Page 37 of Shattered Illusion

Nope. This entire day can suck a dick like Professor Asshole.

All day long I’ve felt eyes on me. But I could never pinpoint where they were coming from. Every time I looked around, everyone else was busy doing other things. Not paying an iota of attention to me. Not that I want it. But the principle of the matter is thatsomeonewas watching me.

Fuck. The last thing I need is a damn stalker. If I could wish upon a star right now, I’d ask the universe to give me a freaking break. Too many things are being piled on my lap at once. Supernatural. Last of my kind. Real parents dead. Abusivesoulmate. I guess adding a stalker to the list isn’t so far-fetched to the other shit that’s happened.

My steps quicken as I traverse the halls of the academy, heading to the one place I’ve yet to check out. The library. I know during self-study, I could easily go back to my dorm like the rest of the students, but for some reason, something in my gut is guiding me there. Telling me that’s where I need to be.

And I’d be stupid not to trust my gut.

The double doors to the expansive library come into view, and as soon as I step inside, it almost feels like everything is right in the world again. Even if I know that’s not possible.

It’s eerily quiet behind the doors, not another student to be found. Dark mahogany walls make up the expanse of the space, the walls lined with bookshelves, overflowing with different texts and tomes on any subject you can think of.

More shelves line themselves in rows behind a few full-length tables, each surrounded by eight chairs. A small light is perched on the table before each one, offering a bit of ambiance to the room. A few windows shed some natural sunlight into the space, while a few well-placed sconces help with the rest of the visibility.

Off to the right is a massive desk with a cart next to it. But the cart is empty. So whoever the librarian is must be doing their job and keeping the place nice and tidy.

My fingers graze over titles as I walk slowly up and down each row, hoping to find something to immerse myself in. I have no general idea in mind of what I’m looking for, but I’ll know it when I see it. Maybe, just maybe, there is a book about my kind. Doubtful, since they don’t exist anymore, but it’s a library, so there’s a small chance.

“Bailey?” a deep, masculine voice calls from behind me, one that sounds suspiciously familiar. Not one that I’ve heard a lot, but a tenor that spoke to me recently.

Spinning around like I’ve been caught doing something naughty, I tuck my grabby fingers behind my back, offering up a blinding smile to whoever called my name.

And to my surprise, I do know him.

“Hey…” I trail off. “I’m sorry,” I mutter sheepishly, “I never got your name, but I think Axel said it was… Luke. No. No. That’s not right.” I shake my head. Then it clicks. I snap my fingers and point finger guns at the massive man before me. “Luka. Right?”

He guffaws as my cheeks heat, my fingers still raised in the air between us, poised like little guns in my hands. Ugh. Can this situation be any more embarrassing? On second thought, don’t freaking answer that.

“Yeah, I’m Luka. It’s nice to meet you officially, Bailey. I’m sorry for the circumstances in which we met last week.” I grimace, knowing he’s right. First, I was bitch because of what he is, and then my life shattered, and I ran away. “You seem to be adjusting okay, though.” His heated dark blue eyes caress every inch of my skin, sending a shiver down my spine.

Shit. Put your hands down, Bailey.They slowly lower on their own accord as I shift from foot to foot, my belly swooping from his attention.

“Yep. Yeah.”For fucks sake, get it together.I clear my throat. “Yeah, I’m doing okay. Everyone has been pretty nice.” Expect Professor Asshole, but I don’t say that out loud. Luka doesn’t need to listen to me bitch about what the jerk has done since I got here. And he sure as hell doesn’t need to know about yesterday. He’s practically a damn stranger and wouldn’t care. “So, what are you doing here? I thought you handled the Awakenings.”

“Nah,” he says with a smile that lights up his whole face. “I did that as a favor for Axel. Particularly for you. Only so many people know, so it was better if it was me and not one of the regular attendees who would have turned you into the council.”A dark glint flashes over his eyes, sucking the blue from his orbs, but it’s there and gone in an instant, making me question if I saw it at all.

“Oh. Does that mean you’re a student here?” What I’m really asking is if this is a one off thing or will I be seeing more of the sexy man before me. But I don’t dare say those words out loud. I’ve already embarrassed myself enough today, and that would be the cherry on top of my mortification sundae.

“Nah, goddess. I’m not a student here.” Goddess? Why does that nickname make butterflies riot in my chest? “I’ve actually taken a temporary position here as the librarian. The actual librarian is out on maternity leave. So, on that note.” He shoots me a sly smirk as he starts backing down the aisle. “Is there something you’re looking for?” Would it be bad if I said you? Yep. Probably. “A book on your kind, perhaps?”

Wait.

“Are there any?” I call out, damn near chasing him down the aisle.

“No,” he snickers, knowing he piqued my interest, only to shoot me down. “But…” he trails off, wiggling his eyebrows.

“But what?” I damn near stomp my foot at his teasing. Doesn’t he know I’m desperate to know something about my kind? Probably not. I doubt he’s ever been in my position. Then again, I know nothing about the man, so he very well could have been at one point in his life.

“But it’s going to cost you.” Bastard. Even as I think that, though, I can’t stop a smile from tilting my lips.

“How much?” I huff, rolling my eyes.

“First,” he points directly at me as he stops near the main desk, “don’t do that again. Next time, I’ll turn your ass red.” Heat crawls up my chest and into my cheeks as that same heat pools low in my belly. I don’t know why I like the sound of that so much.

Deep breaths, Bailey.

“Second?” I rasp when I finally get my hormones under control. Or not. Hopefully, he couldn’t hear the neediness in my tone.

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