Page 27 of Moon Cursed

Edric neither feared me nor revered me, he just wanted every inch of my body like a melty ice cream cone running down his strong, naughty fingers.

He was going to eat me all up.

I shook my head, ridding myself of my own pervy thoughts. “I need you,” I said, never more serious than I was at that moment. “Come to me, please.”

“On the way.” Edric pushed back from his desk and walked out, leaving his instructor shouting at his back.

I paced the whole wait, and nearly pounced on him when he stepped through the doors, falling in at my side.

“What’s wrong?”

“The gate,” I cried, grabbing his hand. “I need you to try and open the gate.”

“What? Why? I can’t. Only you can.”

“Edric, please.” I drew him over and stepped aside. “Just try.”

Giving me a look I was getting quite used to, Edric sighed and put his hand on the lock.

Clang!

Our brows bounced up as the internal mechanisms clanged and groaned, breaking free of their iron embrace and swinging the gates open for all to come in.

“But how?” Edric cried. “Only the headmistress or headmaster can open the gates. Did something happen? Does the magic not work anymore?”

I shook my head, groaning. “I think it’s something much simpler than that. Only the headmistress can open the gates. Only her... and her fated mates.”

“Oh?” Understanding dawned on Edric’s face. His jaw clenched tight. “Oh.”

I nodded. The tight ball of stress that had been living in my chest filled with something else—fear. “That’s why you can’t find Badr, Edric. That’s why you can’tsmellhim.

“He’s gone.”

***

IWAS USELESS FOR THErest of the day.

Every lecture went in my ear and out the other without me retaining a single word. I was so distracted, I didn’t even put up a fight when Paxton showed up at my door with more flowers and chocolate.

Edric opened the door for him, plucked me off the bed, and set me down over the threshold without bothering to ask questions. “Keep her out late,” he called, shutting the door behind me.

“Wow, Daze.” Paxton dropped a kiss on my cheek. “You look great.”

I did not look great. After classes, I changed into my orange sweats with a hole in the knee, and put my braids up in a messy bun. I had on no makeup and no shoes—since Edric didn’t bother to toss them out with me—and I was wearing my baggiest t-shirt and no bra.

“You dragged me out here to lie to me? What a waste of everyone’s time.”

Paxton laughed. “Technically Edric did the dragging. Here.” He held out the roses. “These are for you.”

I took them, and promptly flung them down the hall. “This was a fun date. Thanks.” I turned to leave. “Bye now.”

“Whoa, wait,” he cried, shooting in front of me. “If you go now, you won’t get any of that pain potion we both need right about now.”

That pulled me up short.

Paxton was right. In addition to the hot burning ball of anxiety in my throat thanks to Badr’s flight, I’d also been dealing with the brain-melting headache I got from our broken bond. As much as I wanted to believe Luame wouldn’t kill me for rejecting Paxton, the drilling agony in my skull rattled my confidence.

My eyes narrowed. “Seriously, omega? You of all people are going to coerce me into going out with you? Hypocrite.”

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