Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
It doesn’t make me want to flirt with him, either. He’s never quite unpleasant to me, but there are times that I want to snarl at him for being a prick.
On Fifthday morning, the three humans and Taurian in our group head over to the library to meet Kipp, shaking out wet cloaks and hanging them on hooks near the doors. Despite the early hour, the library is full of fledglings, and I can hear Master Tiercel droning on about Prellian architecture. A librarian rushes past with a cart full of books and what looks like a crystal globe set atop the cart. The crystal globe flashes and the librarian parks the cart and begins to shelve books in their places.
“I wish someone wanted to get wet,” I comment as we swipe our muddy boots on the rug at the front of the library.
Raptor jerks, startled. He shoots me a dirty look.
“What? If they wanted to get wet, they wouldn’t be in here, hogging all the tables.”
With a scowl on his face, he plants his big hands on his hips and scans the room. “I don’t see Kipp.”
“He said he was going to wait at the table,” I say as both Hemmen and Arrod look to the Taurian. “Why else do you think he came ahead, Cranky?”
Raptor mutters something under his breath that sounds a bit like “least he’s coming,” but I don’t know what he’s referring to. I shoot him an irked glance and then make my way across the crowded library, dodging pushed-out chairs and carts full of books waiting to be reshelved. There are no candles in the library to brighten it. The large windows are full of gray skies, but someone has pulled out a series of small globes that are full of a greenish magic illumination. The fist-sized lamps are lifted onto the wall sconces by hooks, and the room fills with a murky, sickly shade of light.
One of the men pushes his chair back just as I walk past, shoving it into me.
I ignore him. Just like I ignore the one who slaps my arse as I move past.
Raptor doesn’t, though. He’s two paces behind me, and the moment after my arse is squeezed, he lets out a roar. I turn just in time to see the student lifted bodily out of his seat, hanging by his collar. He hauls the terrified fledgling into the air. “Slap my ass,” he snarls, the broad blaze down his muzzle pressed to the tinier human nose. “Go on, I mucking dare you.”
Should I tell him to stop? I don’t want to, because I love that he’s standing up for me. I love that he’s doing something about the harassment I’ve dealt with every day since arriving in Vastwarren City. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so gleeful about it, but it’s nice to see someone realize that their thoughtless actions have consequences.
“S-sorry,” the student mumbles, utterly pale.
Raptor shakes him again. “Are you apologizing to me?”
The fledging turns wide, frantic eyes toward me. “Sorry! Sorry!”
“Just don’t let it happen again,” I say magnanimously. I move to Raptor’s side, and when he gives the man another shake, I tap his arm. “You can set him down now.”
He looks over at me, and I could swear there’s a tinge of red in Raptor’s gaze. He looks…unhinged. All this because some fool spanked me? Or is there something else going on?
I move away from the table full of fledglings and their scowling master (who did not step in, I cannot help but notice). Arrod and Hemmen go ahead, but I turn and wait for Raptor. After a moment, he drops the quivering fledgling back into his seat and stalks away, moving to my side. Once he gets to me, he reaches out. For a moment, it seems as if he’s going to put an arm around my shoulders, but he changes his mind and brushes a piece of lint off my fledgling sash instead. “You all right?”
“Are you?” I ask. “It’s not like you to lose control like that.”
His eyes narrow, and he scowls at me as if I’ve personally offended him. “It’s fine. I’m just tired.”
“I don’t know if I believe that. You seem cranky lately.”
“I said it’s fine.”
I blink. “Did you just snap at me? Because you can fuck right off with that.”
He scrubs a hand down his face. “No, I—I didn’t mean to be short. I’m not mad at you. I’m just…not myself lately.”
“Are you all right?”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” He sounds tired.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
He stares at me long and hard. For some reason, this makes me blush, as if his mind is going to filthy places. That must be my imagination.
“I’m going to take that as a no,” I say brightly. “Come on, then. Let’s join the others.”