“Eh, social media is a wild place, babe.”
“I think I’m glad to be too old for that shit.”Caleb narrowed his eyes at me, smiling before he squeezed both Temps’ and my shoulders.“But that sounds as good as anything else right now.Teach Temperance your stuff, and I’ll be sure to gather what we need to be as discreet as possible when we go to the carnival.Meet back at the gate tomorrow morning, like five.And if we don’t like what we see, the soul weaving.”
He made sure to look Temps directly in the eye for that last part.I didn’t love the idea of losing Caleb for good either, whether it be through death or because some ancient fuck took his place, but I had to admit, even if only to myself, that we did need more power.
Caleb was right.We were new at this.Temps and I didn’t have the skills, and for all of his muscles, fighting something like an unnameable evil was going to take a lot more than punching.I just hoped that our little trip would convince Temps of that.
“Fuuuck, that’ssoearly,” I turned up the moan as I spoke, really laying it on thick.
‘You’ll be fine, Lizzie.”Temps smiled at me before looking down at the floor with a sigh.“But we should go.Hanging out in here for too long again might get noticed this time.”
“Indeed.”Caleb stepped back, walking casually to the door, which he opened for us with a grin.“I’ll see you both in the morning then.”
Temps was the first to get moving, and I was surprised when she stopped in front of Caleb and leaned up onto her toes to deliver a soft peck on his cheek.It was so quick, and there was no one milling about in the halls, so we were fine, but to know that Temps was willing to risk a little spoke volumes.
“If anything changes, call one of us.Or text.Do you have our numbers on file?”
Caleb nodded with a sly grin.“I may have combed the records last night for them.Just in case.”
Blushing slightly, Temps nodded and slipped past, her footsteps echoing as they filled the quiet with a steady beat.As I walked up to Caleb, I thought about the student we’d found.Those charred sockets would haunt me for a long fucking time, and I knew that Caleb had seen his parents killed in front of him.How he was walking around with all that was a testament, and I knew he didn’t see it that way.
As I reached him, I stopped, looking up into those expressive, deep blue eyes of his, reaching up for his cheek.
“The fact that you’re helping us with this, the school with this, says a lot about you.Even if some of the other stuff is twisting in your head, I hope you realize that you’re a good person.You could have turned tail and run when all this started, and you didn’t.Don’t forget that.”
His eyes widened, his lips parting slightly, and I pushed up onto my tiptoes to kiss him—too quick for my liking if I was honest.
“See ya in the morning, teach.”
Seventeen- When Lost Lambs Stumble Into The Dark, Reality Warps & The Black Bites Back
Temps
Atthefrontgateof the school, I saw Caleb waiting, noticing immediately that he wasn’t sporting the typical tweed jacket and slacks.If it weren’t for what we were about to do, I would have likely been a drooling mess taking in all that leather.
Yes, your hot professor is wearing actual leather.Gods help me.
Lizzie chuckled next to me, nudging me in the ribs with her elbow as she nodded.I tracked how her eyes went to Caleb’s ass in his jeans before sliding up to the black motorcycle jacket he was wearing.She wagged her brows at me, and I rolled my eyes, feeling like an idiot since we were about to sneak into a carnival that some evil cult could very well run.
He was yummy before,Lizzie said in my head,and now it’s even better.
Would you pipe down in here?I’m trying to concentrate.
Laughing, Lizzie pulled me along as we hurried up to Caleb, who spun around, his stare going straight to our clothes.
“That’s what you wore to infiltrate the carnival?”I looked down, considering my boots, skinny jeans, and black fuzzy sweater.Lizzie was hardly better, in sleek black leggings, a black tant, and what barely passed as an excuse for a jacket since it was cropped to circle up over her boobs, only covering her arms.
I mean, at least itwasblack.
“Says the guy in a black leather jacket, who I’ve never seen on a bike once to merit it.”Lizzie really was quite adept at being a bit of a brat, and I stifled a giggle as she faced off with Caleb, his jaw muscles working as he stared down at her.
“Just because you haven’tseenme ride, doesn’t mean I don’t.”
We both stopped short at that one, glancing between each other in a bit of pleasant shock.
“Hot damn, Caleb.”Lizzie nodded, sidling up to him and yanking the zipper up on his jacket.“That’s pretty sexy.”
A low growl of sorts rumbled out of him, and I blushed, trading my weight between my feet as I gestured at the gate with my elbow since I was unwilling to take my cold hands out of my pockets.It was another chilly fall day here, orange and yellow leaves trampled flat on the ground beneath my feet.
