Page 220 of Sigils & Spells

Crap, she wasn’t going to be let off the hook. “I do, but it’s vague.”

“Vague as in you will find more to work with in the reference material or vague in that it’s little known like mine?” Daniel asked.

She shrugged. “Black birds. You know, crows, ravens, rooks. They have a lot of superstition and folklore tied to them.” Some she knew all too much about, but wouldn’t be able to cite her family history for that.

Aoibhe smiled. “That sounds fun, and definitely fitting, given your name.”

“You don’t think it’s too on-the-nose?” With a name like Ravyn Corvus, it probably sounded like overkill to those who didn’t know her secret.

“How cute,” Gabe said. “The Celts are researching Celtic figures. The bird lady picked birds.” He shook his head and chuckled.

Even though he had meant it as a joke about her name, being called the “bird lady” made her flinch. His eyes really creeped her out. Why did it always feel like he was seeing through her somehow?

Daniel sighed and leaned forward, blocking her view of Gabe momentarily. “And what are you planning to report on if you have something more interesting?”

“I never said it was more interesting.” He rolled up the sleeve of his hoodie to show them a tattoo of an hourglass composed of two crossed scythes, the blades making up the top and bottom. Inside, small skulls dripped through the center in place of sand. It was both beautiful artwork and creepy. “Gonna write about my man, Grim.”

“As in Reaper?” Daniel asked, a bored tone to his voice. “That’s not any more original than ours.”

Gabe openly laughed at this and covered his forearm back up. “I’m not trying to be original, pretty boy. You’re just wanting your ego stroked because you think you’re so original with your Irish fairy.” He moved his empty tray aside and clasped his hands in front of him. “Death and I go way back. I have a personal interest in this project.”

A twinge of caution made her shiver. Was it possible he was like her? Surely Grim Reapers weren’t real though.

Right?

“Woooooooooow,”Daniel drawled out. “That didn’t sound murdery at all.”

Gabe shrugged again. That seemed to be his favorite response to most questions. “I don’t really care if you think that. A lot of people think all sorts of bad things about me.” He sniffed and pulled his hood down. His dark hair was getting long, and probably needed a trim. It looked good on him though. “You want to try me, Irish?”

“What the actual fuck is your problem?” Daniel’s neck was turning red. “Why do you have to be so antagonistic? It’s like you’re looking for a fight where there isn’t one.” Exasperation colored his words.

“Whoa, guys. Stop.” Aoibhe stood, planting both hands on the table on either side of her food tray. “Daniel was teasing you, Gabe, nothing more.” She turned to Daniel. “Some people are naturally antagonistic, but that does not mean you need to play into it.”

Both guys started sputtering indignantly.

Ravyn met Aoibhe’s gaze and they both rolled their eyes. That was their cue to leave. She rose and started collecting her things. “Right. That’s enough displays of testosterone for me. I need to go work on some reading for class.”

Aoibhe nodded. “Same.”

“Don’t leave me here with him,” Gabe complained.

Daniel snorted and stood up as well, completely over this whole conversation by the way he clenched his jaw. She didn’t understand why Gabe seemed to despise him so much. “Don’t worry. I am also leaving.” He collected Ravyn’s tray, then his own. “Before you leave, I need to talk to you.” Under his breath he said, “Alone.”

He didn’t sound mad at her, so she agreed to wait. Aoibhe said she’d meet her back at the dorm and sat back down with Gabe.

“What’s up?” she asked as he joined her once more and walked her outside.

Red creeped back up his neck, and he put his hands in his pockets with a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that back there, first of all…”

She looked back at the cafeteria as they walked, then returned her focus to him. “What, with Gabe? That guy seems to want someone to try to fight with him. Except for Aoibhe for some reason.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, “I don’t usually engage in clear baiting like that. I just don’t like the way he picks at you for no reason.”

Her lips twitched. “I’ll be okay.”

“I’m not saying you wouldn’t be.” He rubbed the back of his neck as they took a turn toward the dorms. “I want to be there to defend you when you do need it though.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Oh?”

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