Chapter Twenty-eight
Audrey
“ M iss Maddox, why don’t you come up here and demonstrate for us the control you have over your magic after less than a month?”
Glaring down at Professor Novak, I shake my head. “Why don’t you go fuck yourself?”
Yeah, I’m still pissed at him for what he said. It was just my luck that I ended up back in his class for my last two months at the academy. It’s not the first time I’ve told him to go fuck himself in the middle of class. Hell, it’s not the first time this week. The first time, the class had tittered much to my amusement. He hadn’t been nearly as amused, nor had Brenden. By now, the class is used to it.
“Audrey,” Brenden warns from Professor Novak’s side, ignoring the scowl on my face. “The professor asked you to come to the front of the class.”
I hear the unvoiced threat in his words. If I don’t do what the professor wants, then he’s going to tell Wraith, who will punish me for my insolence.
With a sigh, I push out of my seat and take the stairs to the front of the room. Refusing to look at Professor Novak, I keep my eyes locked on Brenden so he’ll know just how unhappy I am with him. I feel a little bad because he is Professor Novak’s assistant, and he’s just doing his job, but he knows how I feel about being here and the man he works for. It feels like he’s taking his side instead of mine, and I’m not a fan.
I spin back toward the class as Professor Novak speaks. “As of three weeks ago, Miss Maddox was unable to access her magic. As all of you know, when your magic reemerges here in the underworld, it’s stronger. It’s harder to control. Many of you are still unable to control it, and you’re in your fifth month. This is unacceptable considering the amount of time many of you have had to work on your control, whereas Miss Maddox has had only weeks.”
He turns to face me. “Miss Maddox, if you’ll show them what you can do with your fire magic?”
I want to tell him no. To tell him to go get fucked. Instead, I call my fire to the palm of my hand, keeping it just a tiny flicker on the tip of my finger. I point my finger up the stairs and funnel more magic into the fire. It races from my fingers and up the stairs before climbing up the wall, all the while burning nothing.
“Very good, Miss Maddox. And what have you learned this week?”
I want to turn around and glare at my mate for telling Professor Novak how far I’ve advanced. Instead, I sigh and call back my fire and crush it between my palms.
Lifting my hands, I funnel my magic into the fire once more and spread my arms. It arcs between my outstretched hands before encircling me completely. Lowering my hands, I push the fire into the ground as I lift myself into the air.
I don’t bother fighting the smile that spreads across my face. This is something I just learned to do the day before, and it’s amazing. I plan to experiment with it more to see if I can move through the air using my magic. But for now, this is pretty fucking cool.
“Excellent, Miss Maddox. You’re doing an amazing job relearning how to use your magic in such a short amount of time. You can head back to your seat.”
My eyes narrow on the asshole professor, considering sending my fire at him, but knowing I’ll definitely get in trouble for that—and not the good kind. Instead, I lower myself back to the ground and pull my magic inside myself before heading back to my seat.
This class can’t be over soon enough.
Professor Novak lectures for a few more minutes before allowing us to work independently. I never try anything new in his class, not wanting him to know what I can do. That obviously hasn’t done me much good since Brenden apparently has a big mouth. I just continue to work on growing and shrinking my magic in the palm of my hand today. It’s good for working on control, and usually keeps anyone from riding my ass.
“Are you going to stay pissed at me forever?”
I startle at the sound of Professor Novak’s voice. Not bothering to turn my head in his direction, I shrug. “At least until I graduate. After that, I won’t ever have to see you again.”
He snorts. “Is that what you think? How do you plan on doing that when you’re living on campus? Are you just never going to leave your house? You do know that it’s a requirement for Wraith to live on campus, right?”
“Of course I know that. I’ll be busy working—not as a professor—so I doubt there will be much cause for me to run into you.” I keep my attention on my flame, continuing the exercise as I attempt to cool my temper.
Who does this asshole think he is? Why can’t he just leave me alone until I graduate? Then he’ll never have to see me again. Why does he care that I’m mad at him, anyway?
“You’re Wraith’s mate. He’ll want you to join him for events, and believe it or not, the faculty has multiple events during the year. We do more than just teach you all about becoming a reaper.”
Finally, turning to glare at him, I shake my head. “I really don’t fucking care. Why does it matter if I’m pissed at you, anyway? I’m nothing to you—you made that abundantly clear with your choice of words.”
“Dammit, Audrey. I didn’t mean any of that.”
I’m shocked to hear him call me by my first name. That has to be a first. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard him call a student by their first name in the months I’ve been here. Not that it matters. He doesn’t matter.
