Page 108 of Wings of Ashes
Bael continued staring at her, analyzing her face with his dark red eyes. They acted like lasers, slicing away any pretense or feigned expression, trying to see her at her barest and most vulnerable.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours, baby?” he asked, sounding suspicious now as well—of her.
Shit. Nix stared right back at him, trying to read throughhisexpression. Was any of his flirting—or occasionally sweet words—real? Had it all been an act to get close to her?
If so, why had he never done so in her previous life? She was the one who signed up for two of his classes in this new life.
In this second chance, I promised myself to be brave.
Nix tipped her chin up like a queen, narrowed her eyes onto him, and asked, “What is phase seven?”
Bael’s red eyes darkened into a shade of garnet as his entire body tensed at her words. He tilted his head and inched closer to her, so his earthy, sensual alpha scent played with her senses.
“Ah,” Bael said. “Someone was snooping this morning.”
“Who are you? Really?” Nix asked in a hoarse voice that hinted at the inner violence and betrayal twisting inside her stomach. “What are your plans with me?”
“What is she talking about?” Thierry asked, gaze shooting between Bael and Nix.
“Plans with you?” Bael echoed as he lifted a hand and trapped a lock of her hair between his fingertips.
“Why do you have a needle of shifter poison?” Nix revealed what she saw.
Bael blinked, arched an eyebrow, and clucked his tongue. “Now, how do you know what’s in that needle?”
“I…” How did she explain without losing her upper hand?No one can know I lived through a possible future.
“Are you working with them?” Bael snapped at her, losing his flirting and carefree demeanor. His voice whipped down around her, vicious and threatening.
“Them? Who?” Nix asked. Who washeworking with?
“Someone tell me what is going on right now,” Thierry demanded, but Bael had never been a good “listener.”
“Do you know what they are doing?” Bael asked Nix cryptically.
“Who?” she exasperated.
Bael’s hand shot forward, releasing her hair to clamp around her neck. His blade blurred in his other hand as he lifted it to her chin.
Nix inhaled sharply as the blade pressed to her skin. Still, she feigned confidence. Bravery.Fuck him if he thinks a little knife compares to years of torture.
“Tell me how you know about the poison, baby,” Bael murmured seductively in her ear.
“Release her. NOW,” Thierry commanded the incubus.
“I suspected a faculty member was helping work behind the scenes,” Bael said. “Never pegged you for the type, Stoney.”
“Someone needs to provide me with context for this conversation immediately,” Thierry told them.
“How did you know the needle was poison?” Bael asked Nix again, tuning out the professor.
“I am supposed to trust you when you are threatening me?” Nix asked him.
“Haven’t you heard the phrase ‘Always trust a demon,’ huh?”
“The poison…” Nix swallowed as Bael pressed the blade harder to her skin. “I’ve ingested it before.”
Bael’s blade lifted ever so slightly as he listened. “How…” Apparently, the sex demon was smarter than he let others seebecause he said, “The elixir. The one you and Bowen were talking about… The one that could damage your ability to shift—”
