Page 33 of Laid Bare

“Sure it is,” I smirk, stepping closer, overjoyed when he flinches. “Forgive me if I don’t trust you with my mate after you abused your power as a professor.”

A low, dangerous growl emits from his chest. “I didn’t fucking know. How many times do I have to say that?”

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold the hellfire on.” Zane swaggers into the conversation, Bane right on his heels, though his eyes never stray from keeping Bailey in his sight. “What did he do to our charge?”

Hudson’s gaze drops to his feet, not willing to admit the fact that he abused her in her first class.

Me, though? I have no such qualms.

“If there’s anyone you should be protecting her from—” I nod toward the dumbass in front of me, “—it’s him.”

There’s no mistaking the hurt that flashes through his silver gaze, hurt he has no damn business even feeling. If anyone deserves the right to feel that emotion, it’s my goddess. He’s hurt her in more ways than one.

A quick blur of red leaves Hudson sprawled across the grass, gasping for breath. Zane towers over the fallen Lycan, black smoke curling around his heaving form. The smell of ash and burning wood heavily assaults my senses, making my eyes water, but inside? I’m fucking cackling. Fucker’s getting what he deserves.

Looking over, all the other students watch with rapt attention, but no one makes a move to help the professor. Not even his sister, who looks smug as fuck standing there with a group of guys around her.

Mates, possibly. With the way they’re angled around her, a protective barrier with her in the middle, yeah… definitely mates. Not that I think she acknowledges the fact with how she was trolling for a date at the gala.

Not my mate, not my place to say a word about her actions.

“What did you do?” Zane thunders, sparks popping on the tips of his horns as he leans down and grabs Hudson, ripping him from the ground and holding him aloft by the collar of his shirt.

“It was a misunderstanding,” the bastard chokes out, his eyes darting around, looking for something. A savior, maybe. But he won’t find one. Not in me. Not in Bane. And definitely not in my goddess.

He’s on his own. Just like Bailey was when he dragged her through the academy grounds.

“There better not be another misunderstanding, or you’ll end up in a misunderstanding with my fist.” At those words, Zane drops Hudson like he burnt him and steps back, brushing imaginary lint from the sleeve of his t-shirt.

Not another word is spoken by the professor, but he seems to get the gist really fucking quick. He hustles away without so much as a glance in our direction, back over to his awaiting class.

I stifle a laugh, but really? Seeing these demons taking their job seriously, it appeases the worry that’s been hanging over my head since Axel and I left her dorm last night.

We didn’t want to leave. But we knew we had to. These classes are important, and it’s one of the only ways we can secure her future and the longevity of her life. She needs to learn. She needs to show the council there’s nothing to fear from her because she’s got her shit down. Us occupying her time twenty-four-seven will only hurt her in the long run.

But fuck, it kills me to be away from her. Same with Axel.

Soon, though. When she’s done with this bullshit academy, we’ll be together, living our lives as a unit in the same house. We’ll never spend another night without her.

Zane and Bane bracket me on either side, their arms crossed over their chests, their eyes pinned to my white-haired beauty with pink eyes. Their attention on her should rattle me—worry me—but for some reason, it doesn’t. If anything, it tells me that if I can’t make it to this class one day, they’ll be here to make sure she doesn’t get hurt again.

“We’ll keep her safe,” Bane murmurs, his voice quiet but still loud enough to hear over Hudson barking orders at his class.

“I know,” I mutter, mirroring their stance.

But having my eyes on her, seeing her in the flesh—whole and alive—is the only way to keep my sanity from slipping with the what ifs of what could be happening to her.

There’s one thing I know for sure, though.

I love my goddess, and I’ll destroy anyone who lays a hand on her.

Professor Asshole stormsacross the field, tiny tremors rattling the ground with every step he takes.

Shit. He’s mad. Big freaking mad.

Oh well. I shrug for no reason whatsoever. Not my mate, not my problem.

I’m here to learn. Figure out this damn rune on my thigh. Figure out what kind of animal I have. Figure out how to keep myself alive.

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