Page 64 of Baneful Magick

I couldn’t see Echo from where I laid, but I was tired of playing along, acting like a meek fuck toy for him to abuse ashe wished. He’d mentioned fucking his past partners to death, draining them of everything to feed himself. I refused to go out that way. I’d fight him. Maybe that was what he needed. If everyone else had played along to their own demise, then maybe I needed to give him something else.

What about after this?

I shoved that thought aside, not ready to think about that. There were other considerations that fought for my attention. Would this ruin our friendship? Did Iwantto be friends with Echo after this? I might have gone along with this, but it wasn’t like Iwantedit.

Forcing myself to stand up, I groaned. Every muscle in my body protested the movement. I wasn’t going to have sex for years after this. His cum and my juices wet my upper thighs, making me wish I had something to clean myself up with. The sheets would have been an option if they weren’t also covered in sweat and cum.

Walking past the pile of my discarded clothes, I stepped out into the greenhouse and inhaled. The fresh scent of plants and dirt were a breath of fresh air.

“Witch, what are you doing out here?” Echo sang out, and I shivered.

“I’m done.”

“Done?” he asked calmly as he came into view. He tilted his head to the side, considering me closely, and his brow furrowed in confusion. Every movement was slow and calculated, nothing like the Echo I had come to know.

I nodded. “If you find me so lacking, then get someone else.”

“Excuse me?” He growled, his eyes flashing, and suddenly he was right in front of me. He closed the few inches he had on me to get in my face. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“You’re bitching that I can’t feed you, so find someone who can.” I waved a hand to dismiss him, but he caught it midgesture. He squeezed hard enough that I gasped in pain, and this time there was no hint of regret. He sucked in a breath, eyes closing as though he were savoring the hurt he’d caused.

“You’re not walking away from me, Isla. Everyone else has, butyouaren’t going to.”

“Everyone else has?” I asked, unable to keep myself from doing so. Echo froze, and I reached up to cup his face in my hands, ignoring the warning glare. “Who could ever walk away from you, Echo?”

“This isn’t about that!” His voice cracked, the tension on his face betraying how much he was fighting to keep any emotions to himself.

“It is now,” I told him firmly.

“You’re talking far too much for my liking. I have better things you could be doing with that mouth of yours,” Echo replied as he pushed back until I hit the glass wall.

I narrowed my eyes at him in defiance. I’d let that little slip go for now, but I wasn’t about to forget it. “We did this your way, Echo. Now, we’re going to do it mine.”

“Watch yourself, Isla. You aren’t in charge here.” He reached up and grabbed my throat, pinning me in place.

“Maybe I should be because you haven’t fed yet,” I shot back, forcing false bravado into my expression.

“You—”

“What kind of incubus are you, Echo? You can’t even feed off of some regular witch,” I taunted him. “You said I won’t let you in, but maybe?—”

The slap echoed in the small space, the sound louder than the pain it caused. I laughed at him, and within the darkness that filled my veins, I felt Cassius stir behind his walls.

‘Beastie?’

“You need to do better than that, Echo. Hit me, fuck me,useme like you fucking mean it. I’ve noticed your lingering glances, but you’re always too shy to do anything. Man up, Echo.”

‘What the fuck are you doing, Isla?!’

‘Put the shields up.’

‘You’re going to get yourself killed!’

‘Shields. Now,’I ordered.

Before Cassius could do anything, Echo hit me again. Blood coated my tongue as my head whipped to the side. Laughter that sounded foreign fell from my lips, and when I tried to move, I found I couldn’t control my body. Cassius had taken over. I was aware, but I was definitely not in the driver’s seat.

‘Cassius! I pushed him.’

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