Wicked Lessons

by Siggy Shade

To everyone who loves the kind of morally gray hero who would burn down the world for you

I need a sugar daddy. Right now.

“You can do this,” I say to myself because there’s no one else to give me a pep talk. “Go in there and flirt like your life depends on it.” (Because it does.)

Thanks Dad, wherever you are. Because by this time next week, I’ll be everything you despise.

“It’s what you haven’t said that’s more telling.”

“What’s that, love?” asks the driver. “Nothing.”

Maybe he isn’t such a bastard after all.

“You could invite her and a few others for tea.” “Let’s not overdo it.” I raise a palm.

“I need you to research something.” “No hello,” she says. “No how are you?” I relax into my seat. “Hello, Quinn. How are you?” “Ah, forget about it,” she snaps. “What do you want?”

Tonight will be tedious,

Absolutely not.

Jealousy would imply that I’m attached to Professor Segul. I’m not.

Ive been saying his name wrong 😑

“You’re dangerous.” “Only to those who get on my nerves,” I say from between clenched teeth.

Consent means everything.

❤️❤️❤️

“You’re just like the charming prince of Wonderland.” “Are you mixing your fairytales now?” I ask with a smirk.

Her sexual history is none of my business, so why do I feel a sudden urge to kill?

But Phoenix isn’t a professional—she’s mine. Mine.

“Tell me who I need to kill.” My voice is calm, reasonable, and coaxing.

“He isn’t worth the effort,” she murmurs. “Besides, I don’t want you murdering anyone.”

“Would you turn away from me if I murdered someone?” “Who?” she asks. “The kind of man who hurts women.” “That would make you a hero.” She stretches out her arms for a hug. “Murder is okay if it’s in self-defense. It’s noble if you do it to protect someone else.”

“Ask me again when you’re sober.”

“When I was little, I used to fantasize about murdering my dad,” she murmurs, her tone wistful. “He used to say all women were whores and I was no different.” “Men like him don’t deserve wives, let alone daughters,” I say

“Good night, Miss Stahl.” “‘Night, Professor.”

“You’re my perfect little match,” I press a kiss on her bare shoulder. “And I’ll never let you go.”

dad either blocked me or changed his number or someone could have erased his phone. I don’t know. I saw you last night with her and I thought this was a pattern. You know, people being into me one moment and then doing the complete opposite the next.”

But not while she’d been drunk and not in control. I’m not my father.

I need to get out of here while there’s still something left of my dignity to salvage.

But when I pull back the black leather curtains, she’s already gone.

“Are you alright, love?” asks the driver. “Fine,” I reply, my voice stiff. “I noticed earlier that you were crying. Was it a bad date?”

“I lost my dad,” I say. His attention snaps back to the road. “Sorry for your loss.” “I’m not.”

“Last month, Uncle Odin caught my cousin, Thor, with a woman. The next morning, they were married.”

“Don’t allow anyone to gaslight or coerce you into changing the way you think.”

“Professor Segul graded me a third.” I’m going to kill that bastard.

“Clearly, the system mixed up your result with one of the many assignments I had to endure. As soon as you leave, I will rectify the mistake and demand that whoever is in charge of communicating grades to students performs a full audit.”

“And the money was like a love language?” she asks. “In a way.”

❤️

“Will you stay away from Veer Bestlasson?” “Of course,”

I turn my head, not wanting to see that beautiful face crumple.

“Why does he let you in his office and not me?” “I don’t know,” I say without thinking. “Maybe because I hand in better assignments?”

If I didn’t realize it before, I sure as hell know that relying on someone to take care of me is just begging for disappointment.

“Ingrid.” The drummer holds out her hand. “I’m only in the band because I’m related to Veer, and they’ll replace me the moment they find someone with a dick.”

The last name hits like a bullet to the gut.

My ninety-nine percent pessimism knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that Phoenix Stahl is exactly the type of beauty Crius likes to ruin.

“Furthermore,” I say, channeling Professor Segul, “If they know I’m trying to free you, they’ll stop the van and kill me.”

“You promise to make sure he doesn’t abduct any other girls?” she asks. “The rest of the family went to their graves never knowing what happened to my big sister.”

I’ve killed over a dozen men and maimed my own father, but this is the first time I’ll do this in front of someone I—

“Take my nephew and his fiancée,” Odin says, still not moving his gaze from mine.

“Wait,” says Thor. “You’re not a hostage?” Mother’s eyes flutter toward the men standing in the doorway. “Pretending Crius had taken me was the only way I could get Marius to agree to help.”

“Unbelievable.” Veer’s voice breaks me out of my concentration. I turn to him and frown. “Huh?” “I knew he was suspicious the moment he walked into the lecture theater.” “Because he threw that chair at your head when you were playing the guitar?” I ask.

“The mother was in on the plan from the start. From what she says, it was her idea to manipulate the professor into taking hostages.”

“Sure thing, Father, but I get the feeling he wants Crius dead more than we do.”