Page 60 of A University of Betrayal

Then Bayla spoke up and Alarik nodded.

“Language is a complex system. It is not limited to sounds and the spoken word, but also to written characters or body language, such as gestures and facial expressions. That’s why I would say that everything can be language.”

Alarik looked at her with obvious satisfaction. “What Bayla just mentioned addresses one of the fundamental questions of theoretical philosophy, but I don’t want to burden you with it in my English seminar.” He looked around. “Please open your books.”

There was a flipping and rustling sound, but I just stared at my uncle.

“Thank you, Bayla.”

Had he justwinkedat her? He often did that with me, but withBayla? A goddamn Quatura?

I looked around to see if the guys had noticed, but the members of the pack present were busy with their own business.

I spotted Hunter, who looked up with a smile, which automatically made me smile back. I hadn’t gotten anything more out of him about the competitions so far, and would probably have to wait until we were alone again at some point.

“Humans cannot not communicate.I want you to write me an essay on Paul Watzlawick’s words.”

Nash and the boys groaned, and it was only when I turned to them that I realized the row behind them was empty. The Ruisangors weren’t there. Whatever that meant, it was for the best. One stress factor less. And I had little desire to be confronted by that bastard again after his actions earlier.

“A few words... You can manage that. You had to do that a lot in high school.”

“Do I look like I’m in high school?” Nash snorted scornfully.

Alarik gave him a serious look.

God,I would have kicked Nash out long ago if I were him.

Nash just snorted and turned to his notebook.

God,brother... don’t be such an idiot.

I was just about to start writing when my eyes caught Bayla Adams’. She looked at me thoughtfully, which unnecessarily reinforced my nervousness.

“Perhaps this time, you should pay more attention to the subject matter before you devote yourself to structure and order,” Alarik began.

Burn

FreshmanSound

Then the door flew open, and I spun my head around, expecting – as always – an unwanted DeLoughrey, but instead I spotted a red-haired woman with a topknot, amber-colored horn-rimmed glasses, a white blouse tucked into a leopard-print skirt and a clipboard she was holding.

She looked down at us until her eyes met Alarik’s.

Her scent revealed that she was one of them.A Quatura.On top of that, she didn’t look ugly, even if she reeked of the most disgusting granny perfume I’d ever smelled up to this point.

“Professor Copeland, am I right?” she asked dryly.

She took his perplexed nod as an invitation to enter the tiered seminar room in her bone-breaking shoes.

“And you are?” Alarik asked with raised eyebrows.

Apparently, he had never seen this woman before either, but shereekedof trouble.

“Professor Rebecca Harlow,” she said in a cold voice, stopping in front of my uncle. “And just to be clear.” She turned to us all and gave us a saccharine smile. One that looked more fake than Kelly Hepburn’s Barbie hair.“Ordershould be the highest principle. However, it seems thatorder, structure, and disciplinelost their relevance at this university ten years ago.”

What on earth…Who was this woman, and what was she thinking by talking like that? Here, in front of the students and in front of the director of the university?

“And right now that’s becoming obvious,” she continued sternly, looking at Alarik, who looked confused.

---