Don’t Talk About Her
~Euphoria~
As we walked down the hallway, the stares grew, shifting from curious to somewhat threatening.
“Here’s our class.” Artemis pointed toward two tall, dark, solid oak doors.
Our?
My eyes widened in both confusion and surprise.
“Huh?”
Was he really in this class with me too?
That was far too convenient to be a coincidence.
“Surprised, my pretty?”
I frowned.
“Don’t pout.
It’s only a pet name.”
“My name is Euphoria, not Pretty, or Pet, or even Pretty Pet.
If you wish to keep speaking with me, I would appreciate it if you used my real name.
I am quite fond of it.” I corrected him, feeling firmer than before.
“My apologies, Euphoria.”
He sounded more amused than genuinely apologetic.
“You have class with her again?
How did you manage that?
You’re a fourth year and she’s a first.”
“I suppose…
maybe I’m simply lucky.”
Aries was fuming.
I could practically see the fire flickering off his body.
Amos’ eyes darkened, though his expression never changed.
The air grew heavy again.
So heavy it became difficult to breathe.
While the three of them continued their strange alpha-male competition, I quietly used the distraction to slip inside the classroom, hoping to go unnoticed.
“Look at her…”
“Is she a beast?
I thought this was a human course.”
“She isn’t dressed like the beast students.”
“She really is pretty, though.”
“I heard she hangs around those trouble girls.”
“Isn’t she the girl Clarice picked to play with?”
Soft whispers drifted around the room as I walked farther inside.
I released a quiet sigh.
Keeping my head lowered, I shuffled toward the back row.
Humans were taught not to stare, and if you did, at least don’t make it obvious.
Besides, sitting in the back meant I could observe everyone more easily.
It’s always easier to watch when no one is looking your way.
I took my seat and unpacked my textbook.
It was brand new.
Fresh white pages.
No folded corners.
No scribbles.
No childish drawings, like penis’ hidden along the edges.
No bent cover.
Just…
A clean, beautiful book.
A smile spread across my face.
“Look!”
“It’s the Dragon Prince!”
“He’s even hotter in person.”
“I’d let him have all of me.”
I smiled to myself.
Artemis walked down the aisle of the lecture hall as though he owned the place, making his way directly to the empty seat beside me.
There was something effortless about the way he moved.
Like the wind itself.
“You thought you could sneak away without me.” He settled into the chair beside mine.
“Think again, Euphoria.”
The way my name rolled off his tongue…
It sounded almost…
Sexy.
Oh goodness.
The word sexy.
I couldn’t believe I had just thought that about someone.
But it was true.
My name had never sounded quite like that before.
He smirked.
It was every bit as irritating as it was attractive.
Which, admittedly, was rather confusing.
I quickly turned my attention toward the front just as the professor entered the room.
“Welcome, freshman students.”
His gaze swept across the lecture hall before stopping on us in the back.
“And fourth-year Dragon Princes.”
He gave Artemis a nod.
Artemis answered with nothing more than a lazy half-wave.
Once class began, I tried my best to focus.
I truly did.
Unfortunately, Artemis’ body heat was incredibly distracting.
His scent lingered around me.
Smoke.
Pine.
Like a campfire nestled deep within an evergreen forest.
It wrapped around me like the warmth of an autumn evening.
Without thinking, I closed my eyes, hoping the scent might linger just a little longer.
A quiet chuckle interrupted my thoughts.
When I opened my eyes…
Artemis was already looking at me.
That smirk had returned.
Heat flooded my cheeks.
He had just caught me sniffing him.
Actually sniffing him.
Like some strange little woodland creature.
How embarrassing.
Could someone please pull me into the shadows?
Let the darkness swallow me and my shame.
I’d very much like to disappear now.
I resisted the overwhelming urge to gently knock my forehead against the desk.
“You may keep smelling me if you’d like.” His voice remained infuriatingly smooth.
“I rather enjoy your scent as well.”
“My scent?” I asked curiously.
Did I smell pleasant?
