Page 60 of Baneful Magick

It didn’t escape my notice that I wasn’t the only one who reacted to that information. Bricriu stilled, and Julian’s gazeimmediately shot up to the roof as if he could discern whose remains were scattered there.

Falke was just about to say something when Bricriu released his illusion magick, slipping off his high fae form. Gray smoke blurred his form for a few seconds before it faded to reveal what he really looked like. Bones gently knocked together when he reached up to take off his glasses, uncovering pale purple eyes that were fixed on the roof.

The temp herbology professor paled, and the thought crossed my mind that she might pass out. Fortunately, she seemed to grab some semblance of control, shaking herself before murmuring something about checking on students as she rushed away from us.

Purple eyes flicked over to her general direction before he walked inside, presumably heading for the ladder to the roof.

“Professor Falke,” a quiet voice called out behind us, and we all turned to face the unexpected addition to our group.

Part of the ice inside of me cracked once I recognized him as one of Isla’s friends. Wells Hawthorne, the one I had pulled Isla away from yesterday. Did she mention our kiss to him, this juvenile boy who sought her attention? Selfishly, I wanted to know.

“Hawthorne, students should be reporting to their dorms. The buildings will be locked in just a few minutes,” Falke told him in a harsh dismissal.

The witch swallowed hard, but he didn’t back down. His gaze flicked up to the tall fae that was now standing on top of the greenhouse looking down at us.

“It can’t be Isla.” Wells kept on, not backing down when all of us paid him our full attention. “She’s beenoccupiedsince yesterday.”

“Occupied? What do you mean?” I crooned.

“How certain of that are you?” Julian demanded at the same time.

Both of us stepped toward him, or at least we tried to. Falke shoved himself in our way. “Where is she?” he asked, shooting us a pointed stare silently willing us to get our reactions under control.

“I don’t know exactly where she is right now,” Wells said with a hint of uncertainty.

What the hell is he playing at? Does he think this is some kind of game?!

“Then how—” Bricriu called down.

“But she’s with an incubus in the middle of a rut,” he continued, words pouring from him in a rush. “The only way she’d be up there is if he were up there too.”

Falke started cursing. Julian’s gaze was clouded by disbelief before it disappeared completely. Bricriu hummed softly, the hollow sound loud in the sudden silence.

Rage filled me until there was nothing but darkness boiling inside. I’d kissed her,tastedher, yet someone else dared to swoop in and claim her before me? The urge to lash out was almost uncontrollable. How dare they take away what was mine? I’d slaughter them.

“I don’t know where he took her, but I guarantee that whoever that is, isn’t her.” He paused for a second, and a hint of magick filled the air before he slowly shook his head. “That’s not her magick.”

“Her magick?” Bricriu asked, beating me to the punch.

The witch’s green eyes flicked between all of us as his body tensed up.

“Isla’s magick is mostly green, with some black. Whoever that is, I can see a lingering bit of purple, but that’s it.”

“A weaver,” I said, my lip curling up in sneer. Weavers were incredibly rare and dangerous. They could see the aura ofmagick in the world and use those powers however they could imagine. There were really no restraints or limits to a weaver’s power.

Wells nodded sharply, clearly uncomfortable. Much like Briciu’s earlier display, he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

“What parts are missing?” Julian called up to Bricriu, effectively grabbing our attention to focus on the problem at hand.

“Head, right hand, and three left ribs, and the body looks to have been disemboweled a while ago. I’m not sure if the organs were taken by whoever did this or scavengers.”

“What are they doing with all of this?” Julian muttered. He roughly ran his hand through his hair, his curiosity and frustration coming out.

“We should wait— never mind.” I sighed when I noticed that Wells was now gone. How much had he stuck around for? A problem for another time. “Where are the other professors and Thatcher?”

“He’s almost here,” Falke said grimly. “Bricriu, you should go before they see you.”

The fae didn’t reply but in the next second, he was gone. I couldn’t even sense his illusionary magick nearby. How long had he been able to travel like that? Why didn't he use it more often? Before I could fall too deep into contemplating all the secrets Greywood held, I heard approaching footsteps.

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