No.16

Alek offered. "Do you two want me to leave you alone to fight it out, or..." Alek offered.

"Wait," I advised."I thought you were into girls." I locked my gaze on Moira.

Moira nodded. "I am."

"But you're out with this guy all night?"

"I'm an equal-opportunity companion. Have you taken a good look at him? "

Alek crossed his arms over his broad chest and snickered as I let my gaze drift over his form. He was handsome as hell. They grew up strong and beautiful in Novasgard.

Moira laughed. "We aren't together. Alek and I are training. Late-night hand-to-hand combat He's a warrior. I'm failing weapons and defense already, and we're only a month into the year. "

"Fighting comes naturally. It's in my blood, "Alek offered, then he shoved off the doorframe and strode closer to where I stood. "I could help you if you need it."

I swallowed hard and had to work to keep my heart rate even. "I'm good. Thanks."

"Let me know if you change your mind. I'm available."

"Alek, stop flirting. She's too sweet for you. She wouldn't know what to do with you."

That got my back up a bit. "I'm not that sweet."

"I'd like the chance to find out just how sweet you are," he said.

"Don't get your hopes up. She's already been claimed by Kingston."

My chest tightened. "No, I haven't. No one has or will be doing any claiming. I'm not here for that."

"We'll see," Alek murmured before heading for the door. "See you around, Sunny. I'm sure of it."

Moira shook her head and tossed an arm over her eyes. "Get out of here, Viking. Some of us need sleep before we head to class. "

Alek licked his lips before cocking his head at me. "Don't be shy, little fighter. If you need a real challenge, you know where to find me. "

I couldn't help myself. I watched him leave, and my stupid heart fluttered when he winked—he fuckingwinked—as he closed the door behind him.Moira snorted.

"What?"

"Apparently, your milkshake brings all the supernatural boys to the yard, Sunday. But which one gets the cherry?"

"None of them." Even as I said it, thoughts of four very different men ran through my mind. Each image more scandalous and tantalizing than the last. I knew Moira noticed the little shiver my mental peepshow caused because she snorted again.

"Keep telling yourself that, Fallon."

Gettingthrough the day had been a special sort of hell. Between my bruised knees and aching back from my sessions with Father Gallagher and the low-grade headache which had persisted since waking up in Noah's bed, I was so over this being conscious thing. I just wanted to sleep. Which was exactly what I was planning to do—just as soon as I finished catching up on some of the reading Caleb had assigned to me for our next session. I had no desire to end up on his shit list.

As curious as I was about what represented the good priest's idea of discipline, another part of me was pretty sure I didn't want to find out. Not when his teaching methods already left me bloody and battered.

I groaned as I flipped through the book, internally weeping at how many pages of this chapter were left.

"That's it," Moira declared. "We're going out. One of the fairies in my study group is DJing tonight, and those guys know how to throw a party."

The book in front of me closed with a loud snap, and I jumped, nearly falling out of my chair in surprise. "Shit, Moira. How did you do that?"

"Uh, sweetie. It's called magic."