Page 141 of Blood & Betrayals

The library is mostly empty, and I savor the quiet. I sit at one of the tables at the back and dig through my bag. As usual, I want to study runes but I’m already weeks ahead of my class in both my runes courses, so I pull out my realms textbook and open my notebook to a blank page. I’m about to start taking notes when words start forming on the paper, the elegant script scrawling along the faint red lines.

Actually studying?

I frown down at my notebook. Who is doing this? Could this be my invisible watcher finding another way to communicate with me?

I take my pen and draw a line through the message. A surge of rage fills me at the defensiveness I feel, and I score out the message over and over. When the words are nearly lost to the angry black pen marks, I tear out the page and throw it in the trash can. In the time it takes me to discard the paper, another word appears on the blank page.

Prickly.

I stare at the word, unsure why it seems to stick out to me. Then I remember my unfortunate encounter with Max yesterday. I slam the notebook closed and grab the crumpled piece of paper from the trash can before storming out of the library, leaving all my belongings on the table.

I barge into the gym and storm straight up to Max. He is spotting one of the infinity slam players at the weight bench.

He raises an eyebrow at me. “Look who’s back.”

“Where is it?” I snarl, looking around.

Max blinks, looking at me like I belong in an asylum. “Uh… Where is what?” he asks, helping to rack the bar and stepping away from the student.

“The magic pen or notebook or whatever the fuck you’re using.”

Max snorts. “I’m sorry?” I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. Max shakes his head and frowns at me, putting his hands on his hips. “I’m lost. Are you going to invite me onto the crazy train?” he says, obviously wildly confused about what I’m talking about.

“You didn’t…” I hold out the piece of paper. If Max has been in here training, it couldn’t have been him sending me messages. Even if he is the best liar in all the realms, I’m not sure he could have pulled off looking that confused as quickly as he did.

I growl in frustration and turn on my heel, stalking toward the door. Max catches up easily and grabs my arm. I turn to face him, but my gaze locks on the hand he has gripping my arm.

“You seem tense,” he says. “Want to fight? It’ll help with… whatever it is you’re going through. Plus, you’ll get to punch me.”

I roll my eyes and yank my arm free. I storm from the gym and head straight back to the library, muttering curses under my breath. People scatter before me, but I barely notice. My anger simmers, and I welcome it, thankful it is rage and notfear fueling me. Sinking into my chair, I open the notebook. The word is still there, taunting me.

Prickly.

I grab my pen and reply to the message, so tired of all this.

Who are you?

I write.

The words sit uselessly on the page, and I’m about to rip the paper from the pad when a reply appears on the line beneath my message.

A stranger.

It is simple and direct, yet it doesn’t answer my question in the least.

What do you want?

I try to keep my script legible even though my hands shake.

Nothing.

The elegant handwriting continues along the page.

For now.

My stomach knots at the addition, and I look around the library. I’m not sure what I think I’m going to find. I look down at the paper, the words humming threateningly against the page.

But later?

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