Page 21 of The Holy Academy of Witches

I laughed lightly and turned away to retrace my steps back towards the Academy.

“Bye!” I called over my shoulder, glancing back to see him holding his middle finger up behind him as he disappeared into the depth of the forest towards the lake rather than the way I, personally, would have used to reach the boys campus… Curious.

Deciding to see what he was up to, I crept silently along behind him, surely he wasn’t meeting anyone else? I was only joking about him meeting a girl, everyone knew he was a stickler for the rules. I must have sounded desperate on the phone for him to even consider coming to see me. No, it wouldn’t be a girl… though Gods knew he could have the pick of any of the witches at this academy. He was like the magical realm’s hottest bachelor.

Sage

It was dark by the time I texted Cillian that I could meet, having finished the arduously difficult tutoring session and gone back to my room to change. His reply came immediately:

Crane-boy:At the northern lake shore then, five minutes.

Sage: Fine.

By the time I reached the lake, I found he had crafted a throne from a sapling. The knots and bends looked surprisingly natural for something still alive. He was holding an effortlessly dominating pose, his long, muscled limbs relaxed. As if he breathed power.

Sighing at the pride that silenced my curiosity for the magic, I pulled a jacket out of my bag and sat on it, allowing him greater height. If he wanted to feel superior then I’d allow it, I needed answers and his help. Settling into meditation form, I waited.

He examined the jacket slowly before pursing his lips and leaning his elbows onto his knees.

“You mentioned a favour?” His ice-blue eyes pierced my own.

“I did,” I said, keeping my emotions bottled.

“Do you have another note, or are you going to voice the favour?” He leaned back into the throne. An insolent prince.

“Neither. Instead I’m going to warn you.”

“A threat?” His eyes brightened.

“A warning… if you were to tell Theo about me… about what happened. He would not be able to cope.”

“Why?”

“We all have our demons.”

“How do you expect to pay me, if not with information? I already own a life debt.”

I rubbed at my marked wrist as he pointedly looked down at his. Twin stars, his lacking the circle, my manacle as I’d begun to call it. There till the price was paid. A new path forged, an old debt paid. There wasn’t much in the library beyond the stigma behind it, the ways the bond had been misused by the keeper.

Unease tickled my mind as I watched him. I didn’t know him well enough to understand his character, though rules and honour seemed to matter in some form to him. It wouldn’t get me expelled, but I wouldn’t want to risk dragging him into this unless I had no choice. And right now I had a secret worth more than any bond.

“I can’t tell you his secrets… but I have my own.”

“Go on…” He said, unfolding himself to allow his full height to cast a shadow across my tensed form.

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“Has anyone approached you about the little drowning incident?”

“No, but… you don’t understand. Theo can’t know.” I replied firmly. He’d do something stupid to protect me, make it his problem. It was my turn to protect him now.

“Relax, I’m not going to endanger what’s mine out of pettiness.”

“I am not yours!”

“That mark on your wrist would convince most otherwise.”

“So make it public. Tell everyone I’m nothing but your property if that’s what you want.”

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