One time in the cafeteria, she purposely ran her hand over my thigh.
I made it my mission to never be alone with her after that.
I’m not that fortunate with Dyson. As my mentor, he’s stuck to me like glue, and he seems to believe being “loud” is a personality trait.
Gnawing irritation twists in my gut as I wait for him to catch up.
“Heading to the cafeteria?” Dyson asks, and without even waiting for me to respond, he continues on. “So I heard you’ve been doing good in all of your classes. That’s good.” A smirk tugs up the corners of his lips. “And it’s good because it makesmelook good.”
“Yup. That’s my goal in life. To make you look good,” I deadpan, quickening my pace.
Of course he’s easily able to remain beside me.
“When is the lovely Isabella returning?” He flicks his gaze to me, his smile widening. “It’s been…quiet without her around.”
I grit my teeth to keep from saying anything I’ll regret. I know he’s merely attempting to bait me—and that I have no claim on Izzy, so shouldn’t be feeling so possessive—yet…
“I heard she’s back with her mates,” Dyson continues, either oblivious or choosing to ignore my growing anger. “I always thought you two…” He chuckles mirthlessly. “Well, I guess I was wrong. You can’t deny the mating bond.” A cloying darkness descends over his features, so abrupt that I actually do a double take. “Though you should warn her about Reid. He’s not…”
He clenches his teeth together and gives a rueful head shake.
It takes everything within me not to scoff.
Izzy didn’t tell me the full story about what happened between Dyson and Reid—it’s not her secret to tell—but I pieced together enough. And seeing how Michelle acts with me…
“Maybe you need to get your facts straight,” I snap before my brain can catch up with my mouth.
Dyson abruptly grabs my shoulder and wheels me around to face him, his face red with rage. A vein in his temple begins to throb.
“What the fuck are you implying, Ansel?”
I’ve never heard the jovial warlock sound so…unhinged before.
Fury laces each word he says, causing his voice to rise in pitch. “Are you seriously accusing my sister of lying?” He takes a step towards me, and a tiny shock of electricity skitters down my spine from where he still touches me.
Pain blazes up me in ropes of fire.
“You’re telling me that if Izzy were to go up to you and claim a man assaulted her, you wouldn’t do anything? You wouldn’t destroy the man who did that to her?” He bares his teeth at me. “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him right then and there.”
I open my mouth but snap it shut, unsure of what to say. He’s right, in a way. If Izzy told me someone touched her inappropriately, I would… Well, I don’t even want to think about what I’d do. I don’t consider myself a violent person, but I wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who lays their hands on her.
And why would Dyson believe Reid over his own sister? It’s a he-said-she-said situation.
I don’t like to use the word “hate,” but I really, really hate that bitch.
“What the fuck is going on over here?” The clicking of Soraya’s heels precedes the woman herself appearing around the corner, dressed in a pair of leggings and a sweater. Her red hair has been meticulously braided away from her face, not a single strand out of place. Her eyes home in on Dyson’s hand, anger sparking in their depths. “Dyson?”
Dyson doesn’t take his glare off of me when he responds. “We were just having a conversation.”
Another shock of electricity reverberates through me, and I cry out before I can stop it, my legs buckling.
Soraya’s there in an instant, flicking her wrist and sending Dyson flying in the opposite direction. He manages to land on his feet, though I notice the material of his jeans is slightly singed.
“If you have an issue with Ansel, you can take it up with the Trinity.” Soraya moves to stand protectively in front of me. “But if you harm him again?—”
“You’ll kill me?” Dyson’s laugh is low and disbelieving. He flicks his gaze to me. “Does Izzy know you’re fucking the Maiden behind her back?”
“Get the fuck out of here, Dyson!” Soraya screams, jabbing her finger at a door near the end of the hall.
