Chapter 17 – REGINA #2
His expression shifts. The anger bleeds away, replaced by something softer. "So… this isn't about feeling beholden to Villeneuve? It's something you actually want?"
"Yes." The admission surprises me with its certainty. "It's something I actually want."
Sean's right. I was just afraid of failing.
Oh my gods. Did I just admit Sean was right?
Maybe I've gone off the deep end.
Killian is quiet for a long moment, and through our bond, I feel the war happening inside him. The alpha wolf that wants to forbid this, to keep me safe from any potential threat. And the man who wants me to have what makes me happy.
"Fine," he finally groans, the word sounding like it's been dragged out of him with pliers.
I blink. "Fine?"
"I'll support you." He moves closer, his hands finding my hips. "Even if it means my mate is working for my literal arch-nemesis."
"It's a one-sided rivalry," I point out, fighting a smile.
"Doesn't make it less real." His forehead drops to rest against mine. "But I have conditions."
"Oh?" I drape my arms around his neck. "And what might those be?"
"I want to go to work with you. In my wolf form. Wearing one of those service animal vests."
I laugh, the sound startling in the otherwise silent kitchen. "You're not serious."
"I'm dead serious." But there's a hint of humor in his eyes now. "Emotional support wolf. It's a thing."
"It's absolutely not a thing."
"Then we could start a trend."
I'm about to tell him that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard when footsteps sound in the hallway. Rowan appears first, looking dazed.
"Why," he asks with impressive calm, "is the janitor eating nachos and playing Grand Theft Auto with Sean in the den?"
"Killian kidnapped him," I say flatly.
Rowan doesn't even blink. "Oh. That checks out."
Micah appears behind him, glasses askew. "I felt the panic through the bond. What happened?"
"Killian tried to solve our faculty sponsor problem by acquiring Dale," I explain.
"Acquiring," Micah repeats worriedly. "Like... purchasing?"
"Like abducting," Rowan clarifies.
"I didn't abduct anyone!" Killian protests. "I made him a very generous offer!"
"While blocking his only exit and being seven feet of pure intimidation?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Six-seven," he mutters. "And that's not my fault. Genetics."
Micah pinches the bridge of his nose. "Where did you even find this unwilling janitor?"
"Magical science building," Killian crosses his arms defensively. "And he wasn't unwilling until you guys started making it weird."
"We're making it weird?" I stare at him. "You're the one who brought a hostage home."
"He's not a hostage!"
From the gym, we hear Dale's nervous laughter followed by Sean's enthusiastic "BOOM, HEADSHOT!"
Rowan sighs. "I'll go make sure Sean doesn't corrupt the poor man further."
He disappears down the hall, leaving me with Killian and Micah. The latter is watching us with barely concealed amusement.
"So," Micah says, pushing his glasses up. "I'm guessing the Dale plan is off the table?"
"Very off the table," I confirm.
"Damn." He doesn't sound remotely disappointed. "What's plan B?"
I take a breath, steeling myself. "I'm accepting Villeneuve's offer. The teaching assistant position."
Micah's eyebrows rise, but he doesn't seem remotely surprised after last night. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Because you want to, or because we're out of options?"
"Both," I admit. "But mostly the first one.
I've been thinking about it all day, and.
.." I trail off, trying to find the right words.
"Kyle made me give up so much. My education, my independence, my sense of self-worth.
I let him convince me that wanting things for myself was selfish.
That my only value was in what I could provide for the coven. "
Killian's jaw tightens, but he stays quiet.
"This feels like a chance to take something back," I continue. "To pursue what I actually want instead of just surviving or serving someone else's agenda. And yes, Villeneuve is mysterious and probably has ulterior motives—"
"Definitely has ulterior motives," Killian interjects.
"—but this is still my choice."
The kitchen goes quiet. I feel the shift in both of them. Understanding. Acceptance. And beneath it, a fierce pride.
"Then we support you," Micah says simply. "Whatever you need."
Killian looks like he's swallowed something sour, but he nods. "Even if it means watching you work for that pretentious asshole every day."
"I appreciate the sacrifice," I say dryly. "But I can handle Villeneuve."
"I know you can." His hands find my face, thumbs brushing my cheekbones. "That's not what worries me. What worries me is what he might try to pull. What he might ask of you when we're not around."
"Then I'll tell him no." I cover his hands with mine. "I'm not the same person I was with Kyle. I won't let anyone use me like that again. Not even for grad school."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He kisses me then, hard and possessive and desperate. When he pulls back, his eyes are blazing blue.
"If he crosses a line—any line—you tell me immediately. I don't care if I'm in class or across campus or in the middle of a fucking exam. You call, and I'm there and I'll bite his fucking head off."
"Same," Micah adds. "We'll all bite his head off."
"He only has one head," I remind them.
"Then we'll sew it back on and bite it off again," Micah suggests.
Killian nods. "Works for me."
The protectiveness would usually feel suffocating, if they were anyone else. But this is different. They're not trying to cage me. They're offering backup. The knowledge that I don't have to face anything alone.
It's... nice.
Footsteps approach from the hallway. Rowan returns, looking weary.
"Dale is currently winning at Grand Theft Auto and eating his body weight in questionable nachos," he reports. "I told him he's free to go whenever he wants. He said he'll finish the game first."
"See?" Killian says pointedly. "He's fine. Not traumatized at all."
"He asked if we were going to sacrifice him to our wolf gods," Rowan deadpans.
"And?"
"I assured him we don't have wolf gods. He seemed only moderately relieved."
I bury my face in my hands. "This is my life now. This is what I've chosen."
"Yep," Micah says cheerfully. "No take-backs. You're stuck with us."
"Lucky me."
"You have two hours and then you have to put the janitor back," I say, pointing at Killian.
"Hey, he's a free man," Killian says, raising his hands. "I've learned my lesson."
Somehow, I doubt that.