Page 59 of Of Bone and Ash

“Fina needs to find something. So maybe we can catch up with you guys later and, uh... play Scrabble?” Teos offers, nodding at Adam, who goes up on his toes to look over my head as if the thing I need to find is hiding behind me.

“What are we looking for?” he asks, automatically including himself in my search as he reaches into his pocket and retrieves a small bottle of hand sanitizer. He dumps way too much of it on his hands before clicking the bottle shut while vigorously rubbing it in.

“We?” Neva groans, closing her eyes as Adam nods, looking at her with newfound excitement.

“I’m not sure. But I’m guessing it has to do with the dead girl on the field?” Teos asks and I glare up at him as Adam pales, stepping closer to Neva.

“Dead girl?” she asks, brows furrowing as she looks at the forest and then back at the school.

“Really?” I drawl, glaring up at him. Teos shrugs and looks at Neva and Adam.

“They would find out about her soon anyway. There were way too many students who saw her,” he defends himself, and I roll my eyes.

“It’s probably best if you take him back,” I suggest to Neva, who nods, her lips pursed as she studies me. I stare back, not sure what to make of this girl. On the one hand, she seems nice, if not a little odd, which explains how she gets along so well with Adam. But on the other hand, she seems much too aware for my liking. It's almost as if she can see the center of who I am. See the broken and shattered pieces. But instead of the sorrow or sympathy I usually see when people find out just how fucked up I am, it's understanding.

“Yeah. I think so,” she agrees, grabbing Adam's hand.

“Wait. No, I want to come! It sounds fun,” Adam says, stepping away from Neva and closer to us. I sigh and look at the Basilisk Shifter, but she only glares at Adam and then nods.

“Fine. But stay close to me,” she grumbles.

“Wait. I don't think—” I start to say, but Neva is already heading toward the forest. Adam grins and looks at me with raised brows.

“So, what are we looking for?” he asks, and I glare at him.

“A murder scene,” I say deadpan, hoping to scare some sense into him as I turn to follow Neva. I silently fume as we walk, not liking this situation at all. Having Teos with me was risky enough. Not that I really need to be scared about losing him. He just more than proved his ability to handle dark magic, but I still don't like him being in danger. Adam doesn't have those abilities, and it's one more person I need to keep safe. I eye Neva and shrug at her tagging along. Besides the fact that I don’t know her well, it looks like she can handle herself, so at least I don’t have to worry about her.

“In there?” he asks, hesitating momentarily as we draw near the line of mangled trees.

“We’re not supposed to go into the void, Bella,” Teos whispers, hand softly taking mine, fingers twining together as he walks at my side. My first instinct is to yank my hand from his, but the warmth from his touch sends a shiver racing down my spine, and instead, I lean into his side. Keeping my promise as best as I can.

“The void?” I ask, glad he’s not stopping me from going where I need to. I can tell he doesn’t want to enter the forest, but he’s coming anyway. He frowns and nods at the forest, eyeing the thick fog drifting at the base of the trees like it might jump out and attack us.

“The forest. The locals call it the void. Say it’s haunted with monsters and ghosts.” Neva answers for him. Teos chuckles as he looks down at me and squeezes my hand again.

“If only it were monsters and ghosts. I’d take them over Demons any day,” he grumbles, looking back up at the trees as we step up in front of them.

“I’ve always liked the forest,” Adam pipes in, and Neva laughs. She shakes her head as she looks at Adam with a fondness I typically see in Atlas’ eyes when he talks to me.

“You little creep,” she mutters, and Teos nods in agreement, looking at Adam with a worried expression. My magic itches to be let out the closer we get to the forest, and I sigh, letting it spiral in the air. Adam whistles under his breath when he sees it, and Neva watches the dark wisps of death magic with an air of curiosity just as it circles around some trees before darting to the right. I gesture in that direction, knowing better than to ignore my magic.

“You like Demon-infested forests?” Teos asks in disbelief as he follows me without question. Adam nods his head, then frowns and shakes it.

“No. Not the Demon part. But the forest is dark and quiet. It's soothing to walk through, and I never feel alone when I’m in there,” he says, and Neva jerks to a stop, spinning to glare at Adam, who isn’t paying attention and plows straight into her.

“Shit! Neva! Are you alright?” he asks, arms banding around her small frame just as she shoves at his chest, making him stumble back with a small pout on his lips.

“Are you still going into the forest at night? I told you to stop doing that!” she hisses under her breath, jeweled eyes sparkling with magic as she glares at him. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that forest is?”

“Neva,” he whispers, reaching out for her, and she steps back.

“I told you to stop that shit,” she growls under her breath before pivoting on her heel and walking straight into the forest. I look at Adam, feeling bad for him since I just got my ass chewed by Teos for the same thing. Teos squeezes my hand as if to remind me how stupid I have also been as Adam ducks his head, his cheeks stained red as he slowly follows after Neva.

“Demons are fucking scary. But not as scary as this damn forest,” Teos whispers as we follow Adam.

“Why are you here if you don't like Demons? Everyone in the Fae world knows this university is a dangerous one to go to,” I ask, genuinely curious as I take my first step past the line of trees. Almost as if a light switch was flicked, darkness creeps in, filtering out the sun as we walk deeper into the trees. Teos shivers, looking over his shoulder when a few branches rustle before he lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulders protectively.

I tense, and I know I’m done with the casual touches for the day, when my magic flares with a deadly intensity I try to avoid at all times. I think it has more to do with having people I care about in danger than Teos’ touch, but I don't want to risk anything. Reaching up, I grab his arm and give him a small squeeze before letting him go. I can’t have my magic flare with Adam and Neva so close to me. They could get hurt.

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