Again, some of the cold leeched out of them.
I couldn’t in any way read the expression that replaced it.
I hesitated at his stare, replayed what I’d said, and realized all the different ways he might have taken my words. Was I worried about him? Yes.ShouldI be worried about him? I honestly had no idea, or whether his stare came from sheersurprise that I would have the audacity, or because I’d actually confused him. I couldn’t deny that some part of me worried he’d rip Strangemore apart with his magic and leave the alcove a bloodied mess, not unlike––
“You should go, Shadow,” he said. In my mind, he added,I’m giving you an opening to go without me. To find your friends. You should take it.
Without him? What was that supposed to mean?
And why should I even want that? What made him think I felt at all safe wandering around here on my own, still drugged? Why wouldn’t he just go with me?
“I need your help,” I said.
“No, you don’t,” he growled back, annoyed.If you go outside, and speak aloud either “Home!” or “Malcroix!” a vortex will open up that you can use to get back to the party.Bones’s mental voice hardened as he glared at me.You should go without me, Shadow. Find your friends. I’m not going to be trustworthy with you right now, either.
“I won’t make it outside,” I insisted. “I can’t walk on my own.”
I honestly wasn’t even sure if that was true, but it didn’t matter.
I was afraid to go without him.
He had to feel that, right? I knew he probably wouldn’t care about my being afraid, but he must realize I wasn’t going to leave him alone to do whatever he wanted to do to Strangemore. If he wanted that without an audience, he was going to have to knock me out himself.
When I met his gaze, a frown touched his lips.
Gods, why was he being so pigheaded about this?
Was he really that determined to get into a fight? Honestly, I still wondered that he’d bothered to show up at all, even if my screaming annoyed him. He’d pretended I was dead for nearlya year. Him approaching me in class to shut me up about Alaric made sense, at least. He’d been protecting his friend. But why would he bother with any of this?
Maybe it was just a line too far, even if it meant protecting me.
Maybe he just hated Strangemore.
Or maybe, yeah, it was a line too farandhe hated Strangemore.
Either way, I couldn’t let him get in trouble for me.
I was grateful he’d come. If he’d been anyone else, much less any kind of friend, I would have thrown my arms around him already. As it was, I definitely didn’t want to venture back into the castle corridors alone, without him, and barely able to walk. I didn’t want him brought up on murder charges, either.
I swallowed, then turned towards Strangemore.
“If you’re thinking to teach him a lesson, don’t bother.” I aimed my slurred words haughtily at Bones, despite my stare at the other mage. “You know he’ll go running to the faculty if you lay so much as a finger on him, and I fully intend to reportevery part of thisto any and every school and law enforcement official who’ll listen. Including my cousin in The Praecuri, if no one else will do anything.”
I felt a slight twinge of satisfaction when Strangemore’s glare turned murderous. I glanced at Bones, and he met my gaze unflinchingly.
I saw another wave of that green-gold flame flare in his irises.
I was still struggling to make sense of what I saw, when his mouth firmed.
Without warning, he bent down.
Again, with a gentleness that startled me, he wrapped his arms under my knees and around my shoulders and hoisted me carefully up to his chest. He arranged me briefly in his arms, then, without another look at Strangemore, walked us out of thealcove, and veered left into the corridor filled with those black-stone statues and torches.
I leaned into him, rested my face against his chest, and closed my eyes in relief.
16
Unfiltered
