Page 25 of Blood Witch

Just a little while longer and I’d be right as rain.

CHAPTER9

The next day,I went back to the assembly hall to take more tests. Stolbright watched me with beady little eyes, and I had to admit, I hated that witch.

I waited to hear from Fin, but it was after dinner now, and he still hadn’t contacted me. Sighing heavily, I went back to room 563A. Inside, the girls were all abuzz. Both levels of the dorm room stank of perfume and hairspray.

Brandon and Magnus, both shifters, waited by open windows. They could give two fucks about letting the heat out and the cold air in. I grinned, knowing how all that girly stuff affected their supersensitive senses. Bothered the fuck out of me too. I sneezed loudly, gaining everyone’s attention.

“What’s going on?” I asked, grabbing a tissue.

“Mabe, what are you wearing?” Tana asked, looking at my baggy jeans and ratty old sweatshirt like they were rags. They were, but I resented that.

“Didn’t know we had a date, beyotch,” I snarked, rolling my eyes as I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

I’d had two bags of blood already, and hoped I could hold off till tomorrow for another. Arlo was worried the staff was going to notice the diminished supplies and new orders he placed. Soon, we were going to have to find another supplier, and smuggling blood onto campus was really going to suck.

No pun intended.

“Shut up and go get dressed,” she retorted. “We’re going to the mingle by Brin Lake. Everyone will be there.”

“Pass,” I said, knowing damn well it was a bad idea.

“No, no. She means it, Mabe.Everyoneis going to be there,” Jade said, waving around a piece of paper with familiar looking handwriting scrawled across it.

I grabbed it from her, my heart thudding heavily in my chest. It was from Fin. A part of me warmed, while another growled.

“Did you bitches read my note?”

“In our defense, there was no envelope this time,” Jade confessed, biting her lower lip like she was worried about what I thought.

“It’s fine,” I said, and she exhaled.

“Sweet Feisty Mabel, I am already on my way back to you. I heard there’s a mingle tonight. Meet you there. Yours, Fin,” Jade said the whole thing out loud, while I read it to myself, and everyone chuckled at the end.

Crazy earth witch memorized my note! Still, I could only laugh with her. I rushed downstairs to my bedroom and frowned as I looked in my closet. Everything I owned was black and practical.

“Knock knock,” Maia announced before walking into my bedroom with a pile of clothes in her arms. “So, the ladies and I were talking and since I have put on a few pounds and you are the only one here who is close to the size I used to be, well, here. These are for you,” she said, and thrust the bundle of clothes at me.

“Are you serious?” I asked, shocked at the gesture.

Everyone knew the Meriwethers were rich. Like old school, old world wealthy kind of rich. Maia used to make herself sick, trying to stay thin and perfect for her family. The girls sometimes talked about it late at night.

From what I knew, Maia had a huge blowout with her family, putting many of the men in their place. She did what she wanted now and found her mate while doing it. Not only that, but the air witch was also supremely talented. Had even managed to fly. Anyway, she’d been kind and welcoming, but I never really considered myself close to her.

“But you don’t even like me,” I said.

“What? Who said I don’t like you? Look, I admit I was concerned in the beginning about your motives, but I think I know you better now. And I look forward to getting to know you even more.”

“You mean, now that you know I am not trying to drink you guys dry,” I mumbled, and she laughed.

“Ha! Fact! Seriously though, I picked out things that seemed to jibe with your style. But I would consider it a personal favor if you would not wear all black.”

“I think I can manage that,” I mumbled, looking at the huge pile of clothes on my bed.

“Eeek! I am so excited to see what you pick. Oh, and Jade said you only have twenty minutes, or she is coming down here and dressing you, which, of course, I told her was all kinds of creepy, but you know Jade. Okay, I’m going. Good luck!”

I was still staring at the pile, wondering where to start. After five minutes of hanging stuff up and organizing, and another five taking the world’s fastest shower, I was unzipping the skirt I had on all day when I heard Jade give her five-minute warning announcement.

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