I simply stood there and stared into the fire, which brought out the veins in my arms as well as my glowing eyes and captivated me with its fascinating flicker.

Almost of its own accord, I slipped the bracelet off my wrist. It took effort to look away from the flames, not only because I was magically drawn to them, but also because the bracelet in my hands seemed to repel my gaze.

My eyes settled on the fabric anyway, scrutinizing the zigzag pattern and the wooden pearls.

I had always tried to feel something when I looked at them. Devotion, longing... guilt, regret. But all I felt was painful confusion.

Mind drifting, I held out my hand... And let the bracelet fall into the flames.

A crackling sound made the hairs on my arm stand up, and I watched as heat ate into the pattern, reducing the fabric to ashes far too quickly.

A tear tried to escape my eye, but I turned away from the fireplace in time, left the lounge, hurried up the stairs, and retreated to my room to study for law school for the rest of the day.

Chapter 45

Julie

“These are just elections, Grace,” Larissa laughed, apparently better able to handle the stress Grace was scattering everywhere in her election madness.

She wanted to be part of the Student Council Presidential Committee. And best of all, president.

I doubted she really wanted that. All she was striving for was to practice leadership positions because she didn’t feel ready to take over the Circle as Domini someday.

“You don’t understand,” Grace snorted, her dark brown curls bouncing up and down as she stopped and wheeled around to face us. “A lot depends on that here.”

Larissa and Bayla exchanged glances as if Grace no longer had her wits about her, then Vivienna pushed past us with her two best friends.

“Don’t waste your vote, Grace,” she sighed, “I’m on the same side as you.” She tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “Your behavior is going to lead to the dogs’ winning.”

She, Amber, and Kelly laughed before Amber and Kelly strode past me toward the molecular biology seminar room, and Vivienna walked alone toward the law school.

“How can someone be so arrogant...” Larissa murmured, shaking her head.

“Let her talk,” Grace replied and turned to leave. “And don’t vote for her in March. She’ll only cause problems and fuel more conflict.”

Without another word, she strode off toward the Business French seminar room, leaving me behind with the others.

There were still three months to go. She really shouldn’t have to worry about it already...

I turned to Larissa and Bay, who were both looking at me with expectation.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked nervously, because although I could sense that they wanted something from me, I couldn’t read it in their faces.

“We want to see the hot professor that Amber has been gushing about so loudly all night long that I couldn’t sleep a wink,” Larissa said with a conspiratorial undertone and a treacherous grin.

She could only be talking about Professor Quentin Tiberius. A professor who was definitely wrong here. Outwardly, in terms of age, and professionally. It worried me that someone like him was in Blairville. If this guy knew how close to the truth he was with the theories in his publications...

I still felt like a stalker because I had ordered all his publications to find out how close to the truth he really was.

“I’ll correct her,” Bay sighed. “She wants to see the prof.”

“What is your obsession with professors?” I laughed softly, feeling the blush creep into my cheeks.

“Hello?” Larissa exclaimed with indignation. “He’s supposed to be the hottest professor at this university. And the youngest.”

“It’s not an obsession with professors, but with anything that smells of testosterone and can’t escape her fast enough,” Bayla waved her hand and rolled her eyes.

“I’m standing next to you,” Larissa grumbled, visibly unimpressed.

In the corner of my eye, I spotted champagne-blonde hair. My head turned toward the classroom.

He was already in the room and with him, needless to say, were all the girls from the course. One of them was leaning over his table, hanging on to his lips while he explained something.

I had little desire to sit down in this estrogen-soaked room, but after researching the professor I knew he was the best person I could have ended up with, because the other professors and lecturers in molecular biology hadn’t landed a desirable job at the DLSC.

“Oh my God! Is that him?!” Larissa exclaimed way too loud. “Holy shit...” Her eyes widened when she spotted Mr. Suspicious. “No wonder everyone orgasms just talking to him!”

I widened my eyes.

“Larissa!”

She started laughing, which she often did, just like Kelly, only she wasn’t as annoying as Kelly.

“Good thing you already have your Erik,” she joked, and my eyes widened a second time.

“Erik?” Bayla asked, irritated.

Well done, Larissa...

“I’m ready to end this conversation,” I somehow managed to get out, and Bayla’s pitying smirk spoke for itself.

“I’ll get her out of here,” she said quickly, already tugging on Larissa’s arm.

“Come on! As if you don’t think he’s hot,” I heard Larissa grumble before Bayla had already dragged her down the corridor behind her. “He’s hot as fuck!”

I smiled at Larissa’s manner. How often I wished I could be so relaxed and honest without sinking into the floor with shame. And how much I would like to be human.

I entered the seminar room unnoticed and thankful that the other students were blocking my view with their questions about the first exams and homework.

Without asking, I sat down next to David, who didn’t seem enthusiastic but didn’t send me away either.

“And I thought you had left the course out of fear.”

I turned to the handsome Ruisangor in confusion.

“Fear of what?”