Page 50 of The Spell Caster

“You saying I’m dirty?” He put weight on his leg carefully.

“You were dirty before you left yesterday,” I pointed out.

My phone pinged. I pulled it out and made a face.

“What’s that all about?”

“It’s… Calamus. He wants to talk about the circle spell. You’d think he’d be resting or something after last night.”

“Pretty sure he was the only one who got out of there without an injury,” Costi said darkly.

“Because you took the hit for him.” I crossed my arms and frowned.

“Fucking Grey. There’s something about him. He was telling me all his theories about the Greek attack on the ride over. And then somehow the angels know we’re coming?”

My annoyance at Calamus flared hotter. Why would he bring up the attack on the Paralía Circle with the only survivor? “I doubt he’d tip the enemy off to a raid he himself was part of. You just don’t like him.”

“Damn straight I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

My heart beat wildly as he ran his eyes over my face, and I wondered if Costi was aware of the way he looked at me. Because I was very aware of his smoldering gaze.

“I better get that shower,” he said slowly.

He seemed stiff but able to get himself around. I sat down on my bed and tried to get my body back under control as I heard the water start up.

Maybe I should just kiss him already and unwind some of this tension—but I had a feeling that would only make it worse.

I jumped off my bed and paced around with uncharacteristic nervous energy.

I texted Calamus back and suggested we meet at the library shortly, wanting to get this over with. I hoped my mother wouldn’t come after me over it. Calamus didn’t deserve to get strung along just so I could avoid her anger.

Costi returned after some time looking cleaned up, shaved, and dressed in his typical uniform. My heart wobbled at the sight of him in the morning light. I was so far gone in such a short time it wasn’t even funny.

He leaned a hand on my dresser, looking straight at me.

“I have to go soon,” I told him, making no move to leave.

“Yeah,” he said. “I should probably go get yelled at.”

“Ash didn’t seem mad at you, at least. They got me your clothes.”

Costi barked a laugh. “Oh, they’re pissed, I guarantee you. You won’t see it, though. They’ll go around in a cold fury waiting to take revenge.”

“You bring it on yourself.” I shrugged. “I’m going to meet Calamus at the library.”

He frowned.

“Do you think I should tell him to forget it? I still think this spell is a weird waste of time, but I was hoping he would keep looking into other things. He knows a lot about magic.”

Costi rubbed at the back of his damp hair. “Yeah, maybe. Wouldn’t take him at his word on everything, though.”

I could see that. Calamus didn’t seem dishonest per se, but taking stories as facts could lead him to some flawed conclusions. “I’ll be careful,” I said.

“Come here,” he said, wrapping his arm behind my back and his hand over my hair as he hugged me closely.

My mind and body screamed at me that this was right. I felt him sigh against me before we finally untangled after too long a moment. He held on to my arms, and I scrutinized his face for signs of pain.

“Are you okay to walk?”

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