Page 43 of Forbidden Magic
I muffle a snigger into my palm. “Shy?”
“Okay, notshy. I don’t know…mysterious. You can’t tell what’s going on behind those gorgeous amber eyes of his.”
ThatI have to agree with.
“I don’t think he’s that handsome,” I lie, pushed by whatever happened earlier to distance myself from this conversation. From him. Lydia’s great, but I haven’t put her loyalty to the test yet. I know from human middle school that, if you ever admit a crush to a new girlfriend, you’ve got to be prepared to own up to it.
Lydia tilts her head to the side and raises a sarcastic brow. “Come on, girl. It’s only me and you here.”
“I’m serious.”
“Okay, but he’s interested inyou.”
Fire swirls in my blood. “He’s not.”
“Girl, get real. You have a nice figure, and your rebel vibe is like honey to guys like that.”
“I have a rebel vibe?”
“Don’t change the subject. What are you going to do about this? A Fae prince. Aren’t you curious? Remember the card.” She reaches for her tarot deck.
I cover her hand with mine. “I do remember. I remember the prostrate woman chained to the tree. Fooling around with a Fae is stupid and dangerous.”
“If you say so.” She backs off, but I’m rattled.
My chest is tight and my breathing ragged. “Do you know if Holly got out of the infirmary yet?”
“Vivianne told me she’s still unconscious. If she doesn’t wake up soon, they’ll transfer her to the General.”
My mouth opens in shock. Humans deal with a ton of illnesses, but we don’t. Magic can fix everything from a broken knee to a fractured skull. As long as you’re found alive, a practiced Healer can cure you. If they can’t, you’re sent to the only hospital in the realm. The General Care Center for Magic Ailments and Curses.
This is usually reserved for the Magus hit on duty, fighting the worst scum that roams the Earth. Not a student on her way back from a party.
I think back to Oz’s demon theory and shiver.
Leaving Lydia to her paper, I gather everything I need for the upcoming class, throw a jacket over my shoulders and find a nice spot in the gardens to study.
Fog billows in iridescent clouds over the warm earth, the air thick with humidity.
After about an hour, a dark silhouette slices the white, powdery air, starling me.
“Hey, are you in late-night Herbology too?” Trent asks.
I press a hand to my breast and force my muscles to relax. “Nope. I’m just looking for a quiet spot.”
He stands right next to me and stares out at the night. “Good thing I showed up early.” His angular jaw is almost blue in the moonlight.
I follow his cheekbones to his thick eyelashes. “Your eyes are really dark tonight.”
“I’m overdue for fresh blood.”
My sneakers crunch against the gravel of the path.
A light chuckle erupts into the night air, and Trent buries his hands deep in his pockets. “Don’t worry, I won’t attack you. I’ve got plenty of blood bags in my refrigerator…” His gaze follows the slope of my neck. “Unless you’re offering.”
I laugh nervously. “I’d rather not.”
Like it’s the most natural thing, he catches my hand in his and plays with my fingers. “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”
