Page 38 of Shattered Illusion

“Second, you tell me why you’re skipping class.” He leans back against the desk, his face stern as his arms cross against his barrel chest. His eyes beg me to roll mine again so he can enact the first part, but I refrain. Barely.

“I’m not. It’s my self-study period.” A deep sound that sounds suspiciously like a laugh follows my words.

“You’re probably the only person using self-study to actually study.”

“I mean, technically, I haven’t studied a thing since I’ve been here because the librarian interrupted me,” I tease, wiggling my brows right back at him.

Good lord. I’m…flirting. With the librarian. With the supernatural who was there for my awakening. Whose arms I awoke in after my magical block broke.

And after kissing Axel last night.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

But I have to remember that Axel and I aren’t together. Hell, I’ve never dated a supernatural. Period. Up until my awakening, I wanted nothing to do with them. And now, here I am, flirting with one after kissing another.

Can my life get any weirder?

“Oh. My humblest apologies, goddess. I didn’t mean to get in the way of your hard studying.” A giggle slips out as he bows deep at the waist. “But…” he trails off again as he stands to his full height. His long pause has me tempted to roll my eyes to see if he follows through on his threat. But he continues before I can decide if it’s worth it or not. “All information you’re looking for has been long since removed.”

My smile drops, and he grimaces as I deflate from the shitty news.

“I understand. It was a long shot anyway.” I shrug my shoulders, trying to mask my emotions from his news. But I know I wasn’t quick enough to hide them when he steps forward, quickly pulling me into his arms. My breath whooshes out of me as I slam into his chest, my head barely reaching his taut pecs.

“Don’t worry, goddess. I’ll find you whatever I can and drop them off to you.” His lips brush the crown of my head with every word, electric sparks firing everywhere we touch. Slowly, I melt into his strong arms, wrapping mine around his waist. It takes everything in me not to rub my face across his shirt, hoping to brand myself into his very essence. As it is, a deep sigh leaves me when I inhale his fresh rainstorm scent. Something that I don’t think I’ve ever smelled before except the few times a year it rained in the human sector.

Luka pulls back and gingerly takes my hand in his large one, a shock zapping me at the touch, and leads me over to a small area behind the desk, sporting a small leather couch with a table off to the side of it. He takes my bag from my arm and places it there before sitting on the couch and patting the spot beside him.

This whole scenario is starting to feel like something I’d watch in a movie, where the shy, weird girl gets coaxed to the couch with the hot guy, and after they do things together, he spreads to everyone that she’s a cheap whore. I should use caution, but that little part of me that told me I needed to come to the library is there once again, pushing me to get closer to this man.

There’s no clue what all of this means, but as I take the proffered spot next to him, I figure there’s nothing wrong with following my gut once more. The worst that can happen is I punch him in the balls for getting handsy without asking. Butwho am I kidding? The man looks like a god, and I’d gladly worship at his temple. Preferably on my knees.

Gah. Mind out of the gutter. Yeesh.I’m starting to think they got it wrong. Maybe I’m actually a succubus. A virgin succubus. Who’da thought.

“So, Bailey. Is there anything you want to know?”

Why yes, yes there is.

“What are you?” I blurt, slapping my hand over my mouth. Fuck. It’s like bad form to ask that. And the fact that I blurted it out the way I did means it’s something I’m desperate to know, even though I hadn’t thought to ask before.

He reaches across the space between us, pulling my hand from my face. “I’m a demigod, goddess. It’s okay to ask. No sense in being embarrassed. Especially when I can pass so easily for human.”

Well, I guess that answers why he looks like a god. He freaking is one. Or half of one.

“My turn,” Luka murmurs, a somber expression crossing his features. “What happened after the awakening? When your parents got home.”

My stomach turns sour as I think about how upset I was with them when they finally arrived home, mere minutes before Axel showed up. Tears gather in the corner of my eyes, but I desperately blink them away, not wanting to cry in front of this man. Again.

“Hey, it’s okay. Forget I asked, goddess.” This time he closes the distance between us and pulls me from the cushion and right onto his lap, softly rocking our bodies back and forth. This reminds me so much of when I was in Axel’s arms on Friday and again yesterday. Something about these supernatural men makes me lower my guard. I’ll have to be careful that they don’t run off with my heart before I’m ready to give it away.

Even worse though, I’ll have to choose one of them. But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Neither one of them has pledged their undying love to me. So it’s all just hopeful thoughts that I could call one of them mine. Even though the thought of saying goodbye to either one of them sends a jolt of pain straight through my heart.

Wow. At some point did I fall and hit my head? I’ve been a supernatural for only a couple days, and here I am already expecting to date one. Maybe it’s because of the whole mate thing yesterday. Or the fact that I know a human won’t want to date me. But dating shouldn’t be a concern for me. Period. I need to worry about getting a good grasp on my magic and what I’ll do with my life once I’m finished with Stonewell. Then, and only then, should I worry about who I’m dating.

The bell rings, catching me completely off guard. I jump out of his arms, putting as much distance between us as possible as I scurry away from the couch.

“That’s the bell. I should get going,” I mutter, swinging my bag onto my back and shifting awkwardly before him.

It’s crazy to think that an hour and a half has already passed, and none of that was spent studying. All because of the man before me, sporting a sheepish grin.

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