Page 68 of Zodiac Monsters

“Good girl.” I released her and stood up straight. A subtle smirk played at my lips, and it took several seconds before I managed to hide it. I couldn’t keep letting her bait me like this, but I was too riled up from the day to keep a hold on myself. I cursed that lust demon blood that pulsed through my veins, and I cursed the moon and the tie of Capricorns and Virgos. I took a step back as she righted herself and fixed her clothing. She wrapped her arms around her chest in a defensive gesture, and it took genuine internal negotiation before I was able to convince myself to feel bad about that.

I was her teacher. I couldn’t expect her to be tough or knowledgeable. I was in the wrong.

I fucking knew that, and I couldn’t help myself.

“I’m sorry. I’m going through a lot right now, and he was there for me, and you weren’t.” She said next.

“Marcus isn’t there for anyone or anything unless it serves him. You included.” I snapped. I had enough of him manipulating and lying to her. “Neither of us are safe, but he’s worse than I am.”

Lila rubbed her neck subconsciously. “You’re wrong about him.” She muttered. She was wrong, but I wasn’t going to convince her of that now. Not after that stunt I’d just pulled. The important takeaway was more that she’d admitted to fooling around with him because I wasn’t giving her attention, and not because she was falling for him.

“What are your plans tonight, Lila? Please tell me you’re not doing something stupid.”

“I was just going to stay in my dorm room tonight.” She gave the right answer, and it seemed she was being honest this time. Though I still didn’t trust her entirely.

“Give me your phone.” I demanded next. I should have done this sooner, but clearly staying impartial wasn’t possible at this point. It was reckless on my end to have set up a situation where I couldn’t easily contact her, anyway.

“Why?” She took a hesitant step back. Pointless, since I was between her and the only door.

“I’m going to give you my number, so if you end up getting yourself in a bad situation again, I can help you.” Deep breath, calm down.

“I don’t see why I would end up in a bad situation staying in my dorm room.” She said under her breath. I damn near rolled my eyes.

“This isn’t negotiable.” I put out my hand, and she did as she was told with a sigh. She’d been much more malleable when she was shifted, and I could easily control her with a stern, Alpha command.

“This is so dumb.” She waited patiently as I entered my contact, then sent a message to my phone so I’d have her number as well. I had to question whether I was truly doing this for her own good, or if I was out of my mind. “If I get into any ‘trouble’ I promise I’ll call you.” She added with a touch of petulance.

“I wish you understood how serious a situation you’re in.” I tossed her back her phone, then shoved my hand through my hair.

“Maybe now that I can text you, you can explain that better without being so terrified of being seen as unprofessional.” There was unexpected bite in her tone, and I was taken aback by that defiant confidence. Any fear she’d felt towards me before was completely gone now, not because she was in a shifter form, but because she was genuinely getting more bold around me.

Had I just gotten played by my own hand?

I drew in a full breath and settled into a sense of rational calm. “I think we can start working towards that”

“Good.” Her lips lifted into that adorable smile of hers. “I’m going to my dorm room then. I’ll see you in Physics tomorrow, Adrian.”

I stared at her, wide eyed, as she so casually and sweetly used my first name, and I remained in that state of surprise as she walked past me and unlocked the door.

I heard that door open, then shut, and I found myself alone in my classroom.

It was then that I realized that I was completely falling apart. If Marcus’ goal had been to force me to face who I really was, and take away my ability to hide behind the emotions I stole from others, then I’d already completely lost to him.

Incubus or not, Zodiac blood or not, I was going to have to start facing a lot of truths I wasn’t looking forward to over this coming year.