Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

21. Chapter 21

Chapter twenty-one

Locke

“ N ow. I expect this to be in depth. I don’t want surface level opinions. I want a real response. This paper will be compared to your final essay to see how your thoughts and opinions on mythology have changed over the course of this class.” I lean my forearms on my podium and scan the room full of students.

Most are facing me, making notes, and actually paying attention.

Except for one.

Raven is staring off into space. Those blue eyes lazily blinking at something across the room. I don’t like it.

I was rattled from our discussion last night. Her pain. My need to soothe it. We still hadn’t discussed what was happening between us. We knew it was there, alive and haunting, but we didn’t discuss what to actually do about it. All I could do was ask her to wait. Wait until this year is over. Until she graduates, and I figure out what the fuck this curse has done to me.

The door to the front of my classroom opens and Sasha steps in.

“Class dismissed.” I push up from the podium, watching as Raven’s gaze narrows on her like a lioness watching her prey.

It’s pathetic how my wolf prances. He likes her jealousy and I’d be a lying bastard if I said that I didn’t either.

“So about tonight?” Sasha asks, planting herself on the end of my desk and crossing her legs.

“What about it?”

She crosses her arms in an attempt to push up her cleavage. “The gala? I thought we had discussed me being your date?”

“We didn’t discuss. You insinuated.” I reach for my briefcase then lay it on my desk.

“We’re both going.” She leans in, letting her hand land on my bicep. “I’ll make it worth your while, Locke.”

Flickering my eyes up to the fifth row, I watch Raven stand.

I don’t miss the pinch between her brows. She’s irritated.

I always have a date to the gala, and me showing up alone might cause speculation. I would rather eat a silver bullet than entertain Sasha. I know the dark haired goddess that’s currently sending daggers at my coworker will have her opinions on the matter as well.

She’s our date. My wolf snaps.

Yeah, that would go over well with the university.

In my inability to move my eyes from Raven, it allows Sasha to follow my line of sight. I can sense her demeanor change, and her posture stiffens briefly before she clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her.

“Unless there’s a reason you can’t?” She lifts a brow, moving her eyes up to Raven.

Fuck.

She smiles a menacing smile, then brushes her hand down my arm before walking to the door. She takes a step outside of the door frame before calling out. “See you at seven.”

Swallowing, I nod, knowing she saw the way I was looking at Raven. When she leaves, I can already feel the weight of Raven’s eyes.

She tosses that silky dark hair over her shoulder and pulls her gaze away from mine.

Leave it, Locke. I tell myself. Not here.

She walks down the row to the exit when Titus approaches her. He not only had a reputation for chasing anything in a skirt, but he has ties to my brother, which means he better keep moving. Especially because he's not even in this fucking class.

“Hey Raven.” He slides his hands into his pockets.

She pauses, hiking her bag onto her shoulder. I turn my back, but even down in the front of the room I can hear every word he’s saying.

“There’s a party tonight after the gala at Kingston’s. You in?” He asks. “I could…show you around.”

I don’t like his tone.

“Raven,” my voice booms.

I can hear her slight intake of breath as I spin around to face them. “Can I have a word?”

She looks from me to Titus. “I have to take pictures for the gala tonight for a couple of hours, but I’ll let you know.”

Wrong answer. My wolf growls.

I ignore him and wait for Titus to leave and for her to maneuver down to my desk. Her long legs close the distance and for some reason I go back to last night. She still looks tired. Weak.

“This can’t be done through email?” She remarks.

Oh yeah, she’s angry.

And because I’m an asshole. I ignore it.

“Did you eat this morning?” The question comes out harsh and she stops about three feet from me. “You look thin.”

“What I put into my body is not your business, professor.” She lifts a challenging brow. “Besides, clearly thin seems to be your type.”

I lower my voice. “Raven, it means nothing. It's just work related.”

She moves those blue eyes over me, hovering a second too long on my throat. “Pick her up at seven, right? Better get going. I know you hate being late.”

She turns to leave when I ask. “You’ll be there, right?”

“Yes. I’m the photographer.”

I already knew that. Gemma had sent an email out to the staff already. I just needed reassurance.

“You going to the party?” I ask next.

She narrows her eyes. “Do you have a question that pertains to this class? If not, I have somewhere to be.”

She turns away again, her scent crossing my nostrils, causing my wolf to whimper. She’s almost to the door when I speak.

“Make sure you’re eating, Raven.”

She flips me off and walks out into the hallway. I spin around to see Declan leaning up against the door frame of the side entrance. Fucking great.

He smirks. “Care to share why you are so invested in Raven’s diet?”

A growl rumbles through me as he pulls himself to standing, his hands going to his suit jacket. “She’s a student.”

“No shit.”

“A human,” he adds.

I shoot him a look, warning he’s pushing too far.

“You have a thing for her.” He tilts his head.

“I’m a grown man.” I jerk my briefcase off of my desk. “I don’t have things, Declan.”

“Right. You just keep running off in the middle of the night and asking your student if she’s eating.”

“Dec,” I warn again. “Enough.”

Declan and I need to have a serious discussion, but now isn't the time.

He raises his palms. “Pardon me.”

I brush past him with agitation floating through my muscles. His question is valid. But what alarms me the most is the rage I felt when Titus stepped up next to her. My wolf wanted to attack. He kept telling me she was ours, and I was starting to believe him.