average human’s Reviews > Clash of Claws > Status Update

“True.” He reached under the desk, rummaged in his bag, and pulled out a scuffed laptop. “I fed him this morning, so he’s sleeping it off. Hopefully by the time he’s out and about again, I’ll be your favorite snake on campus.”
Something not entirely unpleasant burned in my belly. My beast went from one fang-flash away from ready to kill to making a preening little rumble in my chest.
Why are you like this?
“Are you this welcoming to all the new girls?” I asked him under my breath, since the professor had finally strode into the room.
“Certainly not. Just the ones who make Cash Rogers look like an imbecile in front of the entire sophomore and junior training classes. Aiden has faculty access to the security camera footage in the arena, babe. I got to watch you in all your glory last night.”
I shoved down the urge to squirm. The fact that Heath and Wyatt had watched my wraith battle in real time hadn’t registered at the time—too much other fun and exciting shit going on—but imagining the entire Blackwell Quad sitting around a laptop to study me after the fact?
My beast lounged within me, tail flicking as she casually cleaned a claw, preening again. We were constantly bouncing between the urge to challenge, dominate, kill the Blackwell Quad and rolling over and showing our belly to each of them.
Seriously, what is wrong with you?
Time to redirect. “Cash is a prick. I think you should eat him.”
Elijah waggled his dark brows. “Maybe someday.”
The professor began her lecture, and I tried to relax as I sat nearly shoulder to shoulder with the most dangerous predator I’d ever encountered.
It was easier than it should’ve been. Maybe Mal was right about my shifter instincts being rusty.
An hour passed. Elijah didn’t move even an inch out of the cozy little space between us, but he appeared to be dutifully taking notes through the entire lecture. For the last thirty minutes of class, we were assigned a short story to read followed by some discussion questions that we were to go over with our neighbor.
“You feel so… bright,” Elijah mused. His golden stare was heavy on my face as I finished the reading. Probing. Just this side of predatory. “I’d love to know what you are,” he went on, “but I hear we aren’t being particularly forthcoming about that?”
I fought the blush that was threatening to rise under his curious gaze. He was as mesmerizing as he was dangerous. “I bet you wish you could walk these halls occasionally without people knowing what you are.”
He sobered a bit. “That’s true enough. It was never in the cards for me, though. Not as a mythic. And my beast would struggle with… discretion, anyway.”
I gave him a sympathetic smile. The more powerful the beast half of one’s soul, the more difficult the fight for control could become. I couldn’t imagine what that was like for a mythic, and especially one like him.
His cheeky grin returned, and he leaned even closer to me, whispering, “Don’t think I didn’t notice you dodging my question, but fine. Keep your secrets.”
I would, thank you, at least until I had the might and the respect of the Guardians at my back.
When class was dismissed, he escorted me down the stairs and out into the hall. I got the sense that this was unusual behavior for him, given the stares and hushed conversations had started up again.
“I really was normal before I came here,” I told Elijah with a sigh. “No one special. Nothing to be whispered about in the halls.”
He stopped, turning to face me. With gentle fingers pressed under my chin, he tilted my face so that I was looking him right in those yellow eyes. “I sincerely doubt you’ve been normal a day in your life, Dove. No more hiding for you.”
I could only stand there, transfixed, as his eyes began to glow. His pupils turned to slits, and I sucked in a quiet gasp.
His coy smile fell. He shut his eyes and dropped his fingers from my chin, curling them into a fist.
I stepped back to give him some space. “See you later, Elijah,” I whispered before I hurried away.
“Until tomorrow, Dove.”