Page 52 of Baneful Magick

“I don’t think it’s Isla we need to worry about,” Falke commented lightly, already knowing the witch that Julian wasreferring to. That fact would have bothered me more if I wasn’t busy contemplating whether I could kill Julian without bothersome repercussions. “If the mere mention of her is enough to bring out this reaction in you both. I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ve read what she did to the students at the San Diego Academy. She can definitely handle herself.”

“What did she do?” Julian and I asked at the same time.

“She stabbed a student when she was twelve.” Falke chuckled, admiration glowing in his amber eyes. “After that, she beat them up in fights. From the reports, she always waited for others to start them, but she finished them quickly.”

“I do like fighters.”

“Keep your dick in your pants and stay focused,” Julian admonished.

I smiled lazily at him. “Oh, I am focused.” Taunting him was one of my favorite pastimes.

Falke’s rumbling laugh followed me as I left the hall, wandering across the campus to the dorms. My illusion magick slid over my skin, letting me blend in and hide. I slipped past Bricriu and into the building where Isla and her friends were living. It was almost one in the morning, so they should all be asleep, and I could watch her and get my fill.

She wasn’t in her bed.

My rage burned bright, making my normally fiery blood run cold. I fixed my glare on the object of my obsession. She was in the lounge, and she wasn’t alone.

Isla and the others were all asleep on the couches. Maybe they were looking for reassurance from each other, a sentiment I might have appreciated if she had come to me instead. One of the incubi was tangled around the wolf shifter on one of the couches, leaving no doubt as to his claim to her.

Isla was between two boys, a witch and the other incubus I had seen around her already. The witch was new though. Thethree of them weren’t cuddled together, but there wasn’t much space between them either.

Just as I considered moving her to her bed, she shifted. Murmuring in her sleep, she tossed one way, then another, as if she were trying to get away from something in her dreams. The incubus reached for her, the rumble in his chest instantly comforting her. Isla sighed and snuggled into his side.

The male witch’s brow furrowed, and he began swatting at the air like he was trying to fight someone off.

“No, no! I didn’t— I didn’t do it. Stop,” he muttered, swinging his hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his movements became jerkier, erratic. Whatever he was dreaming of was a memory, not some common nightmare. I recognized the signs of it and the fear in his voice.

The rumbling from the incubus increased. Was he trying to comfort the other man or just Isla? Did he know what he was doing? I hadn’t heard of an incubus having that skill in centuries.

“Wells.” Isla’s husky voice had me stilling.

If only she was saying my name.

One day.

Soon.

She reached out for Wells’ hand without opening her eyes. The incubus also reached out, and together, they tugged him to Isla’s other side. He struggled a bit before he settled again within their grasp. Their lowered inhibitions let them seek comfort with each other, something I didn’t think they would do while awake.

It took every bit of self-control I could muster to not snatch her away for myself.

All in due time.

I reached out, running my fingers along her cheek and brushing her black hair out of her face before walking into herroom. Lying back on her bed, I breathed in deeply, savoring the smell of her on the sheets.

My cock throbbed, but I held back. The first time I found my release surrounded by her scent, I needed to be balls deep inside of her as she cried out my name.

I’d hold off for now, but that didn’t mean I would leave empty handed. Glancing around, I made myself get up and move to her closet. The door slid open with a careful push, and I began to search the contents, running my fingers over her clothes, savoring the feel of different fabrics. Then I saw a pair of black fingerless gloves. Snagging them, I brought them to my nose.

Earth, vanilla, and a hint of jasmine—Isla.

Perfect.

My first piece of her. I wondered if she would notice.

After all,Inoticed everything abouther.

Chapter 20

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