Page 22 of Chaos
There was no mistaking the threat laced through my words. Merri stiffened, finally seeming to remember who exactly she was mouthing off to.
“What are you going to do? Use your Pestilence power to knock me out again? That won’t get you very far.”
I strode toward her, my gaze desperate to drink in her luscious curves. Instead of giving in, my eyes remained steadfastly locked on hers. To her credit, she didn’t back down. Not until I was a breath away from her and even then, it was only the slightest shift backward.
“Come in. Close the door. And don’t argue with me again,” I said against her ear, no small amount of command in my whispered words.
“Fine,” she snapped, though there was a lack of strength in her agreement as she ignored my command about the door and stomped her way across my room to the armchair in the corner. On her way, she passed a bookcase and slowed her steps.
My chest tightened when I followed her gaze and discovered what had captured her interest.
Fuck.
It was obviously a child’s toy. There was no disguising it, misshapen and faded as it was. The fabric had worn from age, but I’d kept it preserved as well as I could over the centuries. Looking at it now brought a rush of shame and betrayal. Foolishly, I’d hoped I could one day give it to Pan. Not that he had any need for such things now. But after all this time, I still couldn’t find it in myself to part with the wretched thing.
“What’s this?” Merri asked, fingers reaching for the doll. I was on her before she made contact, snatching her by the wrist and stopping her.
“Nothing,” I lied.
She jerked out of my hold. “Mal, we’re not going to get anywhere if you’re not as open with me as I have to be with you.”
“That’s not true. I’m the teacher. You’re the student.”
“So lead by example.”
“You want answers, you’ll have to discover them yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If you’d sit down like I’d asked you to, you’d already know.”
“You’re a shit teacher, Mal.”
“And you might be the most trying student of all time. You’re lucky I don’t have a switch handy.”
“Your age is showing. Beatings went out of vogue a long time ago, Malice.”
“More's the pity. Now sit.” I pointed to the chair and waited. “I have all day.”
I saw one more spark of defiance light in her eyes before she huffed and finally did as she was told.
“Good girl.”
My, my, she was a beautiful challenge.
But one I was more than up for. They’d named me Malice for a reason.
“All right, professor. I’m sitting. Now will you tell me what the hell we’re doing?”
I indulged in a moment of fancy, picturing Merri in a short skirt and knee socks whilst I stood in front of a chalkboard. Tears were in her eyes over her poor grade, and she was begging me to show mercy.
I blinked and cleared my throat. No, I would not stand here with a throbbing erection at the whim of a succubus.
“Stop that,” I grumbled.
“Stop what?” She blinked at me innocently.
“Using your power to distract me.”