“Yes.”
He inhaled slowly, almost thoughtfully.
“You smell like freshly bloomed peonies after a gentle spring rain.”
For a brief moment, it looked as though he wanted to say something more.
Then he stopped himself.
Why?
Only the heavenly knew.
I should have felt uncomfortable.
His closeness was certainly uninvited.
Yet…
Somehow…
His presence felt strangely familiar.
Comforting.
It didn’t make sense.
I’d never felt anything like this before.
But the feeling remained.
When class finally ended, the whispers returned.
Only this time, they weren’t bothering to keep them quiet.
“She’s already throwing herself at beasts.
How desperate can one girl be?”
I blinked.
That voice belonged to a man.
I wouldn’t expect that from a woman.
“I know.
It’s pathetic.”
A woman answered.
That made more sense.
One moment I felt Artemis’ warmth beside me.
The next…
The room turned cold.
When I looked up, Artemis already had the young man lifted off the floor by his throat.
His other hand gripped the woman’s neck, holding her firmly in place.
“I dare either of you to say another word about her.”
His growl echoed unnaturally.
Like something was plotting death under the surface of his skin.
His eyes blazed an electric blue.
The pressure pouring from him stole the air from the room.
Our classmates stood frozen, watching with equal parts fear, curiosity, and excitement.
I stared in horror.
I don’t know what came over me.
My feet simply moved.
They carried me toward him as though I’d done this a thousand times before.
“Artemis…”
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
His head snapped toward me.
His sharp features were still twisted with fury.
“Could you…
help me find my next class?” I asked softly.
To my surprise, my voice remained steady despite the trembling running through my body.
His expression softened.
He lowered the boy to the floor.
The brilliant glow faded from his eyes.
When he seemed fully himself again, he released the girl’s neck.
Then, with one final motion, he flung the young man across the room.
He crashed into several desks, sending them tumbling over with a loud clatter.
“Speak about her like that in front of me again,” Artemis warned, his voice cold, “and the bruises on your neck and back will be the least of your concerns.”
I thought that would be enough.
Surely no one would continue after witnessing that.
But…
The hostility lingering throughout the room told me otherwise.
I quietly returned to my seat and gathered my belongings.
Just as I finished, Artemis took hold my wrist.
Clamping around it with tightened fury.
I squealed in surprise as he practically pulled me out into the hallway.
His strides were long and quick.
I struggled to keep pace.
I’d always thought I had fairly long legs.
Compared to his…
I may as well have been taking baby steps.
“You walk too slow.”
“Forgive me,” I answered between breaths.
To my surprise…
“I’m sorry.”
His apology startled me enough that I stopped walking altogether.
“You’re…
sorry?”
I looked up at him.
“What for?”
“I lost my temper in there.” His expression grew more thoughtful.
“I shouldn’t have.
They’re ordinary mortals.”
“It is quite alright.” I offered him a small smile.
“Though…
I don’t entirely understand why.”
“As you know, I’m a dragon.
Like all beasts, our animal half lives mostly through instinct.
They don’t stop to think.
They simply react.”
He paused.
“And sometimes those instincts become powerful enough to take control.”
“Then…
why did you attack them?”
He looked down at me.
“Because they spoke about you in a way neither I nor Aemion appreciated.”
“Aemion?”
“My dragon.”
He gave a small shrug.
“He’s rather fond of you.”
His beast…
Was fond of me?
Me?
“Why would he be fond of me?” I asked honestly.
“I’m only an ordinary girl.”
Another shrug.
“He says you calm him.”
His eyes drifted ahead.
“Which is unusual.
Our beast halves rarely know what calm feels like.”
I blinked.
I was almost certain Aries had said something very similar.
“Well…” I smiled warmly.
“I’m glad I can help.”
For just a moment…
His expression softened.
Then something shifted.
The warmth disappeared.
Something far more dangerous settled behind his eyes.
“You’re adorable.”
His gaze lingered on me.
“I can’t help but wonder what you’ll look like when you’re beneath me.”