Page 26 of Overwhelmed By Magic

Like a child, I follow it through my room, awed as it continues hopping along before it shoots toward me. My breath jumps into my throat as I lean back, the essence forming into a small butterfly, flitting around my face before landing back on my wrist and then disappearing back into the symbols.

I’m taken by the simplicity and beauty that was just shown—something I’ve never seen nor read about. Essence is supposed to be this structured thing, attached to a Magila and directed by their movements. And yet… what I’ve just seen breaks every rule the Magila council has pushed on us—just like that day four years ago.

A breathy sigh leaves me as I embrace the moment, soon dashed by a snarl out in the hallway. I hold my breath and stare into the dark abyss, waiting for Tamara or Leo to show up and tell me not to worry. After all, the students should be in classes or gearing up for lunch. I was told that no one really wanders down this hall in the first week, that I shouldn’t have to worry about random pop-ups unless they want counseling out of the mandatory hours.

Which is usually never.

“Hello?”

Well, that was stupid.

I should just close my door and return to my seat but I’m glued to the floor, frozen between fight or flight. Neither is a good option around Magila that can’t control their essence. I’m about to call out again when a hand is around my throat and I find myself smashed against one of my bookshelves. The structure rattles, dust kicking up around us. Once it settles, I see someone a few years older than me, blood-red eyes glaring into mine.

Vampire.

His aura is sickeningly thick, clawing at my arms as his hand tightens. “You smell wonderful,” he purrs, the sound sending shivers down my spine. His tongue flicks out and licks my cheek as I shudder, too shocked to say anything. I reach over to touch Harlow’s mark, the vampire cackling at my poor attempt as he rips my arm out of reach. “No calling ghost boy. You’re all mine.”

I wince as the back of my hand smacks against the wood of the bookshelf. “You’re not supposed to be touching counselors.” I bite out, trying not to show my fear. I don’t know if he can smell it but most animals can and the man currently holding me reminds me of one. His fangs lengthen as he licks my cheek again, sniffing aggressively as the color of his eyes deepens.

“Fuck the rules, human. You smell like candy.”

I start yelling for help when the hand on my throat transfers to my mouth, squeezing so hard that I cry out from the pain that shoots through my jaw. What he wants is made painfully clear when his head dips to the curve of my neck, his fangs scratching at the skin. I’ve only been around a few vampires, none of which have been interested in me.

He groans as he presses himself against me, his arousal thick against my thigh. When his fangs sink into my neck, an intense pain spreads through my body. I thought it might be a pleasurable thing when vampires take what they need but I don’t want this. I struggle against his grip as the vampire drinks, my body slacking from how much blood he’s taking from me.

Two seconds later, his presence is ripped away and Harlow is standing in front of me, cradling my head, frantically trying to get me to respond to him. “Babe, fuck. Answer me, Skye. Shit.”

“’M okay,” I mumble, feeling a bit drunk. I stumble forward and he holds me against his chest, tucking my head against his shoulder. I’m too weak to cling to him and too confused to do anything other than just lean. There’s some angry words being thrown around and then silence.

“He fucking bit you. I’m going to kill him.”

I’m not fast enough to stop him as I’m propped up against the wall, another Magila holding me steady as Harlow stalks over to the vampire, grips him by the neck, and then steps through the veil and into the void he disappears to. Several moments pass as I try to catalog what just happened and the two students who showed up with Harlow. Their auras are rather old but other than swirls of gold and green, I can’t make out much more.

My vision is tunneling and my strength is waning.

Harlow returns, the man at my side laughing. “I’d say that that was an overreaction but he did attack the human you claimed.” I’m deposited back in Harlow’s arms just as I crumple to the ground. He sits beside me, dragging me into his lap.

“Fuck, babe. It’s so deep.” His hand covers the bitemarks and the coolness of his aura settles the anxiety trying to pick at what consciousness I have left. “Why the fuck was he attacking a counselor, Rumi?”

The man who had held me before—the one with the gold aura—crouches in front of us. “Because it’s a bit of a lawless land. Skye also smells like an entire fucking candy shop. I’m beginning to think only the Magila who have ‘failed’ can smell him like that, except you of course. Look, let me heal the bite and then we can get him to his room.”

Harlow cradles me closer to his chest and I blink a few times to stay conscious, trying to glare at Rumi. He reminds me of an angel but like a fallen one. Lucifer, that’s it. That’s who he reminds me of. “Do you have to touch me?” I croak out. Between the vampire and that day four years ago, I’m not really looking forward to having another Magila’s hands on me right now, regardless of the intention.

“That’s such a fucking odd question, Skye.” Rumi muses.

I struggle with one of my sleeves, Harlow catching on and rolling up the cuff just enough to show the marks around my wrist. Rumi glares at it, his brows furrowing. “A human shouldn’t be able to bear marks like that. That’s definitely from a Magila but…” His bites his bottom lip, warring with what he wants to tell me but changes his tune when I can no longer hold my head up. “Fuck, alright, this will bite a little.”

It's a slow burn but not uncomfortable like the ones on my wrist. It starts in my neck and then slowly follows a path down to my chest and then spreads through my body like a warm blanket. My body relaxes, the pain suddenly gone as my eyes flutter closed and darkness takes me.

17

AMBROSE

The new spirit is hot as fuck and intriguing, more than I had hoped he would be. My interest was in Skye, the human that smells delicious but it’s slowly moving to encompass both of them. I don’t think I’ve found so many people to pique my interest in one year let alone a decade. First Stellan, then Skye, and now Harlow? I have so many things to focus on. Skye is definitely a priority but Harlow is a different thing entirely.

I want more of whatever that growly sound was as he dragged that vampire out of existence. The others don’t know it yet but that’s exactly what Harlow did. And watching him protect his human had me reaching down to adjust myself. I might be old as fuck but I want another lick.

Following alongside them, I field any Magila who even think to come close as Harlow carries his boyfriend through the main area to the North wing. Rumi jabs me in the side but I can’t stop watching as the spirit tugs his man closer, pressing his lips to his forehead. Emotions I haven’t felt in years start to swirl up in my chest. There’s desire and need but there’s also an obsession starting to build, one that I’m not sure if I’ll squash just yet.

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