Page 34 of Baneful Magick

Closing my laptop, I looked up and found Bricriu standing by the entrance, staring in my direction with a blank expression. He had heard my interaction with Hellsing. He calmly walked over and grabbed his things. Would he say anything?

“Let me walk you back to your dorm before you end up even more over your head,” he offered as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

“Between the two of you, I’m not sure who was worse,” I said lightly, addressing the elephant in the room as we walked outside. “You were put off that I didn’t mind your fae form, and Hellsing got into my personal space because you didn’t come back inside.”

Bones remained silent as he walked with me to my dorm. The only sign of his irritation was the clenching of his jaw, but just as I held up my card to let myself in, his hand grabbed my wrist and twirled me around.

“Isla, you need to watch yourself around Hellsing.”

“Why?” The word pushed out almost like an accusation.

“You push every damn button, witchling, and you're attracting more attention than you know.”

“More cryptic messages. At this rate, I should keep a journal, so I don’t forget them all,” I replied tartly.

“I’m being serious.” He shook me slightly, his jaw clenched in frustration.

“So am I,” I deadpanned. “Is there something else you wanted to say, Bones?”

“If you think that Hellsing and I are the ones to keep an eye on, then you are truly naive. Keep your wits about you, witch, before you find the dark side of Greywood.”

“Are you offering a tour?” I taunted. When I stepped closer to him, he shoved me away, forcing me to stumble back.

‘Beastie!’Cassius growled as I fell on the ground.

‘I’m fine.’

“You have a death wish, Isla, and you’re fucking lucky I’m not granting it tonight. You need to restrain your tongue, or you’ll wish you never came to Greywood. Consider this a warning from a friend.”

“Thisis how you treat your friends? Shoving them around and threatening to kill them?”

“You want someone sweet then look outside of Greywood.”

“Fuck you.”

Bones waltzed off without a backward glance. My breathing escaped in ragged gasps as my thoughts raced.Where did that come from?Maybe he was still defensive about me complimenting his fae form, but for some reason that didn’t feel right.

‘Jealousy from your talk with the vamp?’ Cassius tacked on, the violence in his voice making me shudder. Was that violence directed toward the fae that had been acting like a dick or me for talking with the vamp? I had no idea.

‘Maybe,’I allowed, forcing myself to remain calm when his anger didn’t fade.

I stood up then brushed off my clothes before going inside, glad that everyone else seemed to be asleep already. As I dropped my bag I noticed a paper on the floor, crumpled up and forgotten.

It was the note from Demir that I had forgotten about.Maybe that’s the pick-me-up I need right now.Bending over,I grabbed it and sat down, tucking a foot under my butt as I opened it.

Nothing could have prepared me for what he had written.

Chapter 13

Isla

TUESDAY

Where the fuck are you, Isla? If you don’t answer me soon, I’ll show up on campus.

Demir had used enchanted paper as a way to stay in touch. The magicked paper could be used to send real-time notes, and I hadn’t responded in the few days I had been here. He was pissed off.

Scrambling before I passed out, I grabbed a pen and wrote out a quick response to prevent him from storming the damn place. Knowing Demir, that was exactly what he would do.

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