\[Serenity’s POV\]
I kissed him. I kissed him. Holy shit! I kissed him.
These words repeat themselves in my head again and again as I rush down the hall and then burst into my first class of the day.
“What did I do?” I gasp, taking my place and burying my head in my hands. “What were you thinking, Serenity?”
Shit. I acted on impulse. Was it because of what I discussed with Aunt Elise?
No. I couldn’t blame that talk for what I did. Deep down, I knew that I did it because I wanted to do it, and now that it happened, what would happen with Maverick and me?
Screaming internally, I hear a round of giggles. Lifting my head, I watch as some of the girls in my class watch me with looks of amusement.
“Take a picture,” I huff just as Maverick enters.
Tensing, I watch while he lazily heads in my direction. When he reaches, he takes his normal spot beside me.
Holding my breath, I wait to see what will happen, but when he acts like normal, pulling his books out of his bag and preparing them for the day, I feel a wave of annoyance.
Was he not bothered about what I did? Was I the only one who was riled up due to it? Dammit. This wasn’t fair!
“What?” He asks as I continue to stare. “What’s wrong?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to blurt everything I’m feeling, but stop as our professor heads to his place at the front of the class.
“Nothing,” I huff, deciding that I would play him at his own game. “Nothing at all.”
Fine. If he wants to pretend like nothing happened and everything was normal, I would do the same. I would show him that he didn’t have the upper hand, because I knew that if he knew, I would be absolutely doomed. Love was the same as war, and the first to falter would certainly go down, and I didn’t intend for that to happen.
For the rest of the day, Maverick and I move about our day like everything is fine. It’s frustrating, and honestly, I want to grab the man and shake him for being so damn composed, but I manage to remain calm.
When my final class ends, I don’t wait for the asshole to get up and follow me; instead, I rush out and extend my senses, searching for Aunt Elise. When I find her, I beeline for the first-year hall, and when I find her, I feel my composure come crashing down.
“Serenity.” She gasps, when I stop in front of her and grab her arms while those around us watch on in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” I begin, but stop as I realize that there are too many prying eyes and ears. “Not here.”
Keeping ahold of Aunt Elise, I begin to move, pulling her toward my dorm, where I knew my room would be safe even if others were around since it was soundproofed.
Bursting inside, I release Aunt Elise and collapse on my bed while all my tension from the day crashes into me once again.
“I went and did it.” I groan while she watches me. “I fucked up!”
For a moment, Aunt Elise doesn’t speak as she processes what I’ve said. When her eyes flash with curiosity and her lips twitch, I know she is going to make me say everything.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.” She says, taking a seat in my computer chair and pulling her knees to her chest. “You’re going to have to use your words.”
“I…” I begin, extending my senses and feeling a wave of relief and disappointment when I realize that Maverick isn’t around. Where the hell did the man go now?
“You.” Aunt Elise urges me, bringing me back to the present. “What did you do?”
“I…” I start again, feeling my cheeks flush. “I kissed Maverick.”
There. It was out in the open.
“I kissed him.” I repeat, burying my head in my hands once more. “What am I going to do? What if I’ve ruined everything?”
Ugh. I hated this. What were all these emotions, and why were they suddenly appearing? What happened to the easy relationship Maverick and I had up until this point? Why couldn’t we go back to that?
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Aunt Elise sighs, drawing my attention to her.
“What?” I demand, unable to understand her reaction. “What do you mean?”
“You’re acting like this just from a kiss?” She asks in annoyance. “I thought maybe something more happened.”
“Something… more…” I repeat, feeling my cheeks flush again. “Of course not! How could it?”
“Well,” she says, giving me a look. “The two of you are no longer kids, ya know? When you become adults, you’re going to want to do this and that.”
“T-this,” I sputter, “Aunt Elise, are you actually encouraging…?”
“I’m not!” She snaps in annoyance. “But isn’t it just how things naturally go when you care for someone? You’re going to want to get closer to that person and learn everything about them... Everything.”
As she speaks, I don’t miss the hint of sadness in her voice, and I’m certain that she’s thinking about Uncle William.
“Aunt Elise,” I say slowly, realizing that I should tell her what I or rather Mahogany did. “There’s something I should tell you involving Uncle William.”
“I already know.” She says quietly. “He told me the other day.”
Nodding, I consider what she is telling me but can’t stop the nagging feeling I get over the lack of happiness I’m sensing from her. Shouldn’t she be happy that he knows since that meant they could rekindle their romance?
“I know that you meant well,” she continues when I don’t speak. “But things just can’t go back to the way that they were. I’m not that woman from that time, and he isn’t that man. Also, you can’t forget he has Lydia and...”
She doesn’t finish her words as a look of frustration flashes in her eyes.
“And.” I urge her, wanting to know what she was going to say.
“It doesn’t matter,” she grumbles, though her actions say otherwise. “And if he were to try anything with me, he could get in a lot of trouble because I’m still a minor.” She says now, changing the subject. “Not to mention, there is still the possibility I will turn into one of those deranged rogues.”
At her words, my eyes snap to her arm, which is covered by long sleeves, her choice of wear since being bitten.
“We need to figure out what they are and where they come from.” I murmur.
“About that,” Aunt Elise begins, her mood shifting with the complete change of topic. “I think I may have gotten a hint. I told William, but I’m not sure if he has done anything to look into it.”
“What is it?” I ask, my curiosity peaking. “What did you discover?”
“All the rogues are from the same pack.” She explains. “And their leader seems to have consumed the flesh of the goddess. Maybe that has something to do with it? But why would doing such a thing turn them into such deranged creatures?”
“Ate the flesh of the goddess,” I hiss, shock rushing through me. “Did you just…”
“I remembered hearing something similar in the past when we were trying to figure out what the curse you carried entailed.” Aunt Elise continues. “But I’m not sure if the two things are connected.”
“There’s one way to find out.” I announce, jumping up.
“And what is that?”
“Seeing what Uncle William has found out.”