Even though Mika was clearly annoyed, the one who was probably the most irritated in the room was Anya herself.
She had just begun to savor the warmth of Mika's unexpected openness, her heart still racing from the way he'd held her. Finally, she thought, she was getting the affection she had craved for so long—only for yet another nuisance to intrude and tear the moment apart.
Her smile twitched, her eyes narrowing, but then she forced herself to smooth her expression. She leaned toward Mika and whispered firmly,
"Let me handle this."
And without waiting for his answer, she stepped forward to meet the approaching professors. She looked calm, but the sharpness in her eyes betrayed how unwelcome their presence was.
She plastered a polite smile on her lips, one that didn't reach her eyes, and addressed them in a tone sweet enough to sound cordial but heavy with warning.
