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“We’ll need to get you able to access your power whenever you need and then we’ll get you learning how to use it to protect yourself. But you aren’t like Hardin or even Fielder. Your power doesn’t reside in protections or brute strength.”
“I resent that,” Hardin mutters, but his mouth is twisted into a smile so I know he doesn’t, really.
I glance around at the other tables, noting that students are watching us, but not listening to what we’re saying. I glance at Fielder. “You have one of those sound bubbles up?”
He nods. “I do.”
“So if I don’t have an affinity for protection magic, does that mean I’ll have to rely on one of you for that?” I don’t try to hide how much I hate that idea. I don’t even know if I can trust these guys with my grades, let alone my life.
Fielder shakes his head, answering my question even though his brows have drooped. “No. We’ll get you to where you can protect yourself. There are runes you can use to enhance certain aspects of your magic. If it turns out that you really don’t have an affinity for it, then we can have Gideon give you a rune.”
Merritt’s eyes shoot up from her omelet. “But then it’ll still be his magic. Not Ro’s.”
My brow arches. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Hand and Tome,” Gideon explains, “has power in the written word. We’ve adjusted that a bit to includeanyink, so things like tattoos.”
That makes sense, so I nod and open my mouth to ask more, but I’m cut off by the sound of the warning bell chiming, and I swear. “I have a class at eight. I need to run.”
Ezra glances down at my plate where I’ve crumbled my scone, but haven’t actually eaten anything. His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t comment on it. Before anyone can stop me, I’m pushing back my chair and heading for the door, only to be followed yet again by all four of the assholes.
The flood of students in the halls part like the Red Sea did for Moses, and we all head to our first class of the day. No one makes eye contact with me, all of them keep their gazes carefully away from me, but I can tell that as soon as I pass by their craning their necks to get a good look.
As I step into my first class, I sigh.
Being ‘friends’ with the Consequences is going to be a pain in my ass.
Eleven
More eyes, more glares. More curiosity. They follow me all morning, through homeroom, and my classes. Well, technically, they followuseverywhere, since I’m never left alone. One of the boys is always with me. In each class, in the hall. The only class I’m alone in is chemistry, but even then Ezra and Gideon walk me to class and Fielder and Hardin are in the hall to escort me to third period.
At least everyone limits their interest to just watching. No one dares to say anything. People part in the hallway when we walk by, giving me plenty of space, to not risk even jostling me on accident.
If it surprises Professor Masters to see me in his fourth period independent study class, he doesn’t show it. Gideon’s sitting at the table that we used to share. His new partner is a waifish blond girl who’s chatting away happily at him while he doesn’t respond beyond an occasional grunt.
Ah, I remember those days.
“Miss Sweeney.” My gaze is pulled from Gideon and the girl who’s slid just the tiniest bit closer to him, so I can look at our teacher. “Mr. Harris has informed me about the change in youracademicstatus. I understand you’re a member of Marbury?”
I lift a shoulder and nod. “That’s what they tell me.”
His brown eyes scan over me as if assessing the validity of these claims, as if he can tell just by looking what sect I belong to, if I have magic. I know for a fact he can’t. There isn’t a witchy aura or anything, I’d asked just to be sure.
The girl next to Gideon laughs, a high tittering sound that grates on my nerves and I glance over at them. She has her hand on his arm. And he’slettingher keep it there. I frown. It doesn’t matter. I can’t get jealous. I’ve told Gideon, told all of them, that I don’t want to be with them in any capacity beyond a tentative friendship.
And sure, maybe we’d stepped over that line yesterday morning, but I have it firmly established in my head now.
The blond moves even closer, until her breasts are pressed against him and her head tilts prettily. A clear invitation for him to do anything and everything he wants to her.
Mr. Masters is still talking to me, no doubt giving me a rundown of how independent study goes for his witchy students, but I’m not listening. “Excuse me, sir,” I mutter.
Gideon glances up as I approach, and his lips twist in a smirk when he catches sight of my face. Though why I can’t be sure? I’m pretty sure it looks like I’m about to pull that girl away from him by her hair.
“Hi!” I say, a bit too forced, a bit too chipper. Blondie looks up at me with narrowed eyes, like I’ve interrupted something.
“Hey,” she says, before turning back to Gideon. He’s watching me though, his dark brow cocked in a challenge, like he’s asking if I’m going to just let this girl feel him up, and fuck now she is. Her fingers are actually caressing his bicep up to his shoulder, while her other hand runs over his wrist.
Hmm… How to handle this? Gideon would probably like me to stake my claim, to tell that girl to stop touching him and to never even think about touching him again. And part of me really wants to, especially after what we shared yesterday morning. If I do that, he’ll take it as a sign that I’m willing to try being a relationship with all of them.
