Page 25 of Poison

“How did you manage to turn someone into a ferret while making a damn protection charm?” the teacher demands, her eyes wide.

“I…”

The small black beady eyes look around the room in terror as the other students press in closer to get a good look. I grab hold of the book, my eyes frantically searching through the text to see what I did wrong. But I followed it to the letter! There’s no way.

I hear a snort of laughter from over my shoulder, and I turn to see Kevin biting his lip with his enormous teeth as his scales shake and twitch. My eyes narrow on him and his shaking becomes harsher, his eyes darting everywhere around the room but at me.

“Everyone, out now!” the teacher booms, scaring the crap out of us all. “Class is over.”

I stuff everything into my bag, my eyes on the other students who are whispering to each other again. Their eyes darting between me and the classmate who is currently being grabbed by the scruff of the neck by the teacher.

“Get out, Miss Draken,” she snarls.

I look around to find the room now empty, all my class mates have left. I glance at the ferret again… how did it happen? I picked the easiest thing to do? The protection charm is one where anyone can do it if their intention is pure enough.

I rush out of the room, Kevin hot on my heels as I descend the spiral staircase, not bothering to close the classroom door behind me.

“Well that was fun,”he jokes.

“What the hell did you do?” I snarl.

“He got everything he deserved, the little rodent,”he spits back. The venom in his tone has me stopping, and I turn to look at him. My brow lifts to find him staring at me with mischief dancing in his eyes.“If you could hear what he was muttering in his head, you would have done the same thing as me.”

“So it was you?” I tap my foot on the stone stairs. “Why?”

“He was muttering something about helping Anika or someone to get rid of you once and for all.”He cocks his head as he watches me.“I told you I’m here to protect you.”

“Kevin, tell me what is really happening here?” I plead with him. “Why are you protecting a dud? I have no magical abilities. I pose no threat to anyone, so why did you turn up when I was little?”

“That you need not know at the moment, Poison. All I can say is there is more going on here than anyone realises.”

My mouth drops open and I gawk at him. What sort of answer as that? Why when I ask him what he’s doing here does he always answer in a riddle? My boots stomp on the stone as I make way my down the stairs, my mood must be obvious as I hear the douche chuckling behind me.

I make it to the bottom floor and pull my bag off my shoulders, searching inside for my tablet. I’ve got a map of the school saved on my photos. My next class is Witch Origins and I haven’t got a clue where it is. I find my tablet, pulling it out with a sigh of relief—if I’d have had to walk back up the stairs to get it I would have been pissed; I’ve never done so much cardio in my life!

I find the map image and locate my net class, my head whipping up to find the sign in front of me and my heart drops as I read the words underneath it.You’ve got to be kidding me?!Top floor of the north tower, I drop my tablet in my bag, my stomach rumbling as it tries to eat itself.

Crap! I didn’t grab anything before rushing out this morning, now I’m starving and I’ve still got another lesson to get through before lunch. I really need to stop sleeping in! I take a step, yelling out as I’m pushed backwards into the darkest corner of the stairwell.

“What the f—”

“Why haven’t you come grovelling for me to take you?” the words are whisper-yelled, and I meet the bluest eyes ever. My heart sinks as I recognise the harsh features and the strong jaw of one of my many tormentors.

“You can stop with your stupid prank, Asher, I know I can never be anyone’s mate so just leave me the hell alone,” I snarl.

He pushes me back against the wall harder, my spine protesting at the pressure of the solid brick behind it.

“Do I look like I’m fucking about, dud?” he pushes between clenched teeth. He leans closer and I notice how messed up his hair looks and the thick black rings circling his eyes. “I can’t sleep, you’re in every one of my thoughts like a parasite that won’t piss off!”

His grip on my arms becomes painful and tears sting my eyes from the pain. “Asher, you’re hurting me.”

“Just say you accept my rejection, Poison!” he demands, his tone is vicious as he leans into me. The pain is excruciating and I’m pretty sure the tips of his claws are extending from his fingertips.

It feels like there’s white noise in my head, a thump in my mind that has me screaming mentally. From whatever is happening, screams fill the air and I hear a sound like something is pounding against it. Something’s trying to break into my mind. The pain becomes unbearable then I hear…

“If he doesn’t let you go, I’m going to have to intervene.”Kevin’s words echo in my mind like he’s yelling in my ear.

“How can I do what he’s asking? I’m not a shifter, I don’t have a fated mate.”Even my voice in my head is a whimper from the pain.

---