Page 326 of Sigils & Spells

I ignored the last of Mabe’s nasty commentary, hightailing it out of the small closet, like my tail was on fire.

Fuck.

Da was in trouble!

I wanted to scream and rampage. He would not do well behind bars. My father had been closed off ever since my mother’s death, and the idea of him at the mercy of actual criminals terrified me. I just had to find him.

“Tana? Tana!”

I heard Brandon calling to me, but I had no time to spare. If the Council of Covens was holding my father, I needed to figure out where he was and how to get him out. I should have probably called a magical lawyer, but the library was my next best resource.

“Tana, wait. You can’t just run off half-cocked,” he growled, grabbing my elbow and spinning me to face him.

“I don’t have time for this. My father needs me—”

“Does he need you to get kicked out of the academy for skipping another class? Look, I know you’re upset. But Armstrong gave me orders. I can’t disobey.”

“Fuck your orders,” I snarled, angry as all hell. How dare he think he could tell me what to do!

“Dammit,mo spréach, that temper of yours drives me mad. Stop! Listen. Please.”

His pupils changed shape to vertical slits. The color, a molten silver with so much heat and depth, I felt the burn all the way to my soul. I could not deny I wanted him. Arousal sparked to life, warming me in ways I hadn’t felt in,well, ever.

His nostrils flared and the dragon hybrid’s expression changed in an instant from fury to sexy. Brandon cupped one large hand around the back of my neck, his countenance fierce as he tugged me toward him.

“Get off,” I growled, pulling back.

He released me immediately, to my surprise and annoyance. I was a walking fucking contradiction. Brandon’s silver eyes narrowed, and his chest heaved with the strength of his breathing.

“Why don’t you grab yourfriendand see if she wants your paws on her cause I sure as fuck don’t!”

I was so mad at him. Mad at me. Fuck, mad at everyone, I guessed. I missed the feel of his hands on my body. Silly really, telling him to get off me. It was a lie. My entire body was begging him for the kiss his eyes promised.

“You’ve got one more class, Tana. I’ve made some calls. Let me find out where he is, then we can see about getting him.”

My lips trembled and for one instant I allowed the fear I felt to fill me.

“Hey, it will be all right. I got you.”

The concern on his face broke me. I was scared, and I was tired. Bad enough I had to grow up without my mother and a father who was only there half of the time. But it was better than having no parents. I was tired of feeling this way. Tired of stifling my magic.

Fuck.

What was I doing?

I did not know. But I knew one thing. Brandon Flint was offering to help me, and I just did not have the strength to turn him down. There were bigger things at play than I could handle alone. A terrible thought for someone as independent as me. But I was honest enough to admit it, even if only to myself.

“Come on. One more class. You can do this,” he said. Pressing warm fingers into the small of my back, he nudged me forward.

Brandon had left me outside the classroom, and I saw him take the special communications device all sentinels had tucked into their uniforms. It resembled a cell phone, but it was smaller and magicked to only work for them.

My last class was with Professor Smitty. The fucker hated me for some reason. Probably because I was flunking Advanced Pyromancy. He probably thought I was the least talented fire witch in the universe. I snorted and shook my head.

If he only knew.

CHAPTER8

Class gotout ten minutes late, and I was just about as aggravated as I could be. A chilly breeze swept through the halls, and I wondered idly if any airheads were responsible. Brandon waited for me with a hooded expression.

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