Page 89 of Gemini Queen
Every word he says makes me want to punch him in the face.
Even my normally sunny-tempered Neo is distressed by “only” getting a B on his Honors Science of Witchcraft quiz, since he wasn’t exactly boning up (at least not for his test, ha ha) last night in my bed. For him, a B is apparently some sort of disaster.
This prompts a caustic comment from Vasili about Neo losing his precious perch on the Dean’s List that doesn’t help Neo at all. Between irate looks at Vasili, Neo mutters feverishly about some alchemy experiment he has to keep an eye on in the lab at the Dean’s tower tonight.
Evidently, keeping that A in Honors class is a life-or-death thing for him.
To be honest, I’m a little disappointed. Because I was sort of hoping Neo meant what he said about spending more time in my bed. Not that I want him moving in or anything because, again, I’m leaving. But I won’t totally mind if, until then, he bunks down at night with me.
Then I berate myself for being selfish. The closer Neo and I get, the harder it’s gonna be when I leave.
For both of us.
At least his alchemy experiment means Neo won’t be a problem when I slip out at midnight to meet Vasili.
As for Lucius, he’s clearly alarmed by the barely averted calamity of almost biting me in the belfry, worried to distraction about his thing with Ronin, and increasingly annoyed by Vasili and his antics.
Overall, our headmaster looks like he’d rather be spending the night in Hell than here.
Racetrack and Dez can barely wait to empty their plates of the succulent shepherd’s pie and salad Ronin rustled up for dinner. (A man who cooks! Heart, be still.) They do their time on dishwasher duty and abandon the rest of us to our mercurial moods.
I do a little prep for my gig with Vasili, then try studying in my bedroom, curled up with my books on the rug near the fire. Because I’m not getting any less behind in my classes.
But it’s literally impossible to concentrate.
I can’t believe I actuallyaskedLucius to bite me.
True, I’ve felt so incredibly drawn to him since the night I woke up on that airplane to find him practically fucking Ronin against the wall, especially when he acted so tender and repentant after. I’m simultaneously grateful and disappointed that our prof didn’t bite me too.
Actually, no, I’m not disappointed at all.
I’m just grateful. Really.
The last thing I need is an emotional bond with another Icarus Academy warlock.
And I still can’t believe Lucius actually got me to try summoning lightning. I’m both relieved and perplexed that I couldn’t.
Long story short? The sooner I get off this rock, the better.
Before I lose the old me completely and become the dangerously powerful queen they’re all demanding.
It’s almost midnight when I slip out of thedomusto meet Vasili at the fountain. The cruel cold bites my cheeks and fogs my breath, but Lucius’ downstairs window is wide open (no wonder the house is drafty!) I figure maybe his wolf is out, and I better be careful not to run into him.
According to the house rules, curfew starts at ten. And, like I saw with Ronin’s bite, our headmaster’s hardcore in the discipline department.
Not to mention the tension between the two of us is torqued pretty tight. I honestly don’t know what got into me,askingfor his fucking bite. Thank Christ he didn’t do it. All we need right now is two of us in this house with mating fever.
Fuck knows I’m already sexed up. I might not be planning to stick around, but I can’t deny I loved what went down with Neo and Ronin and me, and I’d love to see how far we could take that.
In my current revved-up state, even thoroughly gay Vasili’s a sexual distraction.
At least until that snake opens his mouth and ruins all that sexy by talking.
I hurry down endless flights of stairs, zigging and zagging toward the sea, boots crunching softly through a crust of freshly fallen snow. At first, a few fat flakes float in the intermittent glow of the old-fashioned streetlights (the few that still work). By the time I reach the big piazza in front of the church, the air’s thick with whirling flakes.
I’m about to venture out of the narrow street into the open when the furtive crunch of a footstep sounds in the snow behind me.
My heart leaps into my throat and lodges there like a peach pit.
