Page 44 of Hellfire

He came over with a heart-warming smile just for me. “Hi, sweetness. You did good today. You too, Astra.”

Astra gave him a nod and wandered off, waiting by the exit of the courtyard, giving us privacy.

I resisted the urge to touch him, sticking to the whole professional student-teacher relationship, refusing to give theCouncil reason to expel us or his grandmother an excuse to mind wipe me. She muttered in Polish as she lugged supplies away.

“How are you?” I wanted to check in with him before I ate lunch.

“I’m feeling much better.” He brushed a hand down the front of his Gildron uniform. “I felt hungrier this morning and ate a full breakfast.”

Heat charged in my flame, and it spurted up my chest. “That’s wonderful.”

He could barely stomach food, only tolerating sliced apples, and it was a struggle to get through a whole fruit. His low food intake made him weak, tired, and had me really worried.

I didn’t know how he’d take my next question, but I had to ask. “What happened with the Veil magick?”

“I don’t know.” He frowned, rolling back his sleeves, checking the gray snake tattoo on his forearm. “I felt a deep ache when I used the angelic words. Almost as if the dark magick reacted.”

“Want to speak to Gable or Castor about it?” I asked. We had the biker’s phone number on the card he gave us.

Blaze replaced his clothing over his arm, depriving me of his lean muscle. “I’ll wait to see what they come up with.”

With that topic broached, I tackled another. “Are we on for dinner tonight?” It was our weekly date, and we hadn’t had one in weeks.

“We sure are, Darkfire.” He broke the cardinal no-touching rule, tucking hair behind my ear.

My fingers ached to catch his wrist and hold it. “Are you cooking, or shall I bring cafeteria food?”

“I’ll bring the food. I’ve got the afternoon off to prepare.”

“Can’t wait.” I waited, unsure whether to kiss him, or smile and leave.

He took the liberty, softly outlining my lips with his, and my flame heated twenty degrees. “See you at six.”

“Bye,” I whispered when he pulled back and started removing the targets.

A little dazed from his kiss, I stumbled back to Astra, touching my tingling lips, savoring the feel of him.

“I’m happy for you two.” Astra dragged me in for a side hug. “You look adorable together. He doesn’t stop looking at you with adoration.”

“Thanks, bestie.” I circled my arm around her waist. “When did you realize?” I asked out of curiosity.

She pinched my shoulder. “My romantic radar went off pretty early on.”

“Oh, God.” I rubbed my eye.

“He stole glances at you every chance that spelled forbidden longing,” she said like an anguished romance character.

I hummed. “I can’t hide anything from the romance queen.”

“Don’t even try. My romance radar has an accuracy of ninety-nine point nine six percent.”

I laughed and bumped her with my hip. “Those are awfully specific odds.”

She shrugged. “I’m a chemistry nerd.”

“And queen of the class now too.”

“How’s my magical muscle?” Astra broke out hug, and pumped her lean bicep in the air.

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