“That’s nice. Too bad you can’t take them back,” I offer, turning back to my flame. “They’re already out there, and anyone who speaks to me like you did—even if they think the results were worth it—doesn’t belong in my life. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m working on my control as you requested, and you’re distracting me.”
He doesn’t respond, but he also doesn’t storm off like he usually does. I’m keenly aware of his presence behind me as I continue to ignore him.
Finally, he sighs. “I really am sorry for the words I chose to use. You’re not useless, and I’ve never thought you were. Maybe one day you’ll believe me.”
“And maybe one day pigs will fly,” I mutter as he walks away. It takes more effort than I care to admit to not turn around and watch him.
“Since it’s Friday, why don’t we end class a little early. I don’t know about all of you, but I’m ready to start my weekend,” Professor Novak announces a few minutes later, sending a cheer through the classroom.
Thank fuck. Not only am I ready for the weekend to begin, but I’m also ready to get the hell out of his classroom.
Extinguishing my fire, I shove my laptop back into my bag and heft it over my shoulder before heading for the door. I’m stopped at the end of my aisle by a hand on my wrist. “Wait for me, firecracker?”
“Why should I, traitor?” I ask, turning to him with lifted eyebrows.
He just rolls his eyes. “Stop being a brat. I’m only asking for five minutes.”
“Fine.” I sigh, crashing into the closest seat.
Brenden speeds back down the stairs, coming to a stop in front of Professor Novak. They’re too far away for my witch ears to pick up, but I know they’re talking about me by the way they keep glancing up at me.
Rolling my eyes, I slouch in the seat and stare up at the ceiling.
Brenden has made it clear that he wants me to forgive Professor Novak. Wraith says he doesn’t care if I forgive him or not, but that I need to treat him with the respect he deserves as my professor. Meaning the only one who has remained on my side is Donovan. He definitely doesn’t think I should forgive the asshole and is one hundred percent onboard with helping me kill him—something I have no plans of doing.
“Thank you for waiting, firecracker. Let’s head home and surprise the guys.” Brenden offers me his hand, and I take it. He pulls me to my feet before leading me up the stairs. I can hear Professor Novak behind us, but don’t acknowledge his presence.
It’s not until we’re outside that I turn to my mate. “How about instead of heading home, we go somewhere and work on our plan.”
Brenden immediately deflates. “Audrey, I really don’t think you should be worrying about that right now. You need to get through these last few months and pass your final. I don’t even know how things work as a reaper because Wraith has kept me here on campus. Neither one of us knows what we can do or how we can move around Earth. How can we make a plan without that information? We’ll revisit it once you’ve graduated, and after you tell Wraith and Donovan.”
“Damn it, Brenden! You promised you’d help me with this.”
“I did, and I will. After you tell your other mates and graduate. It’s only a few more months, and it’s not like you can do anything before then.” He sighs, reaching up to cup my cheek. “Please, Audrey.”
“Fine. I don’t like it, but I accept your terms.” At least for now, because the idea of telling Wraith still terrifies me. Not that my mate terrifies me, but I know how he’s going to react, and it’s not going to be good.
Brenden’s smile is full of relief, surprising me. I didn’t realize he was so worried about this. “Excellent. While you’re agreeing with me about things, maybe you can forgive Nex?”
“Yeah... No. That’s not happening, but good try.” Leaning up, I brush a kiss across his lips. “Maybe Donovan found something in his research about what the hell is mixed with my witch blood.”
He shakes his head. “We both know that he would’ve texted the group chat if he did. I’m sorry none of us have been able to find anything. Nex has continued his research even with how you’ve been treating him.”
“I don’t care. I’m treating him like he treated me.”
“Damn it, Audrey.” I jump back at the frustration in his voice. “Why can’t you let this go? Do you know how hard it is on me? I’m his assistant and my mate keeps causing problems in class. You’re making me look bad. He didn’t mean anything he said.”
I scoff. “Why can’t I let it go? You saw me afterward, Brenden. He destroyed me. That’s why I won’t let it go. I’m sorry I embarrass you. I think I’ll walk home on my own.”
“Oh, come on, firecracker. Don’t be like this.”
I flip him off over my shoulder and keep walking. I hate that we’re fighting over this, but he can’t keep sticking up for Professor Novak.
Am I being petty? Maybe.
Do I care? Not a damn bit.
But if that’s true then why does my stomach flip just then?
I know I’m not great at letting go of things. I’ve been this way my entire life. I don’t know how to just stop.
But maybe Brenden is right. Maybe I need to learn how to let it go.
Maybe.
We’ll see.