ChapterThirty-One
SUNDAY
Night had just begun to fall when urgent knocking sounded from Noah’s front door.
“Expecting someone?” I asked, glancing away from the sunset I hadn’t really noticed, my thoughts too filled with the events of the night before to appreciate the pink and orange hues. I didn’t want to deal with anyone or be interrupted. Noah and I were simply enjoying our time together. Couldn’t I just have a normal night for once?
He hadn’t strayed too far from me since we returned to his penthouse that morning. Currently, he was pretending to read while I snuggled into him, my head resting on his shoulder while he used the fingers of his free hand to draw lazy circles up and down my arm.
The knocking sounded again, this time harsher and angrier, rattling the door. Noah’s posture changed from relaxed to tense, and he grumbled under his breath as he closed his book and set it on the small end table.
“Nosy fucking priest.”
That got my attention.What’s Caleb doing here?I straightened, my eyes following Noah as he walked across the room toward the door.
“What do you want?” Noah snapped, angling his body so he blocked my view of Caleb.
Or his view of me.
“I know she’s in there.”
“And? What business is it of yours who I entertain in my own home?”
“Need I remind you this is not, in fact, your home, but a university.”
“My name’s on the building, Priest. I think that counts.” Noah began closing the door. “Now, if you don’t mind. We were in the middle of something.”
Caleb shoved his shoulder between the door and the frame, stopping Noah before he could close it in his face. His next words were gritted out, temper leaking into his tone. “One of my students was attacked last night. I need to ensure her well-being.”
“Sunday is no longer your responsibility. I have matters well in hand.”
“Is that so?”
“Quite.”
“Then perhaps you can explain to me just how it happened that the woman you claim to be guarding so successfully was kidnapped while under your protection?”
Oh... low blow, Caleb.
Noah’s back went rigid, his knuckles turning white and the wood groaning beneath his hand. Fierce energy seeped into the air, crackling with possessive anger, but I couldn’t tell which one of them it belonged to. Caleb’s beautiful, heart-stopping eyes found mine, concern, contempt, and guilt all swimming in their depths.
“Come with me,a stor.We have a session scheduled, and you cannot miss it tonight. I need you to provide me with every detail of your attack. The headmistress will need to know.”
“I don’t think so. What she needs right now is to rest, not be interrogated. You can resume your session on Monday.”
Caleb let out a low snarl, shoving his way into the flat. Strength radiated from him, and Noah’s fatigue was evident on his face. Noah hadn’t slept, likely since the night before last. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and something about our connection told me my instinct was correct. He needed rest.
“Your name might be on the building, but I am the one in charge here. Not you. Now, step aside before I make you, Blackthorne.”
Noah’s fists clenched, fight passing across his features. “Please, go ahead and make me, Priest. One call to my father, and you’ll be the one sent to the well for punishment.”
“Your hand would be out the window before you finished dialing,” Caleb growled.
I’d never seen him quite so aggressive before. Intense, without a doubt. Angry? Pretty much every time we interacted. But never this dominant. Of the two vampires, I would have said Noah was more likely to out-alpha Caleb, but now... I wasn’t as certain.
Realizing their dick-swinging would only escalate unless I intervened, I pushed to my feet and moved to where they stood, sneering at each other in the doorway. Resting my arm lightly on Noah’s back, I murmured, “It’s okay. I’ll go with him.”
“Sunday—”