Page 25 of Baneful Magick

“But Echo!”

“No. Get a cat or something. Don’t all witches have cats?”

“Such a fucking stereotype!” She huffed, but I could tell I hadn’t offended her since she snagged my hand. “We shouldprobably get back to our rooms. Even if the school doesn’t have rules, we do have class tomorrow. Atninein the morning.”

“Nine isn’t too bad,” I replied, but I didn’t protest her suggestion of going back to the dorm. Or at least trying to. After going in a circle a few times, I gently took the lead.

“Don’t tell me you’re a morning person!” Isla complained. “That’s the nail in the coffin then. We can’t be friends.”

“Me being able to shapeshift into a bat doesn’t give me any leeway?”

She sniffed. “No, absolutely not.”

We left the cover of the forest and came out near our dorm. By now, all the other students were long in bed, though I did see a few lights on in some of the dorms. The two of us were the only ones still awake and walking around outside.

“Some people are just never happy,” I deadpanned.

She laughed, her head thrown back so that her black hair brushed her shoulders. The sound was deep for a woman, husky and warm in the silence of the night, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. As if she could feel the weight of my gaze and thoughts, her laugh slowly faded.

I swallowed hard, hating that I couldn’t hide my attraction to her. It was stupid. I was here to learn, to make something of myself instead of being Aizel’s second and my mother’s spare disappointment. Developing any sort of crush on anyone, much less a friend and roommate, would be so fucking stupid.

“Echo, I?—”

“Need sleep,” I interrupted, abruptly turning around and power-walking to the dorm. “So do I. Like you said, morning classes will be here soon enough.”

Silence fell between us as we walked upstairs. Waiting for Isla to swipe her card was probably the longest ten seconds of my life. I couldn’t tell if it was just me, or if she was purposefully moving in slow motion. I pushed the door the moment the locksnicked open and was almost at my room door when I heard Isla softly call my name.

I froze at my door, turning ever so slightly to face her. She was standing by a couch in our lounge area, the soft glow of a reading lamp highlighting her face. My breath caught in my throat at the knowledge in her gaze. It was like she could see right into my soul.

I hated her just a bit at that moment.

“Thanks for taking me out tonight. It was exactly what I needed before classes start tomorrow.” She didn’t linger after that, heading into her room without looking back.

As soon as my bedroom door closed behind me, I released a shaky breath and ran a hand over my face. I was a fucking incubus, yet this witch had my tongue all in knots. Seduction and lust fed my damn soul, but this woman was making me feel like a lovesick boy.

It was bullshit.

Undressing with angry, jerky motions, I threw my clothes onto the floor. Sliding into my bed, enjoying the cool cotton against my heated skin, I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would claim me quickly, but of course it didn’t.

I tossed and turned for a few hours before I let out a frustrated yell. At this rate, I would be dead on my feet tomorrow.

I needed relief, and before I could fully realize what I was doing, my hand wrapped around my cock, not the least bit surprised to find I was hard as hell. My body jerked as my hips snapped up, and the sheets slid down to the ground. The cool air of the room was comforting against my heated skin as I circled my hand around the head, using my precum as lube. My body was so fucking primed and ready to go, and my mind didn’t need any encouragement either.

Warm hazel eyes and lips curled up in a sassy smile stood out in my mind as I imagined Isla’s husky voice urging me on. She wanted to watch, telling me when to move and when to stop. My fantasy was so in control that I couldn’t suppress my whimper when she ordered me to take my hand away right before I tipped over the edge.

She was completely in control, cruel, beautiful... Perfect.

The woman I imagined made me edge myself for so long I swore I could feel my balls throb, so fucking swollen and full of cum. Only when I almost started to beg aloud did she order me to come. I grunted Isla’s name, and cum shot up so far that it hit my chin.

Holy shit.

I was gasping for air, my body violently shuddering. I’d never had an experience like that before. Usually, I was the one doing the seducing and ordering around. I needed to feed off their emotions and lust, yet this time it felt like she was feeding off mine. What the fuck had just happened?

Chapter 10

Isla

MONDAY

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