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Anya spots me at once. She gives a wry giggle and aims a sharp little smile at me. “Oh, look who we’ve run into. Miss Backwater who thinks she’s too good for the rest of us.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m just looking for reading material like everyone else here.”
“Figuring out more ways to ingratiate yourself with the staff, I suppose. How much higher do you figure you can climb than Ster. Stavros?”
She giggles again, even more humorlessly than the first time, and taps her elbow against her friend’s arm. “There’s something on those bookcases you might be looking for, don’t you think, Tavonne?”
A similarly venomous smirk curves the other woman’s mouth. She holds out her hand—and a book flies off a shelf behind me, whacking me in the back of the head.
Twenty-Seven
Iflinch and slap my hand to the point of collision. As an ache spreads through my skull, the book flies the rest of the way to land in Tavonne’s hands.
“Oh, sorry,” Anya coos. “Did your big head get in the way of her book?”
“I think I need another one.” Tavonne reaches out again.
An even thicker volume flies off the shelf. I’m prepared enough to jerk to the side this time, but its edge still smacks against my jaw.
I resist the urge to rub the smarting spot, bracing myself for another attack. My fingers curl against the silk folds of my skirt.
I traded my soiled lavender gown for my favorite turquoise one as soon as I got back to the college. If Anya attempts to ruin this one, I might just have to do violence.
“Fantastic use of your gift, there,” I say to her friend. “I’m sure your godlen would approve.”
Tavonne sneers at my sarcasm. “Any book I feel I need will jump to my hand. Estera thought that was a worthy request. It’s not her or my fault if someone steps in between at the wrong time.”
I have to admit that would be a useful gift even if it’s being turned against me right now.
My magic vibrates in my chest. I hold on to my self-control with an iron grip, making my tone go haughtily cold. “I’d have expected someone invested in wisdom to find better uses for their time. What exactly do you gain out of assaulting random people?”
Anya sniffs. “Oh, it’s all good sport. We all needsomeentertainment. And you need to remember your place.”
Tavonne has gathered both of the books under her arm. “I might require one more—”
Before she can extend her fingers, a stern figure in a dark blue uniform strides into view.
The Crown’s Watch soldier scowls at the four of us. “What’s going on over here? If a daimon’s messing with the books, you need to alert us.”
He must have heard the thumps and assumed the noble students would never lower themselves to using them as projectile weapons.
Tavonne purses her lips, and Anya shoots a glower that’s almost a dare my way.
I’d take her up on that dare—except the power seeping from my broken soul has erupted at the sight of the guard. It surges up inside my chest, thrashing at me with a matching peal of alarm, faster than I can rein in the emotion.
Men like that kill sorcerers like me.
I have to make him leave. I have to escape.
My power has basically lost its mind. There’d be no reason for the soldier to look twice at me as long as Idon’tuse it.
But it flails against my hold, rallying for me to bring it to bear.
As I clench one hand behind my back, a chill lances down my spine. It’s only a matter of seconds before I pay for defying my magic’s call yet again.
I needallof them gone before I fall apart.
“No daimon,” I say hastily, whipping my mouth into a smile. “I simply had a clumsy moment.”
