Curse of the Fae (PA #3)

Chapter Nine

Willow

I don't make it through the first class of the day. Galileo's busy lecturing and I'm nonstop smiles from my night with Alexander—who, after I removed his collar, legitimately pouted and threatened to steal it back—when the message comes.

A scrap of paper appears on my desk, the letters glowing faintly with traces of magic. Kian attempts to stab it with a pen, but I rescue it from his unique and unnecessary brand of violent protectiveness.

Smoothing out the edges, I scan the note quickly before pausing to reread the single sentence.

Willow Hominum,

    Please report to the headmaster's office immediately.

The word 'immediately' is bolded, underlined, and circled. Short of marking it with highlighter or writing it in blood, I don't know how else they can make the direction more clear or ominous.

At least the added 'please' at the beginning removes some of the demand. Like, it's down from a DEFCON 1 to a DEFCON 2.

Or is it the other way around? Are the lower numbers better or worse?

My knowledge is limited to the Santa Clause movie, except they had ELFCON instead of DEFCON and I can't remember what numbers they used.

"Willow!" a voice shouts, snapping me from my anxious thought-ramble.

Galileo's face is inches from mine, the lips I kissed this morning thinned in frustration.

I take a moment to admire them. His lips are bigger than mine, and even with them pressed so tightly together, they're still plump enough to nibble.

When I sit up to do just that, Ari pushes down on my shoulders to stop me. "Woah there, Trouble. Rome, knock it off."

The urge to taste Galileo lessens but doesn't disappear completely. Slumping in my chair, I let Aristotle's touch ground me from the after-effects of manufactured Lust.

"You're no fun, Ari. I'm bored out of my Satan-blessed mind. Can't we let them play with each other for a little bit?"

Galileo's head tilts in consideration before he looks around the room and shutters his emotions. We haven't discussed whether our relationship will be public, though we sucked at keeping it private before.

"Too many witnesses," Ari counters, echoing my thoughts and probably Galileo's.

"I can kill them," Kian offers.

Clenching his hands, Galileo unintentionally reminds me that Kian and I are due for a conversation of our own. One that, frankly, I have no idea how to approach.

How does one punish a dragon shifter? The only real threats I can make involve withholding some level of attention or affection, and that seems cruel.

But so is eating someone's hands...

"Um, super happy you're okay with Low getting down and dirty with someone who isn't you, but you're on murder timeout. It's been less than a day, don't tell me you've already forgotten."

Maybe Rome did it for me? He can be formidable when he absolutely wants to be, and he's as close to being friends with Kian as the dragon will allow.

"You said I am not allowed to eat anyone. There was no mention of killing."

"Poh-tay-toe, Poh-tah-toh, you need to stop unaliving people. It makes Willow sad."

Rome reaches over and tugs the end of my braid. "Tell him it makes you sad, love."