The professor's secret

Chapter 9 — The Rules We Break

The next morning

I woke before my alarm.

For several seconds, I stared at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that everything that had happened the night before had been a nightmare.

The photograph.

The black envelope.

The voice in the darkness.

Adrian's hand wrapped around mine.

*Whatever happens, don't let go.*

I swallowed.

Then I remembered the way he'd looked at me in his office.

Not like a professor.

Not like a man protecting a student.

Like a man fighting something inside himself.

Something that frightened me almost as much as the Ravens did.

I sat up.

My long black hair fell around my shoulders, and I pushed it away from my face before looking at the clock.

7:12 a.m.

I had class in less than an hour.

I should have stayed home.

Instead, I got dressed.

I chose a fitted dark green sweater, a black skirt that fell just above my knees, and ankle boots. I stared at myself in the mirror before leaving.

My green eyes looked tired.

But determined.

If Adrian thought he could keep me in the dark forever, he was wrong.

---

Blackthorne University was unusually quiet that morning.

Too quiet.

I crossed the courtyard with my bag against my shoulder, watching the students around me.

Everyone was laughing.

Talking.

Living normal lives.

Nobody looked frightened.

Nobody looked like they'd received a photograph threatening their life.

Then someone stepped beside me.

"Morning, beautiful."

I turned.

Julian Vale.

He wore a charcoal coat over a white shirt, his dark hair slightly messy, and that effortless smile that seemed permanently attached to his face.

"You're cheerful this early?"

"Only when I see you."

I rolled my eyes.

"Do you practice those lines?"

"Never."

He leaned closer.

"They just happen when you're around."

I couldn't stop the small smile that escaped me.

Then his expression softened.

"You look tired."

"I didn't sleep much."

His smile disappeared.

"Because of last night?"

I stopped walking.

"You know?"

Julian glanced toward the university building.

"I know something happened."

"How?"

"My brother called me."

My stomach tightened.

"What did he say?"

"Not much."

He looked at me carefully.

"But I've known Adrian my whole life."

"And?"

"When he's scared, he becomes quiet."

I stared at him.

"Was he scared?"

Julian gave me a strange look.

"Of course he was."

He paused.

"Just not for himself."

My heart skipped.

Before I could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Julian."

We turned.

Adrian stood several feet away.

Black coat.

Black shirt.

Silver rings.

Gray eyes fixed directly on his brother.

Then they moved to me.

And stayed there.

Something hot and dangerous moved through my chest.

Julian noticed.

Of course he did.

His mouth curved into a knowing smile.

"Morning, brother."

Adrian ignored him.

"Elara. My office. After class."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

I lifted an eyebrow.

"That's not an answer."

His jaw tightened.

"Please."

One word.

Quiet.

Almost desperate.

My anger faded.

"Fine."

Julian watched us.

Then he smiled again.

"Interesting."

Adrian looked at him.

"Go to class."

Julian laughed.

"You're still bossy."

"And you're still annoying."

"Family tradition."

He walked away.

I watched him disappear through the doors.

Then Adrian stepped closer.

His voice lowered.

"Don't be alone today."

I looked into his gray eyes.

"Are you worried about me?"

"More than you know."

And then he walked away.

Leaving me standing there with my heart pounding.

---

**Later that afternoon**

Mira found me in the library.

She dropped into the chair opposite mine.

"You've been staring at that same page for ten minutes."

"I'm thinking."

"About Adrian?"

I nearly choked.

"No."

She smiled.

"That means yes."

"Mira."

"What?"

She leaned forward.

"You're falling for him."

My heart stopped.

"I'm not."

"Elara."

"I'm not."

She studied me.

Then sighed.

"Fine."

She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.

"Then explain why you're staring at him like that."

She turned the screen toward me.

A photograph.

Adrian.

Standing outside the literature building.

Looking directly at the camera.

I frowned.

"Where did you get that?"

"It was posted anonymously."

"When?"

"Twenty minutes ago."

My stomach dropped.

