Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“Right.” His throat works. “You’d be better off asking my father yourself. I’m not exactly his favorite person at the moment.” He blinks, quickly masking the pain that flashes through his eyes. “He’s just a few rooms down with Panchek right now.”
“I’m more concerned that he might not give it to me,” I say slowly. “He mentioned last year that he wanted it, and I’m scared he’ll keep it for himself, or that he or Markham will redact the information.”
Dain folds his arms. “So you want me to help you steal it.”
“Yes.” There’s no point in lying.
“Not sure he really considers me part of the bloodline—” Dain starts, but then the door opens behind him.
“Well, that didn’t take you long,” Kaori says with a laugh, then looks over his shoulder. “I don’t think they’re here for me.” He turns back to us. “Make it quick, cadets. He has a meeting to attend in about ten minutes. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”
We part, and Professor Kaori heads into the empty hall.
“Professor Riorson.” Dain’s tone isn’t exactly respectful as Xaden fills the doorway.
My pulse leaps and I drink in the sight of him, stubbled cheeks, full lips, and gorgeous eyes. There’s no hint of red to be seen.
“Violet.” Xaden ignores Dain and his cousin, his voice sliding over my skin like velvet. “A word in private?”
“Not a good idea.” I shake my head slowly.
“I’m certain I’ve had worse ones.” He holds out his hand.
“You’re now a professor.” Clutching the straps of my pack keeps me from reaching for him. “I’m a cadet.”
“And?” Xaden glowers at me.
“Oh shit,” Dain says quietly. “Article Eight, Section One of the Code of Conduct.”
“Wait. You two broke up?” Bodhi’s voice rises.
“Yes,” I answer.
“No,” Xaden says at the same time, glaring at his cousin, then jerking his gaze to mine. “No,” he repeats.
“I mean…if you’re our new professor, then the Code applies. At least for as long as you hold the position,” Dain muses. “And I can’t think of a single piece of Codex that overrides it.”
“No one asked you, Aetos,” Xaden warns.
“Don’t blame me. I didn’t write the Code.” Dain backs into the hall with his hands up. “Nor did I accept the job.”
Xaden tenses.
“Well, I have class, so good luck handling this one.” Bodhi hurries after Dain.
Xaden waits half a second before grabbing the right strap of my pack and tugging me into Kaori’s room. So much for getting to class on time.
He lets me go and closes the door behind us.
“Garrick didn’t come with you?” As stalling tactics come, it’s a lazy one, but it’s all I have as I retreat toward Kaori’s desk, avoiding the two chairs sitting in front of it. The office is one of the bigger ones, boasting two arched windows and a built-in bookcase with tomes stacked haphazardly to fill every possible inch.
“Considering he was dangerously close to my side when I lost control, we decided the babysitting program wasn’t as effective as we’d hoped.” Xaden leans against the wall to the left of the door, his shoulder resting along the frame of a painted rendering of the First Six’s dragons.
But not seven.
“You’re here now, so it won’t happen again.” I brace my palms on the desk and jump to sit on its edge. “I made myself a promise that I would do anything to save you, to cure you, so if that means we can’t be—”
“Do not finish that sentence.” He walks my way, and my heartbeat increases with every step he takes. “You’re already the deadliest here, so it’s not like I have to worry about grading you fairly. This changes nothing.”
“We live by the Codex—” I try again.
“I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the Code of Conduct?” He cradles my face and leans down, resting his forehead against mine. “I am yours and you are mine, and there’s no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that.”
My eyes slide shut, like that might stop my heart from falling even harder for this man. “So what do we do?”
“Kaori thinks we can get an exemption. I just have to ask Panchek here in a few minutes.” His thumbs graze my cheeks, and I slowly open my eyes, clinging to the hope that he might be right. That it could just be that easy.
“No matter what, we have to keep you here. You were only on the border for a week.” And look what happened. I don’t have to say what we’re both thinking.
“I know.” He lifts his head. “And the worst part is I don’t even remember reaching for the source or taking the power during the battle. It was simply there. If Sgaeyl hadn’t…” His chest rises with a deep breath. “She spoke to me for the first time—‘yelled’ is a more accurate term—and I snapped out of it, but the damage was done. I let you down.”