“And you say I can put the food away!” Adrianna laughs. “I’m not sure how you’re even hungry after sinking two meatball subs at lunch.”
“I said maybe.” I feel my cheeks heat as I don’t normally over eat, as it all goes on my hips, but ever since last night with Nitkin, it feels like I need something to distract me and it turns out food works pretty well.
As if I have a radar for the man, I feel him the moment he steps into the cafeteria. Before I even look in his direction, I know he’s looking at me. When I do glance toward him, I wish I hadn’t.
My body heats instantly as I look into those fire filled hazel eyes of his. It feels like he’s looking right through me. As if one look can pierce right through to my soul, and I draw in a deep breath before looking away.
Elias clears his throat. “Have any of you done the most recent anatomy assignment?”
I look at the ex-king of the academy and find it weird that he’s sitting with us talking about such mundane things.
Nat elbows him. “You know I have.”
He shakes his head. “Yeah, because you’re a nerd.” His tone is playful and so unlike him with Natalya. I can’t deny that they make a cute couple, but it’s going to take some time to adjust to this new dynamic.
For years, whenever I saw Elias coming our way, a fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. My guard went up, and I struggle to work out how Nat has overcome that and appears so at ease with him now. It’s going to take some serious adjusting to get used to this new setup.
14
GAVRIL
Irest my feet on the footstool in the staff room and take a long sip of whiskey to calm my nerves. Drinking on the job isn’t something I do often, but since the other night with Camilla, I’ve been on edge. I’ve also been avoiding her like the plague for an entire week, and it’s driving me crazy.
Whiskey takes the edge off.
Oak is right. Getting involved too heavily with a student is a bad idea, because most full grown women can’t handle the sadistic side of me, let alone an innocent little virgin like Camilla Morrone. No matter whether she’s a natural masochist, there are some things even most masochists can’t handle.
“Drinking on the job, Gav?” Archer says as he walks into the staff room.
“Who says it’s alcohol?”
He arches a brow. “No one carries anything but alcohol in a fucking flask and I can smell it.” He holds a hand out, expecting me to give him a swig.
“Get your own.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “You’re not the only one who is having a bad day. Now hand it over.”
“Who said I’m having a bad day?” I arch a brow at him, but pass the flask into his hand.
“You don’t drink unless there’s something wrong.” He snatches the flask and takes a long swig.
“Vasquez troubles?”
His expression turns deadly as he glares at me. “Don’t even go there.”
I shake my head. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you?”
His jaw works before he takes another swig of my whiskey. “I’m determined to get her and I will, believe me.”
I chuckle. “I think the only person at this academy as stubborn as you is her. It will take a miracle for one of you to back down.”
He claps his hands together, looking infinitely pleased with himself. “And a miracle is what I’ve found.”
I give him a questioning look as he passes the flask back into my hand. “What kind of miracle?”
“Information. The kind she doesn’t want out in the open.”
“So now you’re blackmailing her into your bed?” I shake my head. “That’s not playing fair, is it, Arch?”