Page 73 of Lessons with the Mothman

I stiffened. Ah, yes, my scandalous study about sex. Supposedly scandalous, at least.

"A risk to me is a risk to your progress," he said, firmly. "That's all."

I clenched my fists into leather. "Understood, Professor."

He let out an uneven breath and sagged, eyes falling shut. "Vic?—"

"No." I swallowed on the rock in my throat and tried not to tremble as he shoved a hand through his hair.

"Jesus, Victoria, it's my fucking career!" he cried out.

I haven't done anything, I wanted to say. And also,Then you should've avoided flirting with your students.

He shook and groaned, waving a hand. "I'm sorry. I'm going. I'm going."

I remained still, at the far end of the small room, until the door finally shut behind him. My legs folded, and a rush of relief and anger swept through me, a distant gratitude that there was a chair to fall into, a pang ofmissing?—

I cut the emotions off, leaning down to rest my head against cool wood, breathing slowly. I was allowed three minutes, and then I would put this feeling away too.

CHAPTER 24

Elias

"I'msure you're all wondering why I called you here," I said, my hands braced to the bar.

"Not really," Khell said, shrugging.

Rafe raised a hand, like a student waiting to be called on. "I've got a guess."

"Is this not…boys' night?" Theo asked, frowning and glancing at us.

I scowled at Rafe. "What do you mean, a guess?"

"You've got that edgy vibe that Khell had after his appointment with Sunny, when he just wanted to go hunt her down through the city," Rafe said.

"And that hopeless look Rafe had when he thought Hannah didn't want to see him anymore," Khell added, nodding.

"Is this a thing you guys do together?" Theo asked, reaching for his beer.

Rafe and Khell were still waiting for their drinks, waiting for me to deliver them something I'd chosen. I wasn't in the mood. They'd have to order like everyone else.

"You never fucked it up with Natalie and had to regroup?" Rafe asked him.

Theo stared at us. "No?"

"Strictly speaking, I didn't fuck anything up with Sunny," Khell muttered.

I crossed my arms over my chest, irritated and impatient. It had been like pulling teeth to get Rafe to talk about what went wrong with Hannah. I wouldn't dance around the topic. "I told Victoria I loved her. She called me a liar."

My three friends went silent and stared at me until my wings and antennae were twitching with nerves.

"Should I have called the girls?" I snapped.

"Probably," Theo said, taking another sip of his beer.

"Wereyou lying?" Khell asked.

They all stared at me once more. This wasn't helpfulat all.

---