“Songbird,” I said, my voice dropping into a low whisper as I tried to convey the seriousness of this conversation. I wanted the real her, not the show pony they’d turned her into. “In all honesty, what happened yesterday—”
“Don’t,” she snapped, her feet stopping immediately. She turned to face me, her brows deep slashes of frustration as she issued the order. Despite the strength and determination written into the lines of her face, her legs were far less sturdy than they’d been only a moment prior.
She’d run herself too hard, her energy depleting and muscles aching already now that the adrenaline was wearing off and she could feel her true exhaustion.
“It would be perfectly understandable if you weren’t feeling fine,” I said, continuing on in spite of the warning in those burning mahogany eyes. They were like tiny pinpricks of flame when she was angry, hinting at the depth of the rage she kept carefully tucked away.
“I said don’t,” she said again, holding up a hand as if the wordsweren’t enough to communicate her desire not to have this conversation. “I said I’m fine and I meant it. I will be fine just like I always am. The last thing I need or want is an archdemon nagging at me because he’s too stupid to know the difference between actually liking someone and being trapped under their fucking spell.”
The words were harsh, but the way she sank her teeth into her bottom lip contradicted them, hinting at her uncertainty in speaking them. My songbird wasn’t used to standing up for herself, attempting to turn a new leaf since the day before.
It said something aboutmyaddiction toherthat I would gladly give her a safe place to explore that, letting her hurl whatever insults were necessary at me and taking them in stride without returning them.
Hell, maybe I even liked them.
“Everybody needs somebody to turn to,” I said, shrugging my shoulders and trying not to consider the fact that it had been a long time since I’d felt that. My brother was the closest I had to that sort of bond, and I didn’t see anyone else stepping in to fill the role.
She leaned in, coming closer without ever touching me. The scent of her filled my lungs, those deep eyes glaring up at me. “That doesn’t mean I’d ever choose you,” she said, the quiet words lacking all emotion. That made it strike harder, an honest truth that wasn’t buried in rage and anger she couldn’t control.
It should have pissed me off to be so easily dismissed when I was genuinely trying; instead, I found my mouth spreading into a wide smile as she faltered.
She shook her head as she retreated, making her way up to the school and leaving me to linger at the edge of the woods. Her hips swayed as she went, not in a way that she forced, but with the natural sex appeal of a woman who just radiated lust even when she was so determined not to.
The meek Margot of a few days prior seemed like a thing of thepast when it was just the two of us, her sass driving the conversations and dominating space. She might claim not to rely upon me as a safe space or person to turn to, but the change in her demeanor said more than her words could argue.
I shoved my hands into my pockets as I made my way back up to the school, abandoning my patrols for the night in favor of stalking my favorite witch and making sure she made it back to her room safely.
This goddamned spell would be the end of me.
If I found her sudden burst of confidence so attractive, there was no doubt that others would, too.
And the witch wasmine.
7
MARGOT
I left class quickly, ducking my head in an effort to avoid the archdemon who seemed to follow me everywhere I went. He kept his distance, never coming too close in the moments between classes but making it appear as though he was there more for my protection than anything.
When something similar to this happened in the past, I’d felt intimidated by the presence. It had felt like a violation to my personal