“But the party’s just started,” he complained. “Stay for one drink with me. I’ve waited forever for Baby Sis to make it toWeatherstone.”
Drunk Trevor was annoying and adorable, and I wasn’t surprised when Belle caved. She hadn’t said anything to me about it,but there was this weird tension between her and my brother, even as they shot jabs at each other more often than not. “Stay,Pais. I can get my way back, and I probably don’t even need a healer.”
“You’re injured,” I said, crossing my arms as my stubbornness kicked in. “I’m taking you to a healer.”
Whatever intoxication Trevor had been displaying vanished like magic. “Injured?” He focused on my tiny friend, his gaze runningover her as he assessed for injuries. “What happened? Are you hurt as well, Pais?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “This stupid witch is bullying her, and she got Belle with an iron attack.”
Trevor pressed closer for a more thorough inspection, butBelle waved him off. “Hands to yourself, warlock,” she said. “I’m fine. Just some bruises on my ribs.”
My brother’s hands twitched at his sides. “Paisley is right, you need to see the healers. I’ll walk with you to make sureyou get there safely.”
I waited for Belle to object, her dark eyes watchful. “Thank you. I’d appreciate the escort.”
Whoa, okay.That was odd. Trevor better not ruin my friendship due to his playwarlock ways, or he’d be the one with bruised ribs.
The three of us headed away from the party, and near the edge of the forest, a hand landed on my shoulder. I spun, fists flyingup, and Marcus jumped back, hands held up before him.
Trevor was already in front of me, but I grabbed his biceps before he could do anything serious. “No, wait. He’s my friend,”I said quickly. Leaning around my brother, I smiled. “Sorry, Marcus. Belle here was just attacked by a witch, so we’re a littleon edge.”
Trevor relaxed enough that I could step around him, and I saw Belle tugging on his hand. “Paisley will catch up,” I heardher whisper. “Let’s give them a second to talk.”
He didn’t want to leave; I could see that quite plainly, but when I narrowed my eyes with a clearfuck off, brotherin them, he grimaced and pointed a finger at Marcus. “Hurt my sister and I’ll rip your fucking arms off and beat you withthem.”
He didn’t wait for a response, turning to march off with Belle, not bothering to look back.Cranky asshole.
Marcus, to his merit, didn’t leave, and he showed no indication that my brother’s threat phased him. “Sorry about that,” Isaid, clearing my throat. “My brother is a tad overprotective, and a giant dick, but I love him.”
He tilted his head. “Can’t fault him for being protective ofyou. I shouldn’t have just grabbed you like that. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Damn, he was smooth. “Why did you grab me?” I asked, cool breezes ruffling my hair as they whistled through the trees nearby.
A fraction of his confidence fell as he rubbed a hand over his face. “I’ve been wanting to chat with you all night.”
And yet he hadn’t approached me until now.
“How are your classes going?”
Great, we were talking about school. Excellent start. “They’re going better than I expected,” I said with a shrug. “The amountof information we’re learning is intense, but I enjoy it. I like flexing my magical muscle.”
“No sign of your affinity yet?”
That sprinkling of unease that swirled in my energy swelled. “Nope. There was a low-level bonding moment with a dog in NatureSprites for the Newly Bonded, but not enough to call it a familiar. My strongest reactions have been during the lake, whereI almost drowned, and during Necromancy in the Wild, in that forest—” I waved my hand to the eastern perimeter “—I actuallyfelt the heat of my power emerge.”
“Being a necromancer would be a great affinity,” Marcus said, and it was clear that he meant that. “If I end up being a spellcaster,I’m almost disappointed not to explore that final frontier of energy.”
“Professor Longhorn hasn’t indicated that he’s seen a necro affinity yet, but my magic is locked away. We’re all searchingfor the elusive key.”
Marcus’s eyes softened. “You’re too hard on yourself, Paisley. It’s only been a few weeks, and from what I can tell, you’re doing pretty well for a witch without an affinity.” His words replaced the unease with warmth. “You’ve got your entirefour years of college to figure out your affinity. It’ll probably take them that long to declare mine too.”
For a vastly different reason to mine. Marcus showed a strong aptitude for too many affinities, but the classification ofa spellcaster was a lengthy process. “Logan Kingston is a spellcaster,” I said suddenly. “His first class is this coming week.I wonder if you’ll find a resonation with his energy during the lesson.”
He shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. “Whether I’m a spellcaster or not remains to be seen, but I am looking forward to thisclass. How often do we get firsthand experience with a powerful spellcaster? I heard that Logan is classified as one of thestrongest in the world, and he’s not even finished college.”
Of course he was. I’d expect nothing less. Wishing I hadn’t brought that warlock up, I was trying to figure out a subjectchange, when Marcus stepped closer. “Would you like to catch up on a weekend? Just... the two of us?”
I stared at him, wondering why I wasn’t jumping at the opportunity. Maybe because I’d been looking for mindless sex to quenchthe fire, but his question and the way he stared at me spoke of more. “That sounds—”
