Page 28 of Overwhelmed By Magic

Until the Magila council caught wind of the book missing and locked it down so that it couldn’t be found again. From there, knowledge was restricted and Grimrose Academy was stripped of any books they deemed important enough to lead us to new conclusions. Dmitri had worked so hard to create his version of Magila and their existence that he couldn’t cope with anything else.

The running story was a few unruly kids found their way down there to the Book of Old and had no idea what they were doing, that it was dangerous. The truth was so far from that.

Now? It’s impossible to find.

I’ve searched everywhere, followed the same steps, and always end up back where I started. Whoever Dmitri found to spell the room and knowledge itself is more powerful than I can imagine.

Screams down the hall tear me from my thoughts and I check for any lingering essence so that it’s not free floating in my room. As beautiful as it is, I also know that it can be dangerous. Heaving a deep sigh, I push off my bed and head to Stellan’s room, his tortured cries softening seconds later. I’m not surprised to find Jade on the floor, cradling the little fire elemental as he’s done for the past few nights, Rumi leaning against the archway looking in. I admit that it’s sweet the way Jade has begun peppering little kisses along the fire elemental’s head but there has to be a better solution.

I’ve tried weathering Stellan’s fire but our essence doesn’t mesh as well. Rumi isn’t a solution either and Stellan has already blown through three packs of cigarettes, trying to give himself an outlet. It’d be great if we had an ice mage of some kind or someone with cold essence. Maybe Harlow can help?

“They’re sweet together, aren’t they?”

I scrunch up my nose. “Grossly so.”

Rumi chuckles as he turns to me, noticing my ponytail. It’s been a while since I walked out of my room with anything other than my dark persona. “I’d agree with you but your eyes nearly popped out of your head when you met Harlow. You’ve been staring and not nicely. And in Skye’s office, I thought you were going to fuck him, right then and there. Just bend the spirit over the desk and slide in.” I cough at his crude description. I have more restraint than that. “It’s okay. You’ve found some new kittens to protect.” He pats my shoulder and returns to watching Jade and Stellan.

Rumi isn’t wrong. Well, kind of. Harlow isn’t a kitten but I’m 100% ready to take that step if he is. If Skye lets us. Fuck, maybe both of them.

18

SKYE

I wake to Harlow nervously pressing kisses along my forehead and cheeks, my clothes damp with sweat and trembles running through my body. Those spirits keep chipping away at the edge of my consciousness but it was the memories from earlier that have me feeling wary and unsettled. If Harlow and the others had been a few seconds later, I wouldn’t be alive right now.

My hand moves up to my neck but Harlow catches it and brings it to his chest before pressing another kiss on my cheek. “Babe, I wasn’t sure you’d wake up. I was so fucking worried.”

“Worried?” I croak and then groan. My throat feels like I’ve been walking through the Sahara Desert. Worse, everything hurts. I’m not sure why Harlow is worried though. It was just a nap. Right? “’Time is it?” I mumble.

“Like 7 or 8 am? Breakfast is served for another hour but I was just-”

His words drop off as I struggle to sit up, Harlow helping me until I’m leaning against him again. It was nearly lunchtime when that happened. I couldn’t have slept for that long. It doesn’t feel like it had been restful, though, so maybe I wasn’t sleeping at all. I grab at the blanket, confusion settling in the longer that I’m awake. No, disoriented is a better description.

I just don’t understand what’s going on.

After that vampire…

I shudder and shake my head, refusing to replay that memory again. Harlow draws me into his lap and wraps his arms around me. I take a few deep breaths, allowing the panic to dissipate. “So, you’re not going to like this but babe, this isn’t really an academy from what I’ve gathered. No one came to help you because they’re just as terrified of the failed Magila as everyone else. Rumi called us rejects and he’s not wrong. We’re a little unstable and everyone’s on edge.”

This sounds like a terrible existence we’ve stepped into and I fucking hate it. The worst part is that a vampire-type bit me, nearly killed me and not one of those ‘friendly’ counselors from earlier had come running. I’m not even in a nurse’s office or anything of the sort. What Harlow is telling me is that there won’t be any fuss about the incident and no one is going to give two shits if I bring it up.

Peachy.

I peel out of his arms and search for something to parch my thirst, glad to find a water bottle on the bedside table. Climbing off the bed, I snatch it and down half of it before turning to face Harlow again. “I read the damn packet and I’m still not really sure what I’m supposed to be doing. Basically, I work Friday and then just… exist the rest of the week? Seems dumb as shit.” I start toward the door but Harlow is pulling me back to the bed before I get anywhere.

“Wait, babe. I’ll just bring you something.”

I plop onto the mattress beside him. Genuine concern and fear linger in his expression. I try to remember exactly what happened after they found me yesterday but nothing rings any alarm bells. “Harlow, I know you want to protect me. You always have but I’m a counselor here, not a student. I have no idea what getting fired is like or if it happens but I can’t just sit here.” The more I think about it, the more I realize that the past 24 hours haven’t given me many more permissions than the students. In fact, outside of the old office I’ve been gifted, I really haven’t been set apart from them. This has to be someone’s sick joke.

Before I can ask any more questions, the mage from yesterday—Ambrose—is banging on the metal door cutting us off from the rest of the school. “Unlock your door bitches.” He sounds abnormally happy this early in the morning but that might just be him. His sing-songy voice also contradicts the mysterious persona he carries around.

Harlow lets out a ragged sigh and stalks over to the door before throwing it open. “I was sure you’d be able to somehow magic it open.”

Ambrose strolls in, sporting a wicked smile when his eyes land on me. I might be mistaken but there’s desire in his expression and the quick glance he gives Harlow means I’m not the only one in his sights. His tongue darts out to lick his lips as he holds my gaze, my heart beating just a little faster in his presence. I blame the strength of his essence for the way my cock hardens in my pants. As if he knows, his smile widens as he takes a seat on the bed opposite of me. “First off, magic is not a thing. It’s essence. Second, hot stuff,” he turns to Harlow, “I could ‘magic it open’ but thought that would be disrespectful for the human in the mist.”

When Ambrose calls me human, I don’t immediately hate it. Goddess, this is getting us nowhere.

Harlow frowns and flips Ambrose off before realizing what the mage said. “Did you just call me hot stuff?”

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