Page 17 of Monster Girl

“I’m going to go check out the runes section, this book is getting boring. Would you like to come with me?” she lies through her teeth while slipping the book into her bag, after using a bookmark to hold her place. My eyes narrow, but I get to my feet slowly.

“Sure.”

She nods and shoves her backpack firmly under the table, grabbing my hand and literally dragging me away from the table like I’ll dive for the book if she lets me go. I smother a grin as I go with her willingly. I managed to take note of the page number she was up to, but I don’t mention that, instead filing it away for later.

She finds the correct cluster of shelves with ease and I hang back, leaning against the ones opposite her, sliding my hands into my pockets. “So what are we looking for exactly?”

Those golden eyes flick to me for half a second before returning to the row of books she’s flicking through. “I’m not really sure.” Her head cocks to the side as she thinks about it. “Actually, the books that hold information on old runes. We’re learning about basic commonly used ones, but I’ve already done the theory for the whole course so I spend lots of the class bored while the professor explains stuff I already know.”

Not responding right away, I focus on the rows of books, flicking over them quickly until I find what I’m after. They’re a few rows away from the top and stand out. “You’re looking for the thickest hard back books we have then, most likely. Probably them.” I point to them before pressing my hand to the shelf and using the magical keypad to shift the shelf the thick books rest on so it’s at Nessa’s eye level rather than several feet out of reach. The library is handy with things like that.

Nessa’s expression lights up as she reaches the books, her eyes practically shining with excitement, and her hands stroke the cover lovingly. The book she’s holding is the first in the Ischyrós Rune Chronicles by the looks of it. “Thank you.”

A shiver rolls down my back at her whispered words and I close the space between us, brushing an errant strand of hair out of her eyes. “No problem.” My chest blooms with warmth and I trail my hand over her jaw before letting my hand drop and stepping back, breaking the moment.

We hang around for a little longer and I pick out some books as well before we pack up and head back to the dorms.

Chapter Twenty —

Agrintiltsmylips as I watch them.

Oblivious.

The pink one's face when he saw my pet was shiver worthy. Sucking my bottom lip into my mouth, I suppress a groan.

They have no idea what’s coming.

She’s intriguing, but together they’ve captured my full attention.

What a unique group of supernaturals she drew to her side.

Chapter Twenty-One — Nessa

Myfingersdrumagainstthe ground as my unfocused eyes stare at the wall. Corin’s breathing is steady in his circle beside me and I find envy rising in my gut. Yeah, I finally caved and asked Oscar if he knew the guy who sat beside me in rune’s class.I held out for a few weeks, okay?My eyes narrow. He always appears so put together. I study him from the corner of my eye. A white dress shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and plain, loose black slacks while his hair rests in loose waves that hang over his eyes when he leans forwards. As though feeling my stare, his head snaps up and our eyes catch and hold before I can look away.

Today they’re a simple green and I find that I miss the kaleidoscope I witnessed that night in the forest. The thought has me swallowing past the sudden lump in my throat. My lower belly clenches and I have to hold in a small noise as the energy that seems to surround him, snares me in his grasp. It’s wild and staticky, but something about it gives me the urge to leap on him and unleash an animalistic part of me that I’ve always kept hidden away.

When he does a slow blink, breaking our stare off, I shake the fantasy from my head.

Instead of acknowledging the simmering tension still floating between us, I cock a brow at him and nod at his rune circle in a —Are you done? Or do you need my help?— gesture.

The corner of his mouth twitches like he wants to smile and his nostrils flare as he dips his chin, eyes widening in exaggerated disbelief —Who, me?

I roll my eyes and roll my wrists, glancing at my own complete circle. The teacher put up an opaque magic barrier between him and I because he was worried that the guy would cheat off of me. Haha, crazy. I’m not sure why he’s hiding his real abilities, but I know that Corin is perfectly capable of doing runes.

My lips twist as an idea hits me. Checking the whereabouts of our teacher Mr James, and finding him distracted, I lean into Corin and press my lips close to his ear. Speaking in a tone that’s below a whisper, “The last one to finish their rune has to activate the other’s and take the blame if it’s a bad one. Deal?”

My lips brush the shell of his ear as I pull back and I don’t miss the shiver that rolls over him. Pleased, I swallow my smile and bite my lip. This class is honest to the GGoddess one of my most boring classes. The rest of the class has to learn the theory before doing the practical side, so I have nothing to do for the majority of the class. And the teacher doesn’t even bother checking Corin’s work, as though he’s a lost cause, so I have no clue why he attends this class.

I’m distracted from my musings when a wry smile touches Corin's lips and he mouths, “You’re on.”

I cleanse my circle and Corin mutters something that’s too low for me to hear, then the barrier between us turns transparent. I suck in a breath and my eyes dart to our instructor and back to the curious man next to me. This time he leans in and my entire body freezes as his fingers brush my wrist, soft lips brushing the sensitive place on my neck just below my ear. “Don’t worry, Mr James and everyone else will see the normal spell. On the count of three?”

Goddess, payback’s a bitch. So much for teasinghim. Hot and cold tingles race over my body as I nod and he pulls back. His rune circle is clear too and we both face each other as we mouth the countdown together before springing into action. Rather than using chalk the traditional way, I grip it in my palm and crush it with my palm and a whispered spell. Then I rock back onto my heels, in a kneeling position with my eyes closed, and clear my mind as the rune combination I need takes shape. When it’s formed I project it onto the circle with my magic, weaving it into the chalk granules.

I open my eyes and I grin.It worked.I’ve been toying with the idea of writing runes like this since Oscar helped me find an ancient book on old runes in the library while I was helping him study or well sat across from him as moral support while he studied, a few weeks ago. Studying with him is rapidly becoming somewhat of a ritual between us—well us and Dylan. The third time we went to study, he was sitting at the back of the room in a booth alone so we derailed his study session. He’s joined us most times since then.

I check Corin’s rune circle and slouch a little when I see he’s finished too. Damn, did he beat me? He might have done a simpler rune. My eyes dart to his face, but instead of the smugness I’m expecting, his jaw is ticking, brows drawn as he stares at my rune circle. My features tighten in response. Maybe I did win. I didn’t take him for a sore loser, but I have no clue what else could have pissed him off. I must make a sound because those expressive eyes snap to mine. Reading my unasked question, he gives a slight shake of his head. “Later.”

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