Page 46 of Among the Screaming Trees

“Not really. Why does it matter?”

“Aspen is a scholarship student, and the rules pertaining to her acceptance stated she must reside on campus. "

“I don’t give a fuck what the rules say, Fred. She can’t stay there anymore.”

“Well, she and Tali can take a share house near town, I suppose.”

I don’t give a fuck about Anatalia Zevers. She can camp by the fountain, for all I care. “Tali isn’t in danger. Aspen is. That’s why she’s staying with me.”

Grundy swallows, his throat working overtime around an impressive Adam’s apple. “You plan on moving a student into your private home? Good God, man, have you lost your mind?”

“I’m the only one thinking clearly right now. I have six bedrooms and a security guard on patrol. No mail is delivered unopened. She’s staying with me, and that’s final.”

He swallows again, this time with more effort. The guy is rattled. “If any of this gets out that you’re living alone with a student, Elijah, the damage would be irrecoverable.”

Jack stuffs his hands into his pockets. He looks disheveled today. The long hair, normally tied back in a hipster bun, is loose and rugged. Both of us raced to Aspen as soon as Luk’s text came in.

“He won’t be alone with her, Fred. I’m moving in too.”

The Dean blinks at him, certain he’s overdue a hearing test and perhaps a noise canceling aid.

“What? Jackson, is this sound? I guess you moving in too might make it more palatable should any of this come out, so to speak. Are you sure?”

Jack nods, leaning back on his heels. We discussed this idea with Luk and Fox once we arrived, once the girls were loaded into the car and distanced from trauma. There is no other way… only I don’t want to be the one to tell Aspen about our plan. If she realizes she’s moving in with me, and not with the good doctor, she’d potentially take another chance with the widows. Jack’s studio is a one bedroom, at least my house won’t raise suspicion.

“Positive,” he adds. “Just a temporary fix to make sure this isn’t a targeted attack. Whatever keeps our students safe, right, Dean?”

“No way. I’d rather take my chance in the woods.”

To say Aspen isn’t thrilled about her new accommodations is putting it lightly. I’ve seen pond scum with more enthusiasm.

“If it helps, I’m moving in too, to help with the… acclimation.”

Thanks, Jack, ever the pragmatic dick. The only reason you’re moving yourself in is the purported belief that she’s not safe alone with me. We both know she’s not, but no one else is privy to that information.

“You are?” Her diminutive question paired with those long, light brown fluttering lashes makes me want to punish them both. Watching them role play isn’t the foreplay I had envisaged this morning.

“Do I need to remind you that a student is dead, and a box full of poisonous spiders sent to another address? We are taking every precaution with student safety.”

“Does the faculty believe you are safety, Professor?” Her eyes blaze with a defiance so blatant, I’m tempted to use my cock instead of a pinecone next time. “Because my experience screams otherwise.”

Oh, you little…

“Aspen,” Jack soothes. “You’ll be safe with me.”

Thoughts of piano wire garottes and carbon monoxide bloating blink into my vision before I snap them out again. Jack knows how I work, and how to depress a button with enough force to bring me to my limit but not force me over. He’s fucking with me, and I’m drifting right into his design. I won’t dissolve for him, or for anyone.

“Ms. Aldereyne, we have an entire dorm of students to rehouse, and you’re worried about my temperament? As long as you are a well-behaved houseguest, I don’t foresee any issues with the arrangement.”

“Where is Tali staying? And Poppi, and Gretchen. What about Kristi?”

“Kristi’s parents came to collect her after Merda’s incident,” I snap. If she wonders why I only answer about the welfare of one student, she doesn’t press further. She flicks her hair back, the movement causing the stands to separate and the warm pink strands to come to the front. Her mother’s favorite color: rose gold. Too bad Arthur didn’t pay enough attention when he gifted her the locket in bold yellow gold that appears brassy and nothing like Aster’s delicate features.

“If you’re both done with comfort logistics, I suggest we get moving. Unlike the two of you, I have more on my mind other than a cleaning roster and rotating dinner prep.”

“Given all your wealth, Professor, I’d have thought you’d have that covered.”

There are not enough pinecones in my woods for this fucking girl’s sass.