Page 25 of Forbidden Magic
The shadow gives chase. I zap it with a burst of heat. With a loud whoosh, the book in my hand catches on fire. Flames burst out of the pages, and the shadow hisses before jumping into my hand. Spooked, I jerk back and feel my foot slip from the ladder.
Pain burns across my palm as I fall, and my body hits the floor with a crack.
I can’t breathe.
The whole class erupts in laughter.
The librarian, an old woman with lizard print glasses and a nose pointy enough to pierce skin, flies in my direction. “Vandalizing school property, Miss Winslow?”
I graze the nasty burn on my wrist and wince. “There was something up there.”
Her small, translucent wings twitch rapidly. “And what was that? A goblin? A ghost?”
“A shadow.” My lids flutter shut at how squeaky my voice sounds.
“I forget how jumpy you mortals are. Well, it’s too late now. This is ruined.” She sighs at the burnt book like she would rather have seen me go up in flames than it. Her purple gaze falls on something behind me. “Mr. Desyris. Take her to the infirmary.”
My jaw slacks. Cole is standing mere feet away, two leather-bound books propped under his arm.
He blinks once. Twice. “Why me?”
“Because I’m telling you.” Without a second glance, she whizzes back to the tray of volumes waiting to be sorted.
Cole grunts and spins around, heading out of the library. I follow, my heart still doing championship acrobatics in my chest. What happened out there? Where did this shadow come from?
The Fae prince slows down once we’re outside. Puddles splash against my soles, but the rain has stopped.
He snatches my injured wrist and holds it to the light. “So peculiar. A fire witch not immune to fire.”
My palms are sweaty and my legs softened by the bells ringing in his inhuman voice.
“Fire didn’t do this.”
“It was theshadow?” he says mockingly.
I dig the balls of my feet in the ground. “I can find my way from here.”
He arches a brow. “Are youdismissingme?”
“Yes.” There. That ought to be clear enough for him.
Humor shines in his eyes. “Oh, come on. I want to know all about the evil that haunts our beloved library.”
I stomp off, but he’s quick on my heels.
“You’re still here,” I growl.
“Mr. Oz will ask if you got to the infirmary in one piece.”
“Say that I did.”
“It’d be a lie.”
I snort. “Like you never lie.”
He wets his lips. “What do you figure I lie about?”
“Everything.” I try to keep my answers short and dismissive, and yet he’s still following. We’re almost to the cafeteria.
