Page 63 of Shadow Caster
Yeah, I didn’t buy that. “Are you?”
“What?”
“Over her?”
She looked away.
I nudged her with my shoulder. “Crazy thought, but have you considered that she might feel the same way?”
Minnie’s brows shot up. “What? You mean like have feelings forme?” She shook her head and laughed. “No. Harper likes guys.”
“Doesn’t mean she can’t like girls too.”
Minnie’s eyes narrowed, and she peered up at me from beneath her bangs. “What is it you’re not telling me?”
Shit. It wasn’t my place to say. “Nothing. Just, don’t close off your heart too soon, okay?” I shrugged. “Give Harper a chance.”
She looked wary, and then her gaze fell to the clock on the wall behind me. “Shit, Indie. It’s two a.m.”
Crap. “I’ll be fine. To be honest, I don’t see the point of the curfew. They don’t even know what’s caused Lottie’s and the other guy’s memory loss.”
“The curfew makes the administration feel like they have some control. I heard that Brunner activated the Academy gargoyles. She has eyes and ears on the place now.”
Urgh, gargoyles creeped me the fuck out. “I’ll be careful.”
I hugged her quick and then slipped out into the corridor.
Silence and gloom greeted me. The lights were low, and my boots sounded way too loud even though I was in sneak mode.
It was a long way between here and the shadow dorm. Look before you leap, Justice. Hyde had warned me to not act rashly during training, and here I was acting rashly in general. Maybe he was right. Maybe I needed to stop and think things through more.
I was almost at the main staircase when a shadow climbed the wall—hulking with horns.
Gargoyle.
Dammit.
There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide except a pocket of shadow.
Shadow.
God, please let this work. Get me out of here. I leapt at the shadows as the gargoyle rounded the corner. A tingle ran over my skin, and the world went black. I took another step, and my boot snagged on something. I tumbled forward just as my vision returned. Hyde’s shocked face greeted me. And then I was barreling into him, and we were falling. Legs tangled, noses bumped, and my breasts squished up against his taut, naked chest.
Oh, my God. I was lying on top of my half-naked tutor. In his room. On his bed and he had his hands on my hips. I should move. Push him away. Get off him. Something. But I was mesmerized by the gold flecks in his eyes and the thick lashes that framed them. His pupils dilated, showcasing my reflection—parted lips and heavy-lidded eyes.
If I moved, the spell would be broken. If I moved, then I wouldn’t be touching him anymore. I wouldn’t be able to feel the length of his powerful body against mine or feel the heat of his skin seeping through my clothes. And right now, that was all I wanted. Here in his room, surrounded by lamplight, anything felt possible. Our faces were so close that our breath kissed. It would be so easy to bridge the gap and press my mouth to his lips.
But he was my tutor and a feyblood. There was no future there, even though my body didn’t care about that. My hands were on his biceps, and I pressed down with my fingertips, wanting to feel that velvety skin just for a moment before I broke contact.
He sucked in a breath, and his grip on my waist tightened. Heat spiraled inside me, shooting down to my core.
“Indigo …” One word filled with torment.
But fuck, he’d said my name.
He closed his eyes as if in pain. “You need to get up now.” His voice was hoarse.
Oh, shit.
