Page 59 of Brutal Alpha Beast
My chest turns cold.
I pause at first, but remember to keep scraping.
“Uh-huh.”
Crap. Were there cameras? Did she hear what happened? I don’t know what’s more mortifying, the sex part, or the I’ve bewitched Ellis for some evil plan talk.
“I heard you were the last one to go in there, and dear, I do ask that you put the books back on their shelves. They can get damaged, all tossed on the floor like that.”
I bravely turn to face her, but she doesn’t look overly suspicious or like she’s accusing me of something else.
She genuinely wants the books on their shelves.
I relax a little.
“Sure,” I say. “I’m sorry about that.”
Once I’ve loaded my plate, I find an empty spot at the end of a quiet table.
Doris won’t have to worry about scattered books, I tell myself; Ellis and I will never do that again.
***
I can’t help but spy on Ellis; maybe it’s because he was spying on me. I don’t know. I’m curious about who therealEllis is now.
Up until everything transpired between us, he’d been acting so caring. So nice. He reminded me of the way he used to be, and that’s what got us into that whole ‘book scattering’ situation.
But what is hereallyafter?
He hates, or at least he hated, witches. If he’s allowed to be so suspicious of me, then why can’t I be suspicious of him?
It’s only fair.
Lucky for me, Ellis is still in the woods. I’m a little weighed down by waffles and bacon, but I move as discreetly as possible, lurking at a distance behind one of the big trees.
I give its bark a little rub.
Don’t worry. We’ll keep you alive. I promise.
“So, no vines?” Ellis asks Sandra, one of our older witches.
She’s standing with Ellis while the other witches are casting spells a little further away in the forest.
“I found some vines nearby,” she says. “But there’s nothing of magical significance that I can find located in them. I can look out a little further if you want?”
Ellis nods. “If you can, I’d appreciate it. I’m wondering whether there’s a specific vine that we need.”
“Yes,” Sandra responds. “It is unlikely but possible.”
She closes her eyes and hums a few words as her body shakes from side to side. Sandra is one of our best—I have fond memories of her teaching me spells that I’d never even heard of.
Ellis waits by her side expectantly.
To think, all those years ago, he couldn’t even stand to be in the same vicinity as a witch.
Sandra’s humming grows louder, vibrating in the space between the trees. I even feel the energy that she creates. It radiates outward, pulsating across the forest floor.
Leaves are shaking, thin branches swaying in the breeze she created.