"What does it say?"

Mira turned the phone around.

There was one sentence beneath the photograph.

**SOME PEOPLE ARE BETTER AT HIDING THEIR DESIRES THAN THEIR SECRETS.**

I stared at it.

My skin prickled.

"Mira..."

"I know."

She lowered the phone.

"This isn't just about Lydia anymore."

A voice came from behind us.

"You're right."

We both turned.

Julian stood between the shelves.

Mira groaned.

"Do you always appear when people are talking about secrets?"

"Only the interesting ones."

He looked at me.

Then his expression became serious.

"Elara, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"About my brother."

Mira immediately stood.

"I'll give you two a minute."

She walked away.

I stared at Julian.

"What about Adrian?"

Julian stepped closer.

"He's dangerous."

My heart tightened.

"I already know that."

"No."

His voice softened.

"You don't."

He looked toward the empty aisle.

"Adrian doesn't let people get close."

"Why?"

"Because everyone he loved eventually became something someone could use against him."

I swallowed.

"And me?"

Julian looked directly into my eyes.

"You're becoming the one thing he can't afford to lose."

My breath caught.

Before I could respond, Julian reached for my hand.

His fingers closed gently around mine.

Not possessively.

Not like Adrian.

There was warmth in the gesture.

Something uncomplicated.

And for one strange second, I wondered what it would be like to choose someone who didn't come with shadows attached.

Julian's eyes dropped to my lips.

Then quickly returned to mine.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"For wanting to kiss you."

My heart fluttered.

I stared at him.

He smiled faintly.

"But I won't."

"Why?"

"Because I think you're already waiting for someone else to do it."

My cheeks burned.

Julian released my hand.

Then walked away.

I stood frozen.

Because he was right.

And that scared me.

---

**That evening**

Adrian's office door was slightly open.

I knocked.

"Come in."

I stepped inside.

He was standing by the window.

The sunset painted the room in deep gold and shadows.

He turned.

His eyes moved slowly over me.

Then stopped.

"You came."

"You told me to."

"I wasn't sure you would."

"Why?"

He walked toward me.

"Because I keep asking you to stay away."

He stopped directly in front of me.

"And you keep coming closer."

I looked up at him.

"Maybe because you keep giving me reasons to."

His breathing changed.

"Elara."

"What?"

"You need to understand something."

His hand lifted.

His fingers brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

The touch was gentle.

Almost painfully so.

"I am trying very hard not to cross a line with you."

My heart pounded.

"Maybe I don't want you to."

His eyes darkened.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Then his hand slid gently to my cheek.

"Tell me to stop."

I couldn't.

His forehead rested against mine.

Our breaths mingled.

"Tell me," he whispered.

I closed my eyes.

"I don't want you to stop."

His lips touched mine.

A soft kiss.

Brief.

Almost hesitant.

But when we pulled apart, neither of us moved away.

He looked at me as though he'd just done something he had spent months trying to prevent.

Then he kissed me again.

This time, there was no hesitation.

My fingers curled into the front of his shirt as his hand remained against my cheek.

The kiss was warm, emotional, and frighteningly easy.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine.

"This changes everything."

I opened my eyes.

"Then don't pretend it didn't happen."

His thumb brushed across my cheek.

"I couldn't forget it if I tried."

A sharp sound came from the hallway.

We froze.

Adrian immediately stepped away.

His entire expression changed.

Cold.

Alert.

He opened the desk drawer.

I stared at him.

"What is it?"

He didn't answer.

Then he looked toward the door.

Someone had slipped an envelope underneath it.

Black.

With a silver raven.

Adrian picked it up.

His face drained of color when he read the message.

I stepped closer.

"What does it say?"

He looked at me.

For once, the terrifying professor wasn't hiding anything.

He looked genuinely afraid.

Then he handed me the paper.

Three words were written across it.

**SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.**

My blood ran cold.

"Who?"

Adrian looked toward the dark window.

Then whispered—

"Victoria Lang."

**End of Chapter 9**