She surprised me, taking the seat next to Margot in the front row. She smiled at the sullen woman, keeping her distance and not crowding

her—giving her space that most didn’t afford to the Reds.

Willow picked up a grape, popping it into her mouth and chewing slowly as she held my gaze. I’d never in my life thought that a woman could even make eating feel like a sultry game, but knowing she hadn’t rejected the food I’d sent for her soothed some of the irritation at seeing her flirt with the Bray boy.

She was the worst kind of danger, a temptation that would push me to do stupid, foolish things just to get my cock wet. Because that’s all it could be. With my true body and heart locked in the pits of Hell, I had no interest in anything more.

The Covenant would attempt to take my balls before they let me pursue something more than the Reaping with Susannah’s precious granddaughter, anyway. I scoffed at the thought, settled in the knowledge that witches and Vessels would never willingly come together in such a way.

Willow crossed her legs beneath the table, drawing my attention to the combat boots on her feet. She’d ignored the shoes I knew had been provided, since I’d seen them in her room the night before when I stripped off her pants. I wondered if she knew someone had been there, or if she’d convinced herself she’d taken them off the night before and just forgotten it. Her face was calm, her heart rate settled. While she’d proven to be a gifted liar, I didn’t think she would be able to disguise the symptoms of her

fear if she realized someone had entered her room while she slept.

I smirked as I raised a brow at her, lifting the textbook into my arms and approaching her table. The rest of the students had already been given the necessary items they’d need for their education, but Willow hadn’t been present for orientation.

“We have a dress code, Miss Madizza,” I said, placing the book in front of her.

She leaned forward, taking it from me. Her fingers brushed against mine as I released it, and I knew the contact hadn’t been unintentional. How quickly she’d gone from telling me she would never allow me to touch her to hinting it was what she wanted. The suspicion that had sunk inside me only grew with every lingering gaze and flirtatious comment.

“Are you going to give me detention, Headmaster?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

Margot swung her head to look at her as Willow flipped open the textbook, thumbing through the pages absently.

“We don’t have detention here,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I tried to decide exactly what sort of game she was playing.

Her eyes met mine once more, and beneath the false bravado, I saw it lingering there. Uncertainty. I pursed my lips, nodding in understanding. Willow was using her flirtation as a way to hide her discomfort, sinking her teeth into anything familiar.

Me. Iban Bray.

We were the only two males she’d met, aside from Kairos, and she’d flirted with him as well.

It wasn’t about me. It never was, but that wouldn’t stop me from taking

exactly what I wanted from her.

“That’s a shame,” she said, her mouth dropping into a pout that was somehow cute.

“Not particularly,” I said, not bothering to disguise the sting I didn’t want to feel. Her lack of specific interest shouldn’t have mattered to me. Who she fucked wasn’t my concern as long as I was one of them.

But somehow, it did matter.

“If you’re in need of personal attention after class, I’m sure Mr. Bray would be more than willing to accommodate your needs, Miss Madizza,” I said, allowing my eyes to rove over her figure.

Her mouth dropped open just slightly.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her flush confirming what I suspected. She didn’t even want to take someone to bed, but for some reason she just couldn’t keep herself from taunting me.

I called her bluff. “If you need to be fucked,” I said, dropping my voice low. Only the students closest to her could hear my words, but her cheeks darkened and highlighted the dark spots of her freckles all the same. “I’m certain Mr. Bray would be happy to service you.”

She clamped her mouth shut, her embarrassment fading away and fury taking its place. Her jaw hardened. It was gone only a moment later before she struck me with a smile that felt as sharp and dangerous as a belladonna plant.

“You’re right. I’m sure he will be.”

I glared at her, my smirk dropping as she leaned back in her chair. She crossed her arms over her torso, highlighting the swell of her breasts as she turned to Margot and smiled as if she hadn’t been affected by my harsh words in the slightest.

Fucking Hell.

“Turn to page three,” I snapped, turning back to my chalkboard. My mood had sufficiently plummeted, and Willow only continued to taunt me as she slowly ate the rest of the fruit I’d had delivered to her.

All men enjoyed a challenge, but Willow was something different. She was something worse.

She was impossible.