My heart froze, my fingers started to get cold again, and it was as if the temperature in the room dropped abruptly.
I tried to control my breathing while all the other students left the room one by one.
The professor did nothing, didn't pack up his stuff, didn't sort his papers... He stood there, ten meters away from me, leaning against his desk, twirling the gold ring on his right ring finger with his left hand.
Shortly after the door closed, and we were finally alone in the seminar room, he looked up. Two messy champagne-colored strands fell into his forehead.
“You've embarrassed me,” he said, his eyes flashing dangerously and the right corner of his mouth turned upwards. “How very bold of you.”
I'd never been to a zoo before, but this must be how the animal felt when it was put down in the lion cage to be fed.
I suppressed the urge to swallow and straightened my shoulders.
“You're talking about fairy tales and magic, Professor,” I began. “Things that don't exist.” His gaze studied me calmly. “Maybe it has something to do with your age.”
He laughed softly, his look surprised, and... walked toward me. He stopped a meter in front of me. Once again, I caught a glimpse of his unusual green irises, which sparkled like exotic crystals.
“I usually get compliments on my age.”
I couldn't help but make the next comment.
“From people who confuse intelligence with wisdom and don't actually attend your seminar to further their education.”
His smirk returned, and he walked past me on the left.
I didn't dare turn to the side. Not even when he stopped next to me.
“From humans, Miss Blair,” he whispered, continuing to walk around me, and this time I had to swallow. “Don't you think you are a little close-minded about the truth?” He came to a halt on my right. “One might assume you know more than you're willing to admit.” He stared at me, piercing me from the side with his gaze, and it was as if I felt him on my bare shoulder, especially when he leaned down toward me. “Is that why you get insulting?”
His whisper reached my ear and I thought I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin, causing goose bumps to spread up my neck.
And there it was again, the light citrus note mingling with his masculine scent.
I didn't know which Greek god was with me at the moment, but I found the courage to turn my head in his direction without being frightened by the proximity of his face.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
It was strangely mesmerizing to look up close at how his jawbones moved and how much masculinity the shimmering golden three-day beard gave him.
“You know exactly what I'm talking about, Julie,” I looked up automatically and our eyes met. That was the second he turned away from me and walked past me. “Blair...”
He headed for the windows facing the courtyard, where some stone Greek gods lounged in the center of a fountain.
“Let me guess.” He stopped and turned back to me with his hands behind his back. “Earth Quatura?” I couldn't help my eyes widening. “No?” He smirked and came back. “Then all that's left is air.”
He stopped half a meter in front of me and looked down at me as if he wanted to humiliate me. As if he wanted this tingling sensation to spread through my stomach while I lost all control over my facial expressions.
“How...” I barely managed to get out.
I knew I had lost. And the only thing that could help me was the bottle in the top pocket of my rucksack.
“I would be lying if I said research,” he continued in a lowered, sharp voice, a slight smirk on his lips. “So, let me put it this way.” He stepped toward me, but this time I stepped back, toward the table where my backpack was. He followed me. “Old unpleasant acquaintances...”
Without hesitation, I reached for my backpack, but someone placed his hand on the top pocket. A hand on which a ring I didn't recognize was enthroned. A signet ring with a snake and a raven, not the wedding ring.
“Did I say you could leave?”
I looked up from the bag and his defined hand at him, probably like an idiot, unable to defend herself.
He gave me a devastating smile, and immediately the chill from earlier shot back to my fingertips.
“Don't you even think about telling anyone about our little conversation.”
So, he was actually planning to let me go?
This hope made me scrape together the last of the courage I needed to open the small side pocket of my backpack and pull out the transparent vial with the thorny rose seal. The symbol of the Councils...
I wanted to slip it unnoticed into my side pocket and continue walking backwards, but the professor was quicker and grabbed my wrist, freezing me in mid-motion.
His hands were incredibly warm. Or was I just...cold?
For a moment he stared concentrated at my wrist, then he lifted it.
“Open it, or I will!” he ordered in a calm voice, and I opened my hand.
It was too late anyway. I had lost.
If the Circle – or worse – the Councils, found out about this, they would take care of the professor, but I would also receive a suitable punishment for not reporting the problem immediately.
