permission for this now.

He rumbled, his hands cupping my hips, and I leaned back before he got the idea to spirit us away. I wasn't sure if he could fly while holding me, but now wasn't the time to find out.

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