Page 130 of Echoes of the Banshee

“I didn’t even notice when you left,” she says with a teasing grin.

“You were pretty into that book on death magic,” I say, leaning against the wall. “Did you eat the sandwich?”

“Yes.” She grabs her bag and moves past me. As she does, she presses a kiss to my cheek quick, casual. It hits me like a lightning bolt. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

Before I can say anything, she’s already out the door. I snap out of it and follow her.

My final class of the day is crafting with Benson. He strolls in right before the bell, as always. But today, something’s off. He slides into the seat next to me, tension in his shoulders, and a strange hollowness in his eyes.

“You okay, dude?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.

“Yeah, great.” He seems… off.

“Where were you at lunch?”

“Oh, I had lunch with Anita today,” he says it like it’s no big deal. His words are slurred, like he’s been drinking. I swallow hard. What the hell did she do to him?

“Why?”

“She’s so nice,” he says again, looking almost dazed. “Told me how Thea and I are such a cute couple. We are, aren’t we?”

“Fuck.” I grab my phone and text Thea, my fingers moving quick.

I think Anita did something to Benson.

He said he had lunch with her and now is acting weird.

I hold my breath as I wait for her reply.

Explain.

Said she’s nice.

Fuck, that’s bad.

I let out a small chuckle despite the situation, the absurdity of it getting to me.

Is he wearing new jewelry?

“Benson,” I ask, as I watch him stare off into space. He loves crafting, never zones out in class, especially not when the forges are burning hot all around us.

“Yes?” he asks, his voice dreamy and detached. I glance at Benson, trying to figure out what she’s talking about, but I don’t see anything unusual. Then it peeks out of his collar. Not goblin made.

Bingo.

I type as quickly as I can.

Necklace.

Bring him to greenhouse three after class.

Bring a goblin blade if you can.

I spend the rest of class babysitting Benson, keeping him from burning himself or doing anything stupid. I explain to the teacher that I think he got cursed, and when he sees Benson’s state, he lets us out early, and I practically have to drag the love-drunk Benson to the greenhouse.

When I step inside, I see Thea wreaking havoc in what can only be described as a full-on water balloon fight, minus the balloons. She’s going head-to-head with another witch — Lira, I think. She’s pulling water from the nearby pond like it’s second nature. But Thea is conjuring perfect spheres from thin air and launching them with deadly aim, her laughter echoing through the field every time one hits its mark. Whatever the original assignment was, it’s definitely not this.

Thea spins and hurls a massive sphere of water at what looks like empty air. A second later, Mavrik materializes soaked and sputtering. His shadowy form no match for the blast. Her laughter rings out again, bright and wild.