Page 58 of Laid Bare

“Good. You’re all here. Let’s go in,” comes from behind me, making me spin around. Cassian, in all his angel glory, stands there with his white, fluffy wings tucked against his back, looking like the textbook definition of an angel. All blond hair and blue eyes, white clothing adorning his frame. Only he doesn’t have that angelic aura to him this time, and it makes me take a step back, closer to the safety I know my mate can provide.

Cassian doesn’t seem to notice, or if he does, he doesn’t comment on it. He just walks past us all, entering his office, leaving us all to follow him in.

I want to stop, at least talk to my mate for a moment before the inquisition starts, but Axel grips my hand in his and tugs me in after him, positioning me in front of him while he shields my back.

“So,” Cassian folds his hands together, placing them on the chestnut-colored desk in front of him, “who wants to start?”

Professor Simmons steps forward without anyone asking him to and starts telling Cassian everything, from the very beginning of class until we arrived here.

While he goes over the details, I zone out, running my gaze around the office. It’s nothing like what I thought an angel would have. There are no white fluffy clouds, no gold harps, and there definitely aren’t any halos laying around.

The only thing in here that really screams angel—besides the councilman himself—is the muted, pale blue color on the walls. A single bookshelf rests between two windows, and in the corner is a small seating area, a single chair with an end table next to it.

In front of the desk rests two chairs, which, if I’m honest, is starting to feel customary for offices after being in Axel’s and Jasper’s. A few random paintings hang on the walls, but there’s nothing special about them, other than being owned by Cassian. Who knows…they could be worth a fortune, but art was never something I was interested in.

“Miss Foss.”

“Yes,” I answer automatically, not worried in the slightest that I missed something.

“Is there anything else you want to add?”

I nibble my bottom lip in thought, but nothing really stands out that he needs to know. I mean, the professor already told him everything, so there’s not much to add.

“No,” I finally reply with a shake of my head.

“Alright.” He writes something down on the pad of paper in front of him. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I went 8 rounds with Mike Tyson, sir.” A smile cracks on Cassian’s face. “Minus getting my ear chewed off.”

My added sass at the end earns me a round of chuckles, considerably lightening the mood.

“You are able to heal yourself, yes?”

“Yeah, but it takes a lot out of me to do so, and if I had done it earlier, I wouldn’t currently be standing here.” He nods at my answer, like he expected it.

“Then I have all I need from you, Miss Foss. You, Mr. Pennington, and Professor Simmons are all free to go.” I blow out a breath, relieved I can get the hell out of here. “Oh, one more thing.” Dammit. “The Acheron brothers are not to leave your side… even in your dorm.” What. The. Fuck. “You’ve disappeared on us once, and now there’s a threat looming over you from inside the academy. Because, mark my words, they won’t let this go. So, the only time you’re to be alone is while you're sleeping in your bed, and even then, they’ll be residing in your living room.”

“They’re…moving in?” I raise my brows, slightly confused, even though his words were pretty damn straight forward.

“That’s correct. Understood?”

“Got it. Thank you,” I murmur, not forgetting my manners regardless of the fact that I want to rebel at the very idea of sharing my space with the demons.

At his nod, I make a break for the door, and Axel follows me out, but I stop when Cassian speaks again.

“Not so fast, Zane and Bane. We need to have a conversation.”

I grimace but keep walking, sure with the fact that they’ll know I’ll be waiting for them right outside. It was my portal that brought them here, and I’ll be the one to take them back. Plus, I’m already in more than enough trouble with Cassian, I don’t need him flipping out because I left without my protection detail.

When the door clicks shut behind me, Axel engulfs me in his arms, breathing my scent deep into his lungs.

“Dammit,cor meum. You look like hell. Why didn’t you heal?” he murmurs into my neck, his hot breath leaving a tingle wake behind.

My arms wrap around his waist, holding him just as tightly. “The headmaster told me not to. He said it wouldn’t look good if I showed up in front of Cassian without so much as a mark while another student is in the morgue.”

“He’s right, but fuck.” Axel pulls back, gripping my chin and tilting my face up to his. “It looks damn painful. When you get back, you need to heal. I don’t give a fuck about anything else. You heal yourself and go to bed. Okay?”

“You’re not coming with me?” I pout, wishing he would.

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