Page 74 of Of Bone and Ash

“We were just… on a break. I knew you were coming back. You are always so protective and sweet. Teos! I love you!” Tessa whimpers, reaching for him again. Teos steps back and shakes his head.

“No, Tess. We’re friends. Please don't ruin that,” he practically begs, and I can see how much this is tearing him up. Whoever this girl is to Teos, he does care about her. Not in the way she wants him to, but I can see he doesn't want to hurt her. “Tess. You already know I have history with Serafina. I told you why we couldn't be together,” he keeps saying, keeping his distance while putting his hands out, almost like he wants to soothe her but knows his touch will only make it worse.

Shit. I shouldn’t be here for this. I trust Teos despite my own personal issues. My being here is only rubbing salt in Tessa's wounds. The guys who have stepped back while the drama unfolds must have a similar idea because most of them are heading toward the other side of the room where a bunch of couches and TVs are.

“I’m just going to—” I thumb over my shoulder at the door as Teos spins, looking at me with panicked eyes.

“Bella,” he whispers, and I nod and smile, letting him know I’m okay. My magic, on the other hand, is a fickle bitch, and I don't want to risk murdering Tessa if she tries to touch Teos again.

“I’ll be outside on the steps waiting,” I reassure him as a girl with shorter blonde hair comes up and wraps an arm around Tessa’s now heaving shoulders. But just as I open the door, letting in a frozen gust of air, bells sound in the distance, making me pause.

What the hell?

Who is ringing… Adam’s words from the day he was showing me around campus come flooding back to me as I throw open the door. I look to the castle, find the bell tower, and watch as the silver bells slowly move back and forth, their chime ringing a warning through the air as the golden lights on the lamps lining the walkways turn orange, then darken to red.

“Demons,” I breathe out just as a roar from a Dragon pierces the night air, the sound coming from the south side of the campus.

“Oh my God! We have to go!” a girl shouts from behind me, a chorus of panic following her declaration as students rush to their rooms.

“Bella! We have to get inside. Come on,” Teos shouts, rushing to me, but I shake my head and step outside, my mind on one thing. Or rather person. “Bella?” Teos whispers when I look over my shoulder at him.

“I have to make sure he’s alright,” I admit, making Teos’ face morph into one of fury when he realizes who I’m talking about. Which I totally understand, but even though I’m mad at Ryland, even if I mentally can't handle being around him, it doesn't mean I want him dead. That thought alone is like a shot straight to my heart.

“This is his job! You need to get your ass in my room! No more Demon fights. Do you have any idea how fucking terrified I was when I couldn't find you in that damn forest!? No! You’re coming with me to my room,” Teos demands, his face flushing red with his anger.

“I can’t,” I whisper back just as a golden glow fills the sky to the south. I watch in horrified awe as the light illuminates the silhouette of the Dragons flying through the sky, fire spewing from their mouths. There is a loud explosion, then more flames just as a brilliant bright blue shield appears accompanied by a sound like thunder, making the ground shake as it forms, arcing up and over the school grounds. The bright source of the light is from the south side, where the Dragons and Demons are.

“Atlas!” I whisper, my panic tripling.

“Dammit! Shit! Fuck!” Teos curses as he tosses his hands in the air. “Fine. But you will wait right there! I’m coming with you. Just let me get some damn pants on!” He takes off toward the stairs, the blue satin of my robe trailing behind him as he mutters about not being able to fight with his dick out. The moment he’s out of view, I slide the heels from my feet, bring my hands up, and cast a shield Atlas taught me, ensuring no one comes out and no one goes in for the next hour. And then I run.

Teos said himself he couldn't handle the fear of not finding me. Plus, he’s still recovering from dying earlier today and will only slow me down. He’ll be safer here, and I can fight better knowing he’s safe. Probably not the brightest idea running headlong into a Demon battle by myself, but hell, I haven’t died yet, so let's see if my luck holds out.

THIRTY-FIVE

Serafina

Screams fill the air as I run through the courtyard, my eyes locked on the glimmering blue shield my brother has thrown up around the school. Closing my eyes, I let my magic, which has been pressing against my mental barriers, flood to the surface, welcoming the cold magic with a shiver of excitement. Just as I’m closing in on the blue shield, hand outstretched to let Atlas know I want through, an angry voice stops me, making me skid to a stop.

“Don't you fucking dare,” Amell snaps, appearing out of thin air, his glamour fully intact as he crosses his arms over his chest, the weird golden brown color of his hair making him look pale now that I know what he actually looks like. His odd eyes lock on mine, refusing to look away as I turn to face him, curious as to why he thinks he can tell me what to do.

“Don’t what?” I ask, crossing my arms and matching his stance, not liking how he’s looking down his nose at me.

“Don’t go through that shield. Students are to go to their dorms and wait for the bells to chime three times before they can resume normal campus life,” he instructs in full professor mode. His pristine white button-down shirt looks perfectly pressed, his tan pants appearing as if they were made for him and him alone. The pale green tie that is elaborately knotted complements his eyes, and even his weird hair looks like it's frozen in place. There’s not a thing out of place on the man, and I have the sudden urge to jump forward and tussle his hair just to see if his head will implode if I ruin his perfect appearance.

I almost laugh at that idea, knowing that it's not something I’d normally do. I think I’ve been hanging around Teos too much, and it's only been a week. But honestly, it's really disappointing that such a handsome face is ruined by such an awful personality.

“You would be the one to tell me to sit by and watch people die,” I scoff, rolling my eyes as I turn away from him. “It's funny when the Reaper, the person meant to kill and destroy every good thing they touch, is the one wanting to help, and the Angel,” I give him a hard side-eye, hoping he can hear the disdain I feel in my voice. “Is the one sitting around with his thumb shoved up his ass when he’s the one who has the correct magic to handle the issue,” I gesture to the blue shield in front of me. “Maybe something you should look into during your weekly therapy sessions.”

Amell’s emotionless face twitches as he looks at me. “I don’t go to therapy,” he mutters, a sneer tugging on his lips as if the idea itself is outlandish.

“And that's your number one problem. Angels are so fucked in the head. It’s taken my uncle years of being out of the Vatican's control to be semi-normal. And he was already a genuinely good person. You’re fucked,” I say with fake sympathy, walking over to Atlas’ shields and pressing my palms against the cold, glowing blue light.

“I can't intervene. Even if I wanted to, Serafina. I am bound to the Vatican and its laws,” Amell grinds out, a flicker of actual emotion flaring to life in his cold eyes.

“Demons are attacking! They are not to be in this territory, yet you do nothing!” I snap back, pressing my hands hard against Atlas’ shields, mentally seeking him out. “The Vatican's laws are fucked up, and so is anyone who follows them,” I snarl back, closing my eyes as I feel Atlas, his magic swirling in angry motions. I raise a brow, not used to feeling my brother's anger. Someone has royally pissed him off, and I feel bad for the fucker. I may be a Reaper, but I never want to be on Atlas’ bad side. He may seem sweet and put together, but he has a side to him that is so dark my magic gets excited. Which, by the way, isn’t a good thing. I feel his hesitancy to let me through, his silly brotherly need to keep me safe, so I add a spark of my own magic to hurry him along, smiling when I feel his magic reluctantly give under my hands.

“I said no,” Amell snaps, stepping closer, hands sparking with gold magic. I laugh and look over my shoulder at him.

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