Page 38 of Validus Vale Academy 1
“Thanks,” she says. “But you really don’t have to.”
She’s wrong. I do have to. I have to do everything and anything for her, and this? This is the very least of things. She begins to chatter, not concerned about getting verbal replies in return. It’s unusual. People don’t make conversation with me; it makes most folk uncomfortable for talking to be one-directional.
“This class was too much for me,” she says. “I can’t keep up. Professor Feniks is making me run laps at six every morning for the next month. I hate the idea, but it’s true that I need to get stronger. I’m completely puny.” She looks at me and showcases her tiny bicep, giving a laugh.
I shake my head. My nymph is perfect as she is.
“Do you know where I can find some disinfectant?” she asks after all the mopping is done. I put up one finger, signaling her to wait, then walk to the storage closet and retrieve a spray bottle and another rag. Nymph snags the bottle from my hands and squirts the floor. Putting up a hand, she says, “Rag, please.”
I frown and shake my head as I lower myself to wipe the floor.
“I don’t think so. Yoink!” Suddenly, the rag is pulled through my fingers. “Ta-da!”
She giggles as she finishes up the cleaning. I stand until she’s finished, then take the rag and bottle and hook them into my coverall loops. She grabs the mop and bucket, but I hold out my hand until she sighs and gives them over. A tingle of warmth runs through me at her submission.
“I’m only letting you put them away so you won’t be butt hurt,” she grins. “But this friendship isn’t going to work if you insist on cleaning up all my messes.”
This friendship? My heart does a strange gallop. No one has paid me attention in I truly don’t know how long.
When her eyes meet mine, there is no fear or judgment, just curiosity and pleasure in my company. “OK, Ludo—I’d better split. I’ve already missed most of Intro to Divination, so I’m going to ditch it altogether. She winks playfully. “Do you think the teacher saw that coming?” I try my sorta-smile again, it’s a little easier this time. She gives a little wave and says, “See you soon, hopefully, we’ve got a Boggle-match ahead of us.”
I watch as she walks through the doors of the girls' locker room. In the silence of the sports hall, I push my tongue behind my teeth and try to relax my throat.
“Th-th-th-” the sound is raspy and low, but almost. I need to practice. I’ll practice and then one day?
I’ll say her name.
17
As I head back to my office, I think, yet again, about that little AUA, Wilson.
My heart nearly stopped when I saw her dangling from the hoop. There’s no meat to her; she’s a little bird, with small, delicate,breakablebones.
A smirk creeps onto my face as I picture all the puke on Manu Hale’s feet. No doubt, those sneakers were obnoxiously expensive—though I’m sure he’s got a dozen more pairs in his closet.
Unfortunately, he’s the kind of tiny-dicked, egotistic fool that needs payback for any perceived transgression. Hale will seek his revenge on Wilson—she fucking needs to toughen up and get busy finding her spark. The weak are target practice here. It was stupid to partner her with Elite douches in the first place, but I didn’t want to coddle her.
Still doesn’t answer why I volunteered to start training her. Do I want to be in the gym at six every morning with an AUA student?
No.
Since when did I start giving a shit about students?Idioottimainen!
Do not get distracted, Feniks. I have a mission that requires my full concentration.
But… something in me wants to protect Wilson. The best thing I can do is teach that little girl how to protect herself. Like a big brother, not like someone who was mesmerized by her hips and the small swell of her ass as those ludicrous sweatpants started snaking down her hips.
Big brother. Big brother.
Reaching my office, I try to focus on the day ahead, and not the tiny girl with wild mahogany-colored hair. Slamming the door shut, I strip off my tee and look for my smokes.
The nicotine calms me. OK, there’s a faculty meeting in an hour, but before that, I’ll go through Max’s file once again, looking for clues that just aren’t there.
Fuck, my cousin is a maniac. I’m amazed he managed three years here without being expelled. Not when his late-night fight club got broken up, or even when he’d organized a rave on the roof of Communis.
Maximus’ problem has always been his boredom threshold. I.e, it’s non-existent. If he could channel all that energy into something practical, he’d probably change the world.
Missä se hullu on?
