Page 129 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Well you just saved Cillian’s life and he’s the closest I have to a brother so…” It wasn’t altogether a lie but I still felt a pang of guilt as Sage easily accepted my reasoning.

“Thank you Adeline. If you find him…”

“I’ll call.”

She nodded. Grabbing a jacket and her phone, her eyes scanned the room. “If we’re caught…”

“I’ll deal with it. Just focus on finding Theo.”

“What if…”

“We’ll look until we find him, Sage. We’ll find him.”We have to, I thought. She released a breath and nodded.

* * *

I reached the steel double doors and tried to peer through the glass. It was dark inside. This was the fourth gym I had tried and the previous three had all been to no avail, either locked up tight or filled with sweaty individuals clad in various skin-tight work out gear, none of them Theo.

Please please please, I prayed as I pushed on the doors. Relief flooded through me as they opened with no resistance. My feet were near-silent as I walked across the carpeted lobby. The reception desk lay empty, a faint glow leaked through large windows behind. This one had seemed the least likely as it was the furthest from the Academy whilst still being in the city. Though now it felt like the most obvious choice. No one would know him here, no students or teachers to accidentally bump into.

The lighting was low in the main gym, dimmed - save for a couple of spotlights over a boxing ring. It gave the room a cinematic feel. I paused as I spotted Theo, my breath catching in my throat. I sent a mental thanks to whichever deity had answered my pleas. He was sitting on a low bench, sweat glistening over his muscled torso. His hands were bloody, his cheek grazed and his eye looked like it would be bruised in the morning. Whoever he’d been fighting was long gone, the room completely silent.

I guess this was the part in the romance movie where the girl goes and patches up the big strong guy and they live happily ever after… Well, that wouldn’t be happening. He didn’t even want me here, and this certainly wasn’t a romance with a happy ending.

I quietly approached him, wondering if he was asleep the way his head rested against the wall. His eyes closed. As I neared, his chest rose and fell with a deep sigh. He opened his eyes and looked at me, all I could see was the same open wound inside myself reflected back, the exhaustion, the anger, the grief. As if by its own accord, my hand slowly lifted to his bleeding cheek. His eyes fluttered closed at my touch and I felt the emptiness in my chest anew.

“Ad…” I placed a finger to his lips to stop him. Bending down slowly, I tilted his head up to greet me as I placed a soft kiss on his injured cheek. Before I could pull away his hand was in my hair, wrapping around the back of my neck, the other grazing up my leg. He pulled me roughly toward him, a low noise of anguish rumbled in his chest as his lips found my own. Fireworks ignited in my chest as we devoured each other greedily. His hands travelled to my waist, gripping me by the hips as he lifted me easily over him till I hovered in his lap, the hardening length of him obvious through his sweatpants. His eyes traced every curve of my body, his throat bobbing as he drank me in. I bit my lip as desire heated my blood, my heart pounding at his touch. His eyes darkened as he followed the movement, his grip on me tightening to the point of pain. He looked like he would tear me to pieces, my insides clenched in anticipation.

His touch, his lips. He was all consuming. I was being dragged under water in a storm and I didn’t ever want to reach the surface. I poured every bit of anger and loss into our kiss. Our tongues duelled viciously as he pulled me impossibly close. I ground against him, the thin layer of clothing between us only adding to our frustration.

“Theo!” Sage’s voice called out from the direction of the entrance, breaking the spell we were under. He stilled beneath me, his hands frozen in the exploration of my body. My eyes met his. For a brief moment, with our chests heaving, hearts pounding, skin flushed I felt like we could see into the depths of one another, his vulnerability cracked open for me to see. I saw the moment his shutters came down, his gaze hardening as he shoved me off him.

“Why did you even come?” He sneered.

“Because I promised I would.” His eyes softened before Sage entered the room. He let his head fall back against the wall behind him.

“Theo, you’re here.” Sages voice was full of the relief I had felt on finding him, now I just felt like I actually was drowning.

“He doesn’t need our help.” I said as I walked past them all and straight out of the building.

I headed for a bench which looked out over a murky river below. Hanging baskets filled with half dead petunias and pansies hung off a lamppost. My lips burned with the ghost of his kiss as I stared at the dying flowers.

“Sage is giving him hell for leaving during curfew.” Cillian said as he joined me outside. I nodded absently as I picked at one of the petals.

“Do you have a cigarette?” I asked.

“You know I don’t.” Cillian answered. I flicked the petal over the edge of the bridge and watched as it floated lazily to meet the surface before sinking below. “Since when are you smoking again?”

“Since now.”

“Adeline…”

“Don’t. Please don’t. I can’t take it, Cillian.” I pleaded. He studied me before wordlessly taking a seat, his leather clad arm pressed against me. “…Thank you.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. Unshed tears hot against my eyelids.

“He’s a dick.” Cillian said. I laughed despite the turmoil of emotions eating away at me.

“I know.” I replied.

“Don’t start smoking again.” He said.

---