Page 41 of Unshaken
“Celestials? As in Angels?” I ask before she can finish what she is saying. I feel so anxious, I can no longer sit. I stand in disbelief, looking to my hands holding the test tube for answers as I stare in disbelief. How can this even be possible?
“Miss Jones, you are very unique indeed. Whoever your father is, his Demonic blood is due to adaptation to living in the Underworld, of being transformed because he was cast down.” Professor Star states, I can tell she was trying to get me to get there on my own, but I am so shocked by these new revelations that I feel my brain shutting down.
“I’m afraid, I don’t understand, Professor.” My words sound small, I feel small, and vulnerable. I didn’t ask for any of this but here I am being forced to face it all alone.
“Micah, your sire, is a fallen. He has to be. Which one? I am not sure.” Professor Star’s voice is laced with sympathy, because I can also tell that I have become her new favorite case to study, and I’m sure I don’t like that either.
“Do you have to share this information with Headmistress Larrieux?” I ask. The last thing I need is for her to know even more about me than she already does.
“No. That's why I wanted to meet you before class. I really hope your mother calls you back. This is very concerning, and she needs to speak with you sooner rather than later.” The bells chime indicates the start of class, and I know that is the end of our discussion for now.
* * *
I am still reeling over my latest life-altering news when we walk into Ritualistic Practice. Professor Bodin had been absent last week, so this class had been cancelled. So, this will be my first lesson.
“Do you think it could be Lucifer?” Trys asks as he goes down the list of fallen Angels that he knows off the top of his head. “Or maybe Belial or Moloch, we can always go to the library and do some research.” Trys squeezes my hand, I can feel a headache forming. This is not how I expected my day to go.
“Until I speak to my mother, I won’t think too much about it. This is all too much,” I say to him, squeezing his hand back for comfort as we walk into class. Like Magical History, this classroom has a table and chairs set up, but everything has been pushed to the side of the room, leaving the floor clear. The entire class, including a very upset Sasha, stands waiting for Professor Bodin to enter, and I put as much space between her and I as possible. Rodyn stands against a wall alone, and by the look of don’t fuck with me on his face, the rest of the class stays away.
“Rodykins won’t even look at me now. Everything is ruined. My life is falling apart, and there’s only one person to blame,” Sasha sobs into one of her supporters' shoulders, shooting daggers at me from across the room. I sigh.
“Still want to spare her life?” Ty leans in and whispers. I look over to Sasha and roll my eyes.
“I don’t like her, but I don’t think I should duel with her either. It doesn’t feel right,” I whisper back as the sound of heavy footsteps has me looking towards the door. Professor Bodin walks in, a tall man with smooth caramel skin, bright hazel eyes, and black curly hair peeking out from underneath a navy-blue fedora. He wears a navy pinstripe three-piece suit that pulls over his bulk of muscles in all the right places. He smiles as he enters, his teeth bright white as he looks around the room before his gaze lands on me. I feel it, in that moment it happens: the stealing of my breath, the rapid beating of my heart, my mouth watering with need to fucking climb my professor like a tree and dry hump him. He coughs, clearing his throat, and the spell breaks between us and I look away praying no one notices.Please, ground, please open up and swallow me whole.
“You like what you see, sunshine. He’s an Incubus, he normally turns down the allure but maybe not for you,” Trys whispers as I take in his words. Professor Bodin is a Demon, an Incubus. Maybe that’s what I’m feeling. No harm done.
“I want to start by apologizing for my absence last week, there were things I had to attend to that I couldn’t put off.” Professor Bodin stands before us and my Anchor key warms against my chest so suddenly that I gasp out loud.No, fucking way. Please, not again.If I could beg fate to calm the hell down on the Soul Tethering shit right now, I would. Like down on my knees, I don’t need any more shit happening begging. Instead, I rub at my chest, feeling the same pull, like he is already a part of me, and I was waiting for him to show up. I recognized his voice the minute he spoke, he was in the meeting with the councilors when I first arrived. Deep, rich, with a slight accent I can’t place; as if he’s been in the states for so long that wherever he was from had been replaced with this sexy as hell formation of words that set my soul alight.
I catch Rodyn staring at me from across the room. He frowns or is that concern I see on his face as he looks between me and our professor.
“Are you OK, sunshine?” Trys asks as my eyes lock with Professor Bodin again. He arches an eyebrow, then frowns as he rubs his chest so subtly that if anyone else was looking, they wouldn’t notice. I see it and panic hard. I look around the room as everyone listens to Professor Bodin begin his discussion on Voodoo, and why the tables and chairs have been pushed aside.
“I don’t know,” I tell Trys in response. I can’t breathe, and I try to excuse myself quietly. I need some air, to pull myself together and deal with whatever this is. I offer Ty and Trys an apology, not through words but through our tether, and I can tell they want to come with me, but I shake my head. I need to be alone.
I make it all the way to the door before Professor Bodin stops me.
“Boring you to tears already, Miss Jones.” He turns and walks my way. Ty and Trys watch from where I left them and Rodyn crosses the room to join his brothers. I look up into Professor Bodin’s eyes, trying to find words but he grabs my elbow and ushers me outside without a word.
“I feel a bit overwhelmed and need some air,” I say in a rush, trying to extricate myself from his hold, but his grip tightens.
“Micah Jones, what did you do to me back there?” I panic at his question; my mouth gapes open like a fish because I sure as hell didn’t do anything.
“I-I-I think you could be my Soul Tether, but Professor, I already have four. Two by the way, don’t really want to be. I can’t control it.” My words come tumbling out like water pouring from my mouth. I feel like I need him to know this, like I could tell him everything about me. I’m babbling on like an idiot. I can’t control it indeed, I’m not in control at all.
“I can assure you, I am not your Soul Tether, Miss Jones, but this does complicate matters. I had the feeling the first time I saw you,” he says with a frown.
“Pardon?” I ask, all kinds of flabbergasted in his presence. “It’s your Incubus allure, right? I’ll just stay down wind.” Professor Bodin laughs still holding on to me.
“I’m an Incubus, I can’t be your Soul Tether, Micah. Miss Jones, I do believe you are my mate,” he says softly, releasing me from his hold, and I back away, putting myself out of reach.
“Why? What? You’re my professor, that’s unethical, against the rules.” I back up some more, but he steps towards me. Yep, I’m grasping at straws again.
“This is HellNight Academy, Miss Jones. You’re my mate. I can’t deny it, and neither can you. I will talk to Headmistress Larrieux,” he says as he notices the horrified look on my face. He speaks as if this is all okay, I’m his mate, it’s as simple as that.
“No. No. No. You don’t understand. Her sons are my Tethers. Oh God, no.” I am freaking the hell out. All I want to do is run as far away from this place as Supernaturally possible.
Professor Bodin’s frown deepens, his jaw ticks, and I wonder what he thinks about Ty, Trys and Rodyn to make him look so pissed. Then he looks at me and his face softens.
