I held my breath.
His short wavy hair was champagne blond, almost as light as mine, but it didn’t seem that cold. Instead, it had a barely noticeable golden hue and hung slightly down his forehead.
His eyes, probably the most memorable thing about his appearance, reminded me of peridots, a bright, warm green, which I associated with spring.
His features were angular, sharp, and masculine, and the three-day beard did the rest.
This man was the embodiment of what was called Adonis.
How old was he? Late twenties? What was he doing here? Was he a master’s student? And where was the professor?
The man began to roll up his shirt sleeves in concentration, and almost by itself, my attention slid to the veins that stood out on his forearms – like a damn work of art – and extended to the back of his hands.
“And because I don't want to overwhelm you right away, I’d say I’ll introduce myself.” He leaned against the table behind him and crossed his arms. “And if you want, feel free to ask me a few questions.”
I blinked in confusion and tore my gaze away from his arms.
Wait... this was supposed to be the professor?
Around me, six arms immediately shot up in the air, and I flinched in shock.
The professor smiled at the girls with raised brows. “Okay, let’s have it nice and in order.”
“Is it true that you’re only twenty-eight years old, Professor Tiberius?” the blonde in the minidress next to Penny asked. “I mean... when did you graduate?”
Now, I raised my eyebrows.
Tiberius?
Confused, I turned back to my laptop and typed Tiberius into the server of Vanderwood University. Indeed, results popped up.
Quentin Tiberius. Professor of molecular biology and... mythology?
Curious, I clicked on his professor profile and went through the information on his background. Astonished, I read that he had already started his first studies here at the age of sixteen.
“I got my PhD here two years ago,” the professor confirmed the information on his profile.
“Is it true that you are part of the Vanderwood football team?”
While the girls around me bombarded the professor with more irrelevant questions, I somehow ended up on the website of DLSC, the DeLoughrey Science Center, where he apparently had a research position and was working on a genetics experiment with a certain Dr. Diana Adams.
The name Adams rang a bell, and the woman also looked familiar, however I was missing some pieces of the puzzle.
I clicked through to the DLSC website, but nothing more about him could be found there, as the DLSC website was very discreet with information about its collaborators.
I clicked back to the publications by the professor.
Molecular biology and ancient myths: A bridge between past and present;
Mythology reinterpreted: Reviving Ancient Stories through Molecular Insights;
Mythological Biotechnology: Genetic Manipulations in Ancient Legends.
What the...? First, he had studied molecular biology and minored in history. After graduating, he had completed a second degree: antiquity, ancient history and mythology with a minor in archaeology.
I looked up, startled again at how handsome this strange professor was, and regarded him thoughtfully.
He was leaning there, arms folded as his biceps pressed against his shirt.
I tried to feel any supernatural signs.
We Quatura sensed elemental energies from other Quatura. And while a certain darkness radiated from Ruisangors, a different kind of vibration could be felt near Senseque.
This man was human. There was nothing supernatural about him. But then why were all the alarm bells ringing at his combination of disciplines?
Professor Tiberius nodded to another girl. Kelly.
“Why didn’t you become a model?”
Amber next to her took a deep breath like she was annoyed, and a few other girls laughed, however they all looked forward eagerly to the poor guy who certainly wasn’t here to be Vanderwood’s sex object.
He laughed and put a hand on the back of his neck, which emphasized his trained upper arms way too well.
Goddamn, he was hot. Not to mention tall, way too tall compared to a small and delicate girl like me.
“I’m committed to science.” He smiled. “But I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Which I’m sure the guy was showered with.
