Page 119 of Glutton for Punishment

“No…” I say, heading for the exit. “…To whatever this is.”

He catches up easily. “I was just going to say good luck.”

I stop and turn to find his cocky expression has slipped.

“With the power test,” he adds more quietly.

I guess your concern makes sense, given that the last time you saw me try to use it, they had me strapped to a table, and I was bleeding out.

Guilt flickers nakedly across his face. I turn before he can say more and catch Atticus’s stormy eyes watching us from across the room. My stomach flips.

“I have to go,” I mutter, fleeing before either of them can make my life more complicated.

The hallway outside the dining hall is even worse. Students line the corridors in clusters. Everywhere I walk, eyes follow. Hands raising to cover the whispers coming from their mouths like I can’t read what they are thinking by the looks on their faces.

Something in me finally snaps. I stop so abruptly in front of a group staring at me that several people almost run into me from behind.

“What?” I shout. The word cracks down the hallway.

Students jump and the crowd scatters. I’m just tired of being watched like a damn circus animal. I wish I could just become invisible. I turn the corner too fast and slam right into another hard chest. “For the love of—”

My entire body goes rigid as look up into icy bright blue eyes.

“You!” I say with all the frustration I can muster.

Maylo Villanox smiles wider, his dimples framing his wolfish grin that screams ‘trouble.’

“Me.”

I point at the nearest empty classroom so hard that I’m surprised my power didn’t slip out. “In there. Now.”

He places a hand dramatically over his heart. “As my lady wishes.”

The classroom is dim and empty when we enter, the morning sun filtering through dusty windows. I shut the door behind us and round on him.

“I have a bone to pick with you.”

His grin sharpens. “You can pick whatever bone you like. Name it. I’ll rip it from my body and lay it at your feet this very instant.”

He says it with such sincere enthusiasm that—

I genuinely think he might do it. I decide not to engage with that.

“What happened at the trial?” I demand. “How did you know Maddox and I were going to snap a proximity bond?”

Maylo tilts his head. “I know someone,” he says cryptically, “who knows things.”

“That is the least helpful answer you could give.”

He smiles like I’m a cute kitten snuggling up for a nap.

“You told Maddox to throw the potion to me.”

“Yes,” he says, nodding.

“You knew what would happen.” I cross my arms.

“Yes.”