CHAPTER 81: MEN IN MASKS

A smirk of deep satisfaction tugged at the corner of his lips. He leaned even closer, bracing his hand beside her head.

He liked this.

He loved the way she trembled and the way she had shrunken under his gaze, but was still stealing tiny glances at him.

And the way her scent was now threaded with something heavier.

"Look at you," He murmured, his deep voice vibrating against her skin, "Shy after the way you’d just screamed for me,"

More heat crept up her neck, and she was unable to keep the smile from her face.

He tilted her chin up, and when their eyes met, he exhaled like he’d been waiting for that moment more than the climax itself.

She opened her mouth to speak, but it came out still breathless, "Profes...," she stopped herself when she saw his eyes darken, then corrected, "Sylas...,"

"Venom," He purred.

Her arms came up between them and crossed it over her chest, as if that would stop the aching and his hands from delving into them if he wanted to.

"I...I need to go and study,"

He paused, "You want to run away from me,"

Yes! She wanted to. Overwhelm would be an understatement to how she’s been feeling since they kissed, and now she’s just experienced something that rocked her world.

She wanted him, she wanted him everywhere. But at the same time, she felt as if he touched her again, she would actually, literally explode.

"N..no," She lied, biting her swollen lips, "It’s just...this is ummmm, it’s inappropriate and uhmm...,"

He brushed a finger over her lips, "Then, I’ll just have to add it to the rules of the school,"

Her eyes snapped open, "Huh?"

"I can touch my woman, anywhere, whenever or wherever I want. Then, it wouldn’t be inappropriate anymore,"

"No!" She exclaimed, shaking her head, "Don’t do that,"

He looked amused again, "Do you still want to run away?"

She looked away, "I really do need to study," And with everything she could muster, she wriggled out of his grasp.

He gripped her at first, unwilling to let her go with an unquenchable thirst in his eyes. He wanted to pull her back and dive into the essence of her lips again - and fulfil all the thoughts he had in store for her.

But then, he remembered he had other unfinished business that needed his immediate attention. Especially regarding Ashbourne’s presence at Gravemont.

Hence, he reluctantly let her go. He heard his wolf snarl in disagreement inside of him, and as he watched her turn around and run out of his office - he had to physically hold himself back from running after her.

The moment he touches her again, there’s no guarantee that they won’t go all the way.

And the moment she closed the office door behind her, a ripping snarl tore from his lips, and his fists slammed against the wall so hard that spider cracks formed all over it.

He felt a burning pain in his shoulders, and the tattoo he had there glowed softly, and he winced and leaned his head against the wall.

.

.

.

Theo stumbled out of his office, her body already reverted back to a male. She could still feel him all over her, like he was right there.

Her legs wobbled as she carried herself away from the vicinity, then she found somewhere she could be alone and catch her breath.

It was quiet - only her heart racing echoed into her ear. Along with every other thing he had said, and every touch they had shared.

One thought though, kept spinning through her head.

Sylas had kissed her. Sylas Veylor had actually touched his lips against hers, and she had enjoyed every second of it more than she wanted to admit.

Oh Fuck...she had really made out with her Professor.

Her face reddened again at the thought. She could still see his silver eyes, still inhale his residual scent that still clung to her, and every part he had touched still yearned for more of him.

Theodora closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down. And she needed to stay here till every bit of his scent was gone from her body, and she was sane enough to walk back to her dorm.

Then, she recalled the paper she had seen in his office. Does Cain have any idea that Sylas is Golden-black? She was quite curious about this. But what was this issue about a Veil? Sylas had once mentioned it that day at the discipline hall.

She sighed.

Sylas was too mysterious and calm.

She didn’t know if she could do this. Her attraction to him was fatal, and that is exactly why she needed to keep her distance.

What happened today...can never happen again. She cannot associate herself with someone she barely knows anything about - and the fact that he’s connected to Cain in some way made it even more complicated for wherever their relationship was journeying into.

She couldn’t do this.

Theodora sat there thinking for a few hours. Seraphina was also quiet, shuffling and scratching her chest every few minutes.

The Ghost of Sylas’s touch remained, and she knew she could never erase it. She was already smitten by the man. It hurt to know that her life was making other things complicated for her.

Right before curfew, she stood up and headed back to her dorm. She headed to Liam’s room to check on him before she retired for the night.

Trevor, his roommate, answered the door.

"Hey,"

"Hey, Is Liam in?" She asked.

"Nope. He left a moment ago actually, to look for you,"

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah, he said you left a few hours ago and hadn’t returned or something so he left,"

"When exactly did he leave?"

"A few minutes. Five or ten, I think,"

"But it’s just three minutes until curfew...," She murmured to herself, "I’ll go find him before it’s too late. Thank you,"

She turned around and rushed back to her room.

Zeke was lying on the bed, waiting for her return, "Hey!" They both called in unison the moment she opened the door.

"Is Liam here?" She questioned.

"Liam?" Zeke frowned. He looked like he wanted to curse, then changed his words, "I’d punch him if he ever walked into this room,"

"Alright," She knew that.

She left the dorm and decided to track him down. The scent of olive caught her nostrils the moment she stepped out of the dorm, and she quickly followed it. The last thing she wanted was Liam worried something had happened to her since she’s been gone for hours, and be caught outside during curfew because of her.

"Liam!" She called as she kept following his scent.

She kept moving and saw that his scent was trailing down the Ashwood retreat site.

Weird. If he had stepped out of the dorm looking for her, he would had easily traced her scent to Sylas’s office, or where she had stayed to catch her breath.

So, why Ashwood retreat?!

As she ran down the path, the 9:00pm tower bell clanged heavily throughout campus.

Curfew.

"Liam!" She yelled as she kept going. She was almost at the site when something caught her eye.

No, someone.

Two men she’d never seen before stood by the bushes, wearing black masks that covered their noses and mouths. They were huge and powerful - wolves, and she was surprised to see one of them with a handgun, and they were staring at her.

They did not look like students.

But what really caught her attention was the person sprawled over their shoulder. The person was unconscious, with fresh blood trickling down his forehead.

Liam.

What the...

Theodora stepped forward, and her blood boiled with fury. Her claws instantly grew out, and she glared at them like the heavens were about to split, "I won’t ask again," She seethed, "Drop him!"