Page 6 of Lessons in Cruelty

There’s a fierce pounding under my fingers when I lay a hand over my chest.

I’m shocked I can feel something, that I’m even still alive, because it felt like Kai’s hand went straight through my fucking heart.

Chapter 3

Haven

I’ve never been inside a lecture hall before. It’s not huge, but it still feels intimidating as hell to be shoved into.

The professor’s chalk screeches over the enormous blackboard as he turns to look at me. There’s a soft chuckle somewhere in the crowd of students, then a giggle. Probably because I look like a loser.

My shaking body switches to autopilot, sending me back to the floor. Literally seconds after Kai’s hissed threat, I’m already on my knees.

But only to collect my things off the floor.

I tug the two halves of my cardigan closed and hurry to the closest seat, my cheeks burning from the millions of eyes on me, and my notepad held to my chest like a shield.

“More interruptions?” The professor lifts his chin like I’m a baby animal that just wandered obliviously into his den.

Kai was right. This professor does not seem impressed with me at all.

He taps his chalk against the board, addressing the rest of the class who showed up on time. “See how easy it is to summon the devil?”

An outright laugh, some giggles, and another few chuckles break out, which I’m sincerely hoping aren’t aimed in my direction.

I plop down on the seat as the teacher drags his chalk under the word written on the board. As soon as I read what it says, my eyes want to bug out of my skull.

LUCIFER

Um…what?

Did I fall down a rabbit hole? Or did Kai bang my head so hard against the wall that I got a concussion? I swore this was supposed to be a social studies lesson.

Oh shit.

The help desk lady said the second door on the right, right?

What if I’ve just joined some random theology lesson?

If so, I should add it to my electives

Are all college professors so devastatingly handsome and mouth-dryingly stern? He’s tall, like six-foot-something tall, with a runner’s build, a dark crew cut, and a touch of silver at his temples and sprinkled through his thick eyebrows.

I never thought I’d think this way about someone in a dark tweed jacket with patches on the elbows, but…damn. Why wasn’t I born ten years earlier when even the thought of dating someone like him wouldn’t have been wildly inappropriate?

He studies me for a beat before turning to add another word to the board.

EFFECT

He draws another line under that and keeps scrawling.

Prof Rooke - Lessons in Cruelty

I breathe out a slow breath through pursed lips.

Thank Lucifer.

“For the lady who’s so fashionably late—” Professor Rooke taps his chalk against his name, staring straight at me. “I do not enjoy repeating myself. Which you would know if you had bothered to show up for orientation yesterday.”