Page 8 of Blood Witch

“Magnus called and said you might need some backup.”

“Snitch,” I muttered, and the big, blond sentinel still guarding the hallway merely grunted.

“We rushed here to save your bony ass, Mabe. Can’t you at least look happy about it?” Rio asked.

The blue-haired water witch was still panting to catch her breath, and I had to admit she was right. This was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me, let alone two people. So, I turned to face my roommates, forgetting the giant stranger standing next to me for a moment, and I thanked them.

“Sorry, I am not used to people wanting to help,” I mumbled.

Jade and Rio smiled and told me it wasn’t a big deal. Well, Rio called me an idiot, and Jade said, of course, she would help one of her new best friends. I was stunned, so I stopped talking. Then they started directing their attention to Silver Eyes, and I felt heat spread across my face and cheeks.

“So, uh, who are you?” Rio asked, and I cringed.

“Ladies, my name is Fino, but you can call me Fin,” he said, introducing himself with a full bow at the waist, which also brought him way closer to the blood bag I was no longer stepping on.

He swiped it off the floor and put it in his pocket in a move so smooth, I almost missed it.

“Hey, that’s mine,er, I mean, that’s trash.”

“No worries, I will dispose of it,” he said, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

“Give it to me, I’ll do it,” I said, hand stretched for the damning piece of plastic.

I was seconds from panicking, and my roommates seemed to know it. They bracketed me on either side, and Fin, or whatever the fuck his name was, merely canted his head and stared at me.

“Uh, come on, Mabe. We’re meeting the others for dinner,” Rio said.

“Did you want to joi—” Jade started, but I cut her off.

“No. I am sure Fino has other things to do,” I growled, refusing to look away first.

“Indeed, Miss Marlow, I do. Enjoy your dinner, ladies.”

“Thank you,” Jade replied, eyebrows almost disappearing into her hairline.

I was so angry I was shaking, but Rio refused to let go of my elbow, and both women tugged me away. Fin’s smile got bigger as we turned to leave, and when I glanced back at him, he just nodded his head and waved. So, I did what anyone in my position would do.

I gave him the finger.

CHAPTER4

After dinner with everyone,I took a shower and snuck into my bedroom. Lately, Jade had started a whole game night thing, but I was too tired to put on a show for everyone.

Not that I did much more than show up and grumble when they forced me to play, but still. Even that was a bit of an effort. I grabbed a pair of plaid flannel pants out of my drawer and snagged a red tank top to go with it. A fashionista, I was not. I mostly wore black outside of my room, but inside I was all about the unpredictable.

Snort. Yeah. Right.

I worried my lip as I thought about Fin of the silver eyes and the fact the fucker had absconded with my empty blood bag.

What would he think about that?

Better yet, who the hell was he and what was he doing at Westwood?

The stranger had been the topic of conversation throughout much of dinner, and I couldn’t stand to think about him now. Especially because I wasn’t thinking about the danger he posed to me or my roomies. Oh no. I was thinking about how hot and lethal he looked, dressed all in black, eyes like silver daggers, skin pale as moonlight.

Not that I’d ever admit it to thinking about a boy like one of those simpering, love struck witches in the living room playing cards or whatever. Fine. Maybe I was a little envious.

How could I not be?

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