Page 150 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“That’s totally fair.” I say with a smile, happy to see a bit more life enter her eyes, even as my own worry grew over what had driven her to this state, and how I had missed it.

Seventy-Eight

Adeline

The rain was soaking us to the bone, and I was becoming more irritable with every step we took and didn’t find a statue. Stupid Cillian shagging my best friend. If they weren’t so enamoured with each other we would all be working together to find the clue right now. Instead I’m stomping through the woods in a completely unsuitable pair of shoes, wet through, with someone who hates me and is only helping for his sister.

“It’s getting dark,” he sulked for the fourteenth time.

“Are you scared of the dark?” I asked.

“No,” he snapped, “of course not.”

“Then why do you keep mentioning it?”

“I’m just saying we want to make sure we can find our way back, that’s all.”

I sighed, “I know these woods like the back of my hand Theo, you’ll be fine, trust me.” He mumbled something to himself but continued on anyway.

We continued through the dense woodland, occasionally stopping to check the odd crumbling stonework hidden amongst the overgrowth. No statue which matched the riddle so far. Hopefully Sage would have better luck when she could tear herself away from Cillian.

“Are you sure it’s this way? I feel like this is the same tree…”

“Oh do you?” I snapped, “I had absolutely no idea you were concerned about getting lost. You should havesaid!” I bit sarcastically. Pushing him aside, I climbed over a fallen branch.

“Gods, you’re a bitch.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I muttered.

“You’re so… So…”

“So… So… What?“ I stopped dead and turned to face him. He startled at my abrupt stop. Rain dripped from his blonde hair, the ends curling. He looked away, his jaw clenching.

“Go on…” I pushed, “What am I?”

He looked back at me, his eyes full of something I couldn’t place, but it made my chest tighten and my mouth grow dry.

“…Frustrating,” he said finally.

“Well you’re insufferable.”

“Yeah?” We faced each other, gazes locked. Theo’s jaw was clenched in anger.

“Do you know…” I began, not taking my eyes from his, “If you maintain eye contact with someone for longer than six seconds it’s because you’re either thinking about having sex with them or murdering them.”

His blue eyes roamed my face, just inches from mine as I looked up at him. The anger in our expression’s fading away, replaced with something else entirely, “You don’t say…”

His gaze flicked to my mouth and my lips parted on a stunned breath.

“Theo…” My voice barely even a whisper.

His eyes darkened, a stormy blue sea of emotion as we stared at each other.

“There you are!” Sage called out, making us both jump apart. Heat flooded my skin despite the cold, “We found it!”

“Thank the Gods. I was disturbingly close to doing something I’d regret.” I answered, moving away from Theo and instantly feeling cold.

“Can’t you two just get along… for me?” Sage moaned, looking at us hopefully.

---