Page 67 of Dancing with Vipers and Shadows

Though, who would deny how hot that would be?

Your potential Nephilim Fae professor killing another professor on your behalf. Romantic if you ask me.

“However, my magic is rather buzzed from the trial. It must have been due to my strained difficulty during the underwater stage. The confrontation I dealt with was rather puzzling. In fact—”

“We don’t need details regarding your experience during your trial, Miss Guinevere,” Professor D’Angelo interrupts. “Why don’t you summon your friend so we can celebrate Professor North’s birthday in the area where you wished to surprise him?”

Sneaky bastard.

“Most certainly…” I’m trying to think hard and fast. “Give me a second to—”

An arm effortlessly wraps around my waist, leaving me no choice but to look up at the culprit.

Until my lips are being captured by another.

For a single moment, I’m completely captivated by the far too familiar energy of buzzing properties—the intense spark races through me until I hear a sharp cackle of energy that follows with a glow of warmth.

I thought the atmosphere was weird with this sudden confrontation, but I can feel the spike of tension that consumes our surroundings in seconds, making it almost suffocating to remain still.

The kiss is broken a second later and reveals someone I never thought I’d meet again.

Not here in the depths of the library with three professors…

“Jeez, Sweet Cruella. You could have at least waited for me to get the candles before abandoning me to surprise your favorite professor.”

The way my cheeks begin to warm up before I slowly lower my eyes to see the set of candles that are not only positioned perfectly on the cake but are lit with green flames.

Hold on a second.

“Favorite professor?” I cringe at the statement. “I don’t have a favorite anything.”

“Now, don’t lie.” The hold around my waist only tightens as the kiss on my cheek sends shivers through me. “I’m your favorite. My girl doesn’t remember?”

“All I remember is what a nuisance you are, Asher,” I groan and side-eye him.He’s so lucky I’m in a pickle. He fucking knows it, too.“Last time I checked, this was a public domain where no affection is allowed.”

“That’s a hard rule to obey, Ophelia,” Asher declares as he releases me for his own safety.Before I snipe the shit out of him.He doesn’t hesitate to stand right next to me, though, which forces all of us to acknowledge him as he lifts his thumb and runs it along his bottom lip. “You’re too sweet to resist.”

My jock of a stalker ex-boyfriend.

I had to blame myself for this because whenever I dared think about this man, he’d always show up as if I summoned his existence like a knight to my imminent rescue.

“Asher Heathcliff,” the way Professor North growls proves he despises him more than me. “Miss Guinevere is right. No affection within these parts of the Grand Library.”

The way Asher smirks tells me he knows far too much.

Fuck… don’t tell me he—

“Intriguing rule, if you ask me. I doubt everyone follows such when the aesthetics of this glamorous space of wisdom are romantic for those who love fiction that romanticizes dark academia folklore. At least, if you ask me,” he summarizes.

I’m positive Professor North sees that glint in Asher’s eyes.

The reflection screams to his enemies, ‘tread carefully.’

“Was the kiss really necessary, Mr. Heathcliff?” Professor Blackbird surprisingly speaks up. I’m sure he’s interfering for the sake of calming the brewing storm building between us.

For whatever reason…

“I feel like you’d do the same, Professor Blackbird,” he begins and slides his arm across my shoulders. “If you haven’t seen your girlfriend in eons, you’d be possessed to greet her the best way you know how.” He dares to further smirk in pride. “At least, in a way that’s publicly appropriate, if you know what I mean,” he chuckles. “Then again, I guess it depends on whether you bend one way or the other.”

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