Page 18 of Havenfall Harbor
Her eyes fall to the floor the moment mine rise to meet hers. “Headmaster,” she breathes. I’ve known about her infatuation for a while, but she’s a good assistant and her advances have always been easy enough to avoid. Right now her submissive demeanor is making my skin crawl.
I brush past her without speaking. My teeth are aching with the need for blood after my conversation with Ms. Shaw. If I spoke now, she would see the evidence of my need, not that she doesn’t already know. I’m sending out enough pheromones to call any unattached females for miles to my side. Yet, that fact seems to have little effect on Quinn.
I slam the door to my inner office. Millie knows better than to follow me, thank fuck, because it’s more than just my teeth aching. My cock was hard the moment I woke up this morning with thoughts of Quinn teasing me. I tried avoiding her, sleeping for most of the day and awakening in the evenings, as if I really was cursed from the sun, but her fucking scent is everywhere. Or at least I’m imagining it is. There’s no way she’s been in my office, my bed, yet I feel her there. Maybe putting her so close to me was a bad idea?
I knew bringing a human into Havenfall could be dangerous, but I never thought I would be the one that was having a hard time controlling themselves.
“Fuck!” I shout loud enough to rattle the walls.
I hear the scurry of Millie’s footsteps as she dashes to her desk. The only reason she would have to fear me would be if she was a male vampire challenging me, or if she was Quinn Shaw. She alone should fear me the most, but she doesn’t. Even after I just tried to warn her, she still doesn’t. I did succeed in hurting her, though, when I implied she was stupid and was going to get someone in trouble.
I slam my fist down on my desk as I picture her face in my mind. Millie answers a call from her desk, her voice as soft as a whisper, but I still don’t want to hear her. Every one of my senses are heightened beyond my normal, I need to get myself under control before I do something that could hurt Havenfall.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Albert, but the headmaster isn’t available for appointments now…Yes, sir, I will.” The phone returning to the cradle is barely audible, but I hear it like a gunshot.
I bring my hands up to my face to rub my temples, but I catch her scent. When she passed me at the entrance of the school, I touched the tips of my fingers to the side of her neck. I’m sure she didn’t even feel it, but I couldn’t fight the need to lay some claim on her, not when Noah was so close to what’s mine.
That thought has all the air in my lungs fleeing. Quinn Shaw is not mine, and she never will be.
The only reason that thought isn’t making me lose my shit right now is because I know a lie when I hear it, even if I’m lying to myself.
Chapter 7
Quinn
I can’t seemto kick the sour mood I’ve been in since Griffin left my office this morning. It didn’t help that as soon as Millie saw me approach the lunch table she was sharing with Alice—Noah is noticeably absent—her face transformed into a scowl like she has a reason to be pissed at me.
“Hey, guys.” I look around as I sit down, wondering if everyone is in a bad mood today.
“Looking good, Quinny.” Alice grins as she gives me a once over.
“Thanks, Ally.” Her compliment brings the first genuine smile to my lips in hours. Not to mention the relief I feel knowing she’s not suffering from some hot and cold temperament, like a few men I won’t mention.
After claiming my seat, I pull open the tab on my yogurt and lean closer to Alice. “So, how did last night go?” I was so wrapped up in my own stuff, I forgot about herdatelast night with Wes.
Alice lets out a breathy sigh, and her body just melts a little. She has a stupid cute smile on her face, and I smile right along with her.
“That good, huh?” I take my first bite of vanilla yogurt before dumping in a few pieces of granola.
“It was. It really was.” Her cheeks are still high with a grin when she makes eye contact with me. She lets out a girlish giggle, and I almost ask if the date lasted all night, since she still seems a little bite drunk, but I don’t. My cluelessness prompts me to grow a little more serious. Alice would be the perfect person to talk to about whatever situation I have that Griffin alluded to. I lean even closer to her. Millie might be pretending I don’t exist, but she doesn’t need to know my business.
“Hey, do you think we could hang out after dinner—”
Alice cuts me off before I can finish. “I already made plans with Wes, but if it’s important…” Her face falls.
I wave off her concern and tell her, “No, absolutely nothing that can’t wait, maybe later this week?” I add hopefully.
“Definitely.” Alice nods quickly. “I’ll fill you in on the details of our date then.” She waggles her eyebrows, and just like that I decide not to let Griffin being a jerk this morning ruin the rest of my day.
Just as I’m preparing to toss my trash away, I hear Millie’s voice. “I don’t think I’ll be around for dinner.” Her eyes cut to me. “The headmaster canceled all his appointments this morning, and I’m going to need to reschedule everything.” She glares at me, as if it’s somehow my fault.
I ignore her ire and inquire, “What about the meeting I had scheduled with him, should I call to reschedule it?”
Her head jerks back like she can’t believe I just asked that. “I really don’t think that’s necessary. If he wants a meeting with you, you’ll know.” With those parting words, she stands up and stomps out of the dining hall.
“What the hell was that about?” Rob looks between me and Alice.
“I have no frigging clue,” I tell him honestly.
