Page 54 of Shattered Illusion

One month.

Thirty days.

That’s how long it’s been since the incident at the mall—one month of looking over my shoulder even though I’ve been hiding in my room when I’m not attending classes. Because nowhere is safe for me—not unless I have Axel by my side, which isn’t as often as I’d hoped.

Real talk? I haven’t seen Axel or Luka since it happened. I can vaguely remember being wrapped in the safety of Luka’s arms before he disappeared. Poof. Just gone. But it’s partly my fault, though. I haven’t made the effort to go to the library. Why? Because I’m a chicken shit.

Because I’m too afraid that he’s going to confirm what I already think. That I killed the fucker.

And while my actions were warranted, it doesn’t make it okay that I took the life of someone else. So, the longer I can avoid Luka and the truth, the better.

Axel, on the other hand, has been harder to get a hold of. From what he explained two days after the mall fiasco, he’s working on a massive case that’s taken all of his free time. Even now, a month later, he still isn’t free from the obligations this case holds over him.

His nightly texts have been worth it, though. Telling me how much he misses me, how he can’t wait to see me again. If I had a better handle on my portals, I’d go visit, but that would require leaving the safety of the academy. And I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.

One good thing I have to show for my self-imposed lockdown is a stronger understanding of my magic. While it can still be finicky and a pain in my ass to use, there are times when it comes willingly, allowing me to flourish in my classes. Albeit at a slower pace than the others.

But progress is progress. And hopefully, one day, I can say I’ve mastered at least one of my runes.

“Hey, Bailey!” Marion’s voice carries over the chatter of other students as we all mob our way to the dining hall. Looking around, I can’t find her, that is, not until a hand waves frantically in the air, her body swallowed up by what looks like an impenetrable wall of muscle.

The males surrounding her look quite familiar, and it isn’t until they are closer that I realize these were the same guys she was with in Transmutation class on the first day. The ones that kept her safe from her brother’s wrath. I really should thank them for not letting her be put in harm’s way, but then again, they didn’t try to stop him from hurting me. So whatever.

“Move,” Marion growls, shoving herself between two of the guys. They try to snatch her back into their safety, but a threatening snarl freezes them in place. “Fucking men,” she mutters, linking her arm with mine and dragging me into the dining hall.

Marion is someone else I haven’t seen much of since the mall incident and my subsequent self-confinement. While she hasn’t held any part of the situation against me, I’ve been avoiding the questions that I know will eventually come. Like, if I’m in transmutation class, how the hell did I pop a portal and light myself on fire? She isn’t someone I want to lie to, so I felt avoiding her when I can is the best route to take.

But damn, have I missed her.

She elbows her way to the front of the long line, other students growling but moving aside. They know she’s not someone to mess with. Or it could be the muscle behind us, keeping her in their sights. Eventually, I’ll have to ask her about them. It’s not like she’s supplied the information freely already.

Once overflowing trays are in our hands, we make our way to what we’ve dubbed as our table. No one sits there but us, and no one tries to sit there with us. Even the guys who follow her around like lost puppy dogs sit a table away.

Marion digs right in without preamble while I push my food around my plate with my fork. Hunger rides me hard, but it’s been difficult to stomach food for the last month. I know it shows by the way my clothes are starting to hang off of my already small frame, but every time I try, nausea churns in my gut.

So maybe it’s a good thing I haven’t seen Luka or Axel since that day in his office. He’d be so disappointed in me for letting it affect me this way. Thaddeus, on the other hand, sees me three times a week, and I’m grateful he hasn’t said anything. Yet. Concern shines in his eyes every time I walk into class, and I know it’s only a matter of time before either he says something or gets someone else to.

“Girl, I can hear your stomach grumbling from here. Just eat something already,” Marion mutters, finally coming up for air. “Don’t make me call that sexy vampire and demigod to make youeat something.” She snorts a laugh. “I bet they’d love to feed you tube steak.”

My fork slips from my fingers and clatters onto the table. “For fucks sake, Mar.” I shake my head.

“What? You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about riding them a time or two.” Heat engulfs my cheeks at her words, making her laugh. “I knew it!” she squeals, earning the attention of the few tables around us. “Spill.”

“Jeez, keep your voice down.” I lean closer. “There’s nothing to spill. Axel and I have kissed a few times, but that’s it.” There is no way in hell I’ll tell her that Axel fingered me right out front of the academy. That’s between him and I.

“And the demi?”

I shake my head, my hair falling over my eyes before I swipe it out of the way. “We haven’t.”

Marion gasps. “You need to jump on that shit. And I don’t mean metaphorically. A good dose of dick will have you polishing off your tray faster than I do.”

This. Girl. Would it ruin our friendship if I reached across the table and smacked her?

“So…” I trail off, and by the smirk tilting her lips, I know she’s aware I’m about to change the subject. “How was your last class?”

She huffs a laugh, graciously not calling me on the change, before popping another bit of food in her mouth. “History. Bleh. Like I don’t know it all already. Are you ready for the big test on Wednesday?”

Shit. I completely forgot about it. And I just had that class first period.

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