Wicked Wings

25

I can see it in his eyes—he knows what I am.

He tries to recover from his shock and turns back to the board, but stares at it like he’s completely forgotten where he is and what he’s doing. Great, I broke our professor.

He glances at me one more time, while the other students send each other quizzical looks, and then he runs a hand over his face and takes a moment to recover.

“As I was saying,” he begins. “Michael’s death is a mystery, and since Lucifer had an alibi, at this time no one can prove it was demons who did it.”

“Bullshit,” someone mutters under their breath.

Kassiel clears his throat. “The investigation is ongoing. What we do know is that in the last thirty-two years both sides have tried to make peace, but it hasn’t always been easy, and many people on both sides wish to start the war again. Old hatreds die hard, especially among immortals who were at war for thousands of years. But others hope that this younger generation, all born on Earth, will be different and can learn to live among both humans and demons peacefully.”

His eyes meet mine again and my heart skips a beat as our gazes lock. Is he saying he won’t turn me in, or that he accepts me even though I’m half-demon? That he doesn’t hate demons as much as some others might? Or am I reading too much into his words?

What I’m not reading too much into is the s****l tension between us. Even across a classroom with a dozen other students around us, the heat is there. I know he can feel it too, and my inner succubus wants to leap over the desks, push him against that chalkboard, and wrap my legs around him until we’re both gasping with pleasure. I tear my eyes away before I start drooling, and squeeze my thighs together. Not now, I tell the hunger. I’m definitely going to have to feed soon, or I’ll never make it through the week.

He keeps talking, and I somehow manage to get through class without ripping off my clothes or Kassiel’s, despite his many heated looks. It’s a huge relief when class is over. I grab my bag and start to hurry out with the other students, but then his voice stops me.

“Olivia, may I speak to you for a moment?”

Shit. This can’t be good.

I stay to the side until everyone has left the room and then I approach Kassiel slowly, where he perches against the side of his desk. He watches me come closer with a heavy, unreadable gaze.

I draw in a breath. “If this is about that night, neither of us knew who the other was, and—”

“That’s what I need to speak to you about.” He furrows his brow and I know he’s going to bring up the succubus thing.

I interject quickly to stop him. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about what happened. In fact, the less we speak about that night the better, I think.”

He frowns as he studies me, and I desperately want to know what he’s thinking. “Of course.”

“Is it a problem for me to be in class? Because we could ask Uriel to move me to another professor.”

He stands up straighter. “No, it’s not a problem. Our relationship will remain completely professional. Student-professor relationships are strictly forbidden, and I don’t think either of us wants to jeopardize our position here.”

I nod. “Agreed.”

Except knowing it’s forbidden? That only makes me want it more.

Chapter Sixteen

Kassiel

I

can only stare at Olivia as she leaves the room. How can it be?

I never forgot her after that night in Los Angeles. She ran away once I realized she was a succubus, and after that I did a little digging, but no one knew who she was, and eventually I let it go. There are many demons who don’t wish to be found, and it was obvious she was one of those by her reaction. But what is she doing here now? How can a succubus attend Seraphim Academy? Is it some kind of mistake?

And the biggest question of all, does she know my secret too?

I pack up my things and leave the classroom, since I’m done teaching for the day. I walk across campus to the professors’ building, which has all of our offices and a lounge area. It also acts as a dorm for those professors who live on campus, like me.

I head into the professors’ lounge and grab one of the sandwiches there, then lean against the counter. Hilda and Raziel are in here, each doing their own thing at separate tables. Hilda is wolfing down a sandwich like she hasn’t eaten in days, while Raziel is reading a newspaper. I haven’t talked to either of them much since arriving at the school, but they’ve both been friendly so far.

“What do you know about that student, Olivia Monroe?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual. I’ve heard the other professors gossip about their students before, so hopefully my question won’t seem too odd.

“The half-human?” Hilda snorts. “She’s going to need a lot of help if I’m going to get her into fighting shape.”

Half…human? That can’t be right. “Are they sure she’s part human? How do they know?”

Raziel folds up his newspaper. “Her mother was a human.”

“And her father?” I ask.

“No one knows who is he is,” Raziel says.

“Coward,” Hilda says. “He should step forward and own up to his mistake, for his daughter’s sake. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Yes, it is,” I say. “But how do they know she’s an angel and not Fallen?”

Raziel’s head tilts. “Well, she has wings, although they are black, which is a bit unusual I’ll admit. But she can create light, so she’s definitely not Fallen.”