Page 34 of Touched By Darkness

Just then, the handle rattles, and I jump back with my heart in my throat.

Dmitriy enters and quickly shuts the door behind him with a soft click. His dark eyes find mine and his lips unfurl in a slow smile. “He’s definitely sufficiently pissed off.”

“Yeah?”

He nods, leaning back against the door.

Suddenly unsure, I wrap my arms around myself and let my gaze skate over the room. Dmitriy was so willing to destroy Daemon, and now he’s helping me?

I know I can’t trust anyone here at the academy, but my heart still wants to see the good in people.

“What’s your plan now? Continue throwing balls at him?”

I smile despite myself. “It was a good shot.”

“It was an epic shot.”

“I don’t know what my plan is. Daemon always had a thing for my wings, and he has seen them now. I flared them at him. It should be—”

“Wait a minute… You flared your wings at Daemon?”

“Uh, yes?”

Dmitriy bursts out laughing, and it goes on and on.

“What?”

“Let’s just say, you’ve definitely got his attention now. Flaring your wings is the equivalent of challenging someone for their position. Like a lesser wolf challenging the alpha. Wingspan equals power. Yours are huge, as you know. It’s sexy as hell.”

I grimace. “Please, don’t say that again.”

“Do you want me to lie? Daemon will be rubbing one out tonight in your honor while imagining a million ways to force you to submit, willingly or unwillingly.”

A shiver runs through me.

A delicious fucking shiver.

The kind of shiver that makes me squeeze my thighs together.

“Come on,” Dmitriy says, opening the door. “Let’s get to class.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea if Daemon sees me with you.”

“On the contrary,” he says when we walk out. “This time around, it’ll work to your advantage.”

“I’ll hold you personally responsible if you’re wrong.”

“Come on,” he says with an easy smile. “You should have learned by now that he is competitive by nature. Even more so where his dearest cousin is concerned.”

The hallways are almost empty now except for a few stragglers, including us.

We turn the corner. “You’re as bad as each other.” I look at him, slowing to a halt. “Do you really not remember me?”

His head shakes, and I blow out a breath. “It’s just so hard to get my head around. I have all these memories of you and your cousin. Lots of history, you know? It feels strange to start over again.”

He pulls me to a stop. “I’m not gonna pretend to be a good person, but you can always talk to me.”

With a snort and a soft laugh, I walk off. “Even though you tried to use me to piss off Daemon, and your father tried to kill me? I don’t think so. It’ll take a lot more for me to trust you.”

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