Page 68 of Baneful Magick

Echo’s hard cock had me wondering if we had weathered the storm or were merely in the calm center of it.

Chapter 26

Isla

THURSDAY

Iwoke up to find Echo gone. My heart dropped when I looked around and didn’t see him anywhere. Did he really just leave me alone after all of that? Anger and pain warred within me, and I had to force myself to take a deep breath to make sure I didn’t lose it.

The rut was over.

Slowly, I sat up, discovering every sore muscle and bruise with a new groan of pain.

Movement out of the corner of my eye made me freeze. The first thing I noticed was that Echo was dressed. With an uncertain expression on his face, he walked over to me, his tense body clad in sweats and a t-shirt.

“I thought you left,” I said, unable to hold my tongue.

Echo winced. “I woke up and checked you over. When I realized you were alive, I needed a few minutes to get myself together, then I thought we could use some clothes, especially since?—”

“We’ve been naked and fucking for days?” I asked jokingly. Concern immediately hit me when he looked down at the ground and nodded. Was he avoiding looking at me? “Echo?”

“Why don’t you get dressed? I’ll— I’ll just be over in the room.” He shoved the clothes at me, his body jolting when my fingers brushed his, then ran away. There was no other way to describe his hasty retreat.

‘That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting,’Cassius commented.

‘I thought he’d try to close himself off, but this level of… fear I didn’t see coming,’I mused, looking over the sweats and loose t-shirt he’d snagged for me. It wasn’t my usual outfit selection, but I needed comfort more than I needed to look good.

He had also tucked some personal items in the bundle, thank fuck. I was never so happy to brush my teeth. I made quick work of freshening up with that and the deodorant included with the rest.

‘He’s afraid.’

‘Of what?’I asked Cas.

‘Of you, beastie.’ His voice was so soft that I might not have registered his answer if I hadn’t been paying attention.

‘Me?’

‘He said that he’d killed previous partners in a rut, yet you’re alive.’He paused for a moment.‘Tread carefully, Isla.’

‘Are we going to talk about you appearing at the end?’

‘Right now, that’s not as important as talking to him, beastie. I’m not going anywhere.’

‘That doesn’t mean you’ll actually answer me though,’I grumbled, but I let it go. Cassius was right. Talking to my friend wasn’t something that could be put off.

Straightening my shirt, I carefully walked between the plants that had exploded during our time here. Echo was curled up on the bed. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on inside him. Was he waiting on me or dreading our inevitable conversation? It was probably a mixture of the two given the spooked look on his face when I opened the door to join him.

I sat down close by, though I kept enough distance between us to hopefully help him feel safe and comfortable. I laid back and turned my head to stare at my friend with whom I had spent the last few days surviving his rut.

“Hi,” I breathed, infusing my voice with warmth that made his fearful expression crack.

“Hi.” He laughed roughly then squeezed his eyes shut. “Are you okay? I didn’t… I didn’t hurt you?”

“The bruises will fade, Echo. There’s nothing broken or anything like that,” I responded truthfully. “Though I’ve never had sex so many times for days in a row, so I think I’ll be walking funny for more than just a day.”

Echo snorted, but when he opened his eyes, they were bright with the sheen of tears. The splash of blue in his right eye was extra clear as one fell down his cheek.

“I thought I’d killed you, but then I felt you breathe, and…. You have scrapes and bruises on your face,” he murmured, his thoughts a bit scattered.

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