Page 33 of Evergreen

“Come on,” he said, sitting up and stretching. The movement made his cock flex in a way that was deeply distracting. “Let’s go.”

“Thank you for being patient with me,” I said, not wanting to miss my chance to say it. “And for… you know… teaching me.”

“Anytime, big guy,” he said, climbing out of bed and stretching fully. I watched as he moved around my small room, gathering his clothes. “But this is just the foreplay. There’s so much more to learn.”

My cock twitched again. “I like the sound of that.”

Chapter 14

Cass

Classes were what finally forced me out of Linden’s room. I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t have much choice either. I was in enough trouble with the greenhouse. The last thing I needed was the Dean on my ass about being on academic probation or some stupid shit like that.

And the truth was, I actually wanted to go to this class. Because now, I had a reason to care about controlling my magic. Linden needed my help to fix the glass and I sort of wanted to impress him. Maybe it was just because I could still taste his cum on my tongue or that his cock was so big or maybe it was because he was actually nice to me. Like genuinely nice. Being around him didn’t make me wish I was somewhere else, and that was weird for me.

Either way, if anyone on campus could help me learn to focus my magic, it was Professor Blackwood. She was the expert. She just wasn’t easy to approach. And I had a feeling, thanks to my shitty grades and my attitude thus far, that I was probably her least favorite student in Intermediate Conjuration.

I slipped into the classroom just as Professor Blackwood was setting up her materials, a stack of crystalline specimens arranged in neat rows across her desk. She glanced up as I took my seat, her sharp grey eyes assessing me in that way that made me feel like she could see right through my bullshit. Which, knowing her, she probably could.

The class filled up around me. It was the usual mix of witches who actually gave a shit about their grades and a few like me who were just trying to scrape by. There were even a few monster students, the ones who had more of a gift for magic beyond the usual shifting capabilities. I kept my head down, not wanting to draw any attention. But about halfway through the lecture, when Professor Blackwood was demonstrating the finer points of elemental focus, I found myself actually paying attention.

She was talking about precision. About how raw power meant nothing without control, without intention. About how the most dangerous magic users weren’t the ones with the most power, but the ones who could channel it with surgical accuracy.

It was like she was speaking directly to me. Or maybe I was just in the right headspace to finally hear what she was saying.

After class ended, I hung back while everyone else filed out. Professor Blackwood was erasing the diagrams from the board, her movements efficient and practiced. I’d never actually talked to her outside of class. Never tried. But if I was going to learn to control my magic, to make the rebuilding a little easier on myself and Linden, I needed to start somewhere.

“Professor Blackwood?” I called out, my voice sounding smaller than I wanted it to.

She turned, her eyebrow arching slightly. “Mr. Reed. What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you might have time for some extra help,” I said, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “With control. I know my grades aren’t great and I’m probably not your favorite student, but I’m trying to get better at focusing my weather magic and I thought maybe⁠—”

“I don’t offer extra credit, Mr. Reed,” she interrupted, setting down her chalk. “You’ll need to do the work if you want to pass.”

“That’s not what I’m asking for,” I said quickly, pushing forward before I lost my nerve. “I’m not looking for extra credit. I just... I need to learn how to control my magic better. For a project I’m working on.”

She studied me for a long moment, and I had the distinct feeling she was weighing whether I was worth her time. I couldn’t blame her. I’d spent most of the past two years being a complete asshole in her class.

“What kind of project?” she asked finally, moving around her desk to lean against it.

“Glass work,” I admitted. “For the conservatory. Professor Paulson is having me help with the restoration, and I need to be able to channel my magic more precisely. Right now it’s all or nothing. I either can’t control it at all or I accidentally destroy shit. I managed one or two panels, but they looked terrible.”

Professor Blackwood’s expression shifted slightly. I couldn’t quite read it, but it seemed like something between approval and amusement. “You’re the one who burned down the greenhouse.”

It wasn’t a question. Of course, she would know. I nodded anyway. “Yeah. That was me.”

“And instead of complaining about the punishment, you’re actually trying to learn something from it,” she said thoughtfully. “That’s unexpected, Mr. Reed.”

“I have motivation now,” I said, and I could feel heat creeping up the back of my neck. I wasn’t about to tell her that my motivation was seven feet of muscle, green skin, and golden eyes and kindness that made me want to actually try.

She was quiet for another moment before pushing off from her desk. “Why don’t you come to my office now? We’ll see what we can do about that control of yours.”

Relief flooded through me so fast I almost felt dizzy. “Really?”

“Really,” she confirmed, picking up her materials. “But I’m going to be direct with you, Mr. Reed. If you waste my time, I won’t give you a second chance. Understood?”

“Understood,” I said. “Thank you, Professor.”