Page 30 of Shattered & Returned

The room stilled. His head tilted, those winter-green eyes sliding from Sindy to me. “Is it now?” The way his gaze lingered sent liquid heat down my spine.

I knew better than to bait the devil—and he was every inch the devil, no matter what title he wore—but I couldn’t stomach him reducing my friend to a number. These other students might be strangers, but Sindy mattered to me.

“Sindy’s a talented witch,” I said. My friend flushed scarlet, squeezing my hand under the desk.

Ravencrux’s lips curved. “And how would you know Miss Vexley is talented, Miss Aurelius?” His voice dripped mockery. “Or is this blind loyalty speaking?” He raised one elegant hand. “Shall we test your generous assessment?”

The words rolled off his tongue like a rushing river—ancient, liquid, and alive. The class sat frozen, breath held in reverence. Only I seemed to recognize the dead language flowing from his lips. How did I know it?

Before I could ponder further, he plunged two shimmering fingers into Sindy’s chest. She shuddered as he withdrew a swirling, oil-slick orb. The moment it left her body, her eyes cleared, bright and untroubled as a summer sky.

“Witch Vexley,” Ravencrux stated, crushing the dark orb in his fist. “I’ve excised the generational curse clinging to your bloodline. Your earth affinity will flourish, provided you don’t court the shadow and practice black magic.”

Sindy nodded in gratitude, like a bird pecking at scattered grain.

“Professor Ravencrux.” A bold voice cut through the silence. The pretty tall girl stood without permission, her earlier coyness replaced by calculation. My defiance had emboldened them all. She arched her back just so, ensuring he wouldn’t dismiss her as another nameless Girl Two. “We’re all so grateful for your personalattention.” Her voice dripped honey. “I do hope you’ll grace us with more demonstrations.”

Ravencrux turned his head slowly. The girl preened under his gaze. She had his attention now.

“I am not some fucking public service,” he bit out, each word sharp. “Do not fucking disturb me again while I’m working.”

The girl collapsed into her seat, tears welling. A pang of sympathy hit me. But really, what had she expected? The devilwas an asshole. I knew that better than anyone. His tongue might work miracles, but his patience was nonexistent.

Then his sharp gaze found mine, and my heart hammered. The classroom, the students, even the air itself seemed to still.

“Miss Aurelius,” he purred, my name dripping from his lips like dark honey, and my stomach fluttered wildly. “Have you been waiting like a good girl?”

That was inappropriate, but I was the only one he hadn’t reduced to a number.

I resisted the urge to lick my lips, my mouth parched even as heat rose between my thighs. Thank the gods for panties. How did his voice alone unravel me like this?

His nostrils flared. Could he actuallysmellmy arousal? My cheeks burned; his gaze darkened in response.

“Yeah?” My voice came out embarrassingly breathless as he stepped too close, his scent of sandalwood and something dangerously elemental wrapping around me. “Well.” I waved vaguely at the remaining students. “Not many left.”

He’d worked methodically, front rows first, then back, leaving our section for last.

Ancient words rolled from his tongue. Light and shadow twisted together, forming a swirling column around me. Heat flared in my chest, an ember sparkingto lifeanddancing along my ribs, then guttered out like a flicker of candlelight in a storm. A phantom flower withered before it could blossom.

I’d felt something. Memories surfaced: cracked earth healing under my fingertips, dying plants straightening their stems.

But that fragile spark wasn’t enough to bloom into true magic.

I wasn’t enough.

Disappointment seeped from my pores like cold sweat. I’d wanted—needed—to show him something worthy, and instead I’d been laid bare before the class as hollow. A dud.

Snickers rippled through the room, sharpest from the girls in the front row. Their laughter pricked at my skin. What was I doing here? Why hadhebothered with me when his eyes saw everything?

I wasn’t being modest. After years of letting Mom shape me into her vision, I’d sworn to face only truth, no matter how brutal. And the truth was, I had nothing. Tears burned behind my eyelids.

“You’re not magicless,” he said softly, seeing the devastation I couldn’t hide. I’d never learned to mask my emotions. “You were born with a shield so strong it guards even against yourself. It keeps your power locked away with all the rest of you.”

I blinked in confusion even as I heard the truth in his words.

“Give me your hands.” He crouched beside me, his body heat radiating to me.

Every female eye in the room burned into me, envious, jealous, downright venomous. His hands hadn’t touched anyone until now. I wasn’t sure giving him my hands was a good idea. My pulse already raced just from his proximity; actual contact might undo me. The last thing I needed was to make a fool of myself in front of everyone.

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