Page 6 of The Banshee and the Warlock

"I think the point is that you like them," I say.

"What's changed your tune? You're normally the first person to start talking about how this whole thing is probably made up to stop us sowing wild oats or some ridiculousness like that." The way Afan says it makes it feel as if he suspects something. Though I'm not entirely sure what. It's not as if I've spent a huge amount of time dating, even if I've been sceptical about the mate situation in the past.

"Maybe I'm just considering my options," I respond, refocusing my attention on my lunch instead of on the conversation.

I don't want to admit that I think I'm changing my tune because of how I felt when Anja sat down beside me in Potions yesterday. He'll probably tell me that it's something to do with her magic, or it's just that she's hot.

But I know what I felt when we touched, and it's not either of those.

The air around us changes, and I freeze, sensing the proximity of the only person who has ever had this effect on me. I look up for my gaze to catch on Anja's. She sucks in a small breath, almost as if she can feel the connection between us too.

Mate.

I can feel it in every part of my body, the need to protect her, cherish her, and far more. I want to dismiss it as something I'm making up, but I can't. There is something about her that makes me certain that it's the truth.

"Hey," she says, tucking a strand of loose purple hair behind her ear. "Are these seats free?" She gestures to the bench on the opposite side of the table from us.

I nod, gaining a weird look from Afan and Meic in the process. I ignore them. No doubt I'll be laid into when we get back to our flat later, but I don't owe them an explanation, not when I barely have one myself.

Anja smiles and sits down. "So, what's good?" She looks at her empty plate and then across at the variety of sandwiches, wraps, and bagels piled high on plates across the centre of the table.

"All of it," I respond. "Though maybe avoid the fish finger sandwiches."

She wrinkles her nose. "What's wrong with them?"

"They go soggy. I don't know if it's the fish or the breadcrumbs around it, but they never manage to hit the same spot as fish finger sandwiches from when I was a kid."

She lets out a small laugh. "I don't think they were ever particularly good then either."

"Let's guess, you were a ham and cheese toastie girl?"

"Absolutely not. Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber all the way. On brown bread."

I spot a plate of those sandwiches and lean over to pick it up, holding it out to her.

Anja's face lights up and she puts a couple of them on her plate. "But you know what's even better?"

"No?"

"Crisp sandwiches. Did you ever have those? I don't know if it's the crunch of the fried potatoes or the carb loading that makes them taste so good."

"It's the carb loading. And the disapproval mums always gave when they were on the menu," I respond.

She lets out a light laugh. "I think you're right. The disapproval is definitely part of the appeal."

A girl around our age with a nest of snakes in her hair makes her way over. "Anja, there you are."

"Hey, Nati."

The gorgon stills as she spots Meic a few seats down, but she pulls her gaze away pretty quickly.

Interesting. It seems his smoking gorgon might be into him too.

"This is Nati, one of my roommates," Anja says to me. "And this is Cethin, he's my lab partner, I guess?" She looks at me as she says it.

I let out a low growl at the inaccuracy of her description, but no one seems to notice. I clear my throat. "I don't know if that's what it's called," I admit.

She shrugs. "It'll do. We sit next to each other in Potions."