Page 71 of Baneful Magick

“My home.”

“A ruin?” I blurted out, then winced. “Shit, that was rude. I’m sorry.”

Bones chuckled darkly. “You’re fine, and yes, a ruin. Not many people want to live with someone like me.”

“I’d rather have this than a bunch of ignorant supes,” I replied scathingly, following Bones until we reached a huge open space. A nest of pillows and blankets was set up in the corner.

“No one will bother you here, Isla.” Bones waved his hand to indicate the building.

I whispered thank you and looked around at the stained glass. I was happy to have an escape, but words were failing me.

“Do you need a healer?” I jerked around to face Bones, who was watching me carefully.

“What?”

“I’ve heard ruts can be… intense.” Bones tilted his head, eyeing me with a cautious stare.

“No. No, I’m fine. My face will be fine in a few days. Just… After was… It didn’t go how I thought it would. Wait, how did you know about the rut?”

“There was another student that went missing while you were… gone. One of your friends reported that you were with an incubus who was in a rut.”

“What happened? With the student, I mean.” I latched onto the new topic, desperate to think about anything else.

“They’re dead. Body was found on top of the Herbology greenhouse. They haven’t been able to identify the victim.”

“And let me guess, the school has said nothing about it,” I commented sarcastically. Bones didn’t say anything, and I sighed. “It's just weird.”

“What is?” he asked, settling down into his nest of blankets and pillows.

I stared at it, wishing I felt comfortable enough to make myself at home beside him. It did look super comfortable.

“The missing students.”

“What makes it weird? We don’t know anything about them.”

“We never will if they don’t tell us who’s missing,” I replied. Rubbing my hands over my upper arms, I shivered.

“You can sit down if you want.” Bones gestured to the pile of blankets, a spark of challenge in his pale purple eyes.

I hurried over before he could rescind the offer, carefully stepping over his legs to sit down. The blankets were so soft that I couldn’t help but run my hands over them. It was probably some type of fur, but I had no idea what kind of creature this could have come from.

Bones shifted beside me, getting comfortable, and a waft of citrus, oakmoss, and the light scent of vanilla hit me. I was breathing him in before I could register what I was doing. His scent reminded me of winter nights at home, snuggled in after a cold day outside while relaxing by the burning yule log.

My awareness of Bones intensified until I swore I could hear his heart beating in his chest. What was going on with me?!

‘Beastie.’Cassius’ voice was hoarse, strained.‘I’m shielding.’

‘Shielding?’I asked, but the block had already slammed into place between us.

Long fingers brushed my face, their tremble unmistakable, as he carefully yet firmly urged me to face him. I did, and his gaze searched my face. Fear and shock made his lips part in an almost pained gasp.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice sounding loud in the hush that had fallen around us.

“Tell me no. Please, gods, tell me no,” Bones rasped, leaning toward me. That was when I saw it.Magick.There were tendrils of our magicks sparking around us.Why can I see this? What’s happening?

‘Cassius?!’

Silence.

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