“Insult me or my mate again and see what fucking happens, witch.”
Maverick tightened his grip, making Demelza’s eyes bulge. She tried to cast defensive magic, but nothing happened, which was odd. Then I noticed Glynda murmuring something and realized my friend must have cast her own defensive spell. Goddess, how blessed I was to have such an awesome friend. A friend who actually studied and knew useful spells, unlike me.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Maverick snarled. The students nearby all gasped when he shoved Demelza away so hard she stumbled against a table and fell to her knees, much to the amusement of two wolves sitting nearby. I watched with zero sympathy as she ran out of the food hall, her face red with anger and embarrassment. “We’re leaving,” my bear growled once she’d gone. He picked me up like a doll, and ignoring the rising tide of gossip, carried me toward the exit.
“Message me later!” Glynda yelled.
Stars above, I couldn’t wait for that conversation.
Maverick’s anxiety radiated down the bond, making me simultaneously anxious and worried. My bear had always seemed in control. Stoic and level-headed. The only time I’d seen him lose it was when we first met at the market.
He carried me back to his cabin in silence. I could have insisted on using my legs, but something told me he needed the closeness. In truth, I did too. Kenji had stayed behind, probably to finish eating his body weight in bacon. The kitsune was obsessed with the stuff. That and pancakes.
“Are you alright?”
Maverick laid me on his bed, the sheets still rumpled from our activities this morning. I loved the way the bed smelled of him. Delicious pine with a hint of ozone, like the forest after a storm. He stared down at me, cataloging every inch of my body.
“No, not really.” The pain flayed me. This wasn’t about leaving me right after we bonded. There was more going on here.
My bear raked his fingers through his hair. I tried not to admire his huge muscles and thick chest hair, but stars above, it was difficult. A witch only had so much self-control.
I forced my needs down. This wasn’t the time. My bear hurt.
“What can I do to help?”
“I just… need to be close to you right now. Once the bond settles, it will be easier.” He grimaced. “I’ve canceled my classes and yours for the next two days.”
“I get to miss PT?” The thought of doing the obstacle course again made me want to vomit.
Maverick chuckled. “Yes. But the minute the bond settles, I’m giving you some extra lessons. Your self-defense skills are shit.”
I pouted. “Mean.” Then the practicality of both of us skipping lessons hit me. Everyone now knew there was something going on between us, mostly thanks to Demelza and her big mouth.
“What about the headmaster? Won’t he be angry we’re mated?”
“I don’t give a fuck what the headmaster says. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Soul-bonds are sacred and, therefore, protected. If two magicals have a soul-bond, it’s too dangerous to separate them.”
“How dangerous?” I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of dying if my bear and I got torn apart. The realization that such a scenario might happen sooner than I liked gave me a mini heart attack. If Adam kidnapped me at winter solstice, as Willow implied might happen, it would hurt my bear and me.
“What’s wrong?” Maverick dropped onto the bed and pulled me into his lap.
“Um…” Maverick knew nothing about my guardian. We’d not really talked about my past. “I got a letter from Willow, a witch from the coven I lived with. She said, um, that Adam, my guardian, planned to take me from school at the Winter Solstice Ball.”
“Why would he do that? You can’t leave here until you graduate. If you do, the mage enforcers will track you down and punish you.” Maverick growled.
A small huff of frustration escaped. How had this conversation gone from me wanting to help him to it being all about me? I was the worst mate ever.
“I don’t actually want to leave, but Adam is worried about my safety here.”
Maverick’s eyes narrowed. “Why would he be worried, Raven? This place is as secure as the Mage Council offices.”
“If it’s that secure, how come demons appeared in the forest?” I scoffed.
From the way Maverick scowled, he also suspected something wasn’t right.
“I don’t know, but the incubus is looking into it.”
The tether in my chest tightened when I thought about my sexy incubus.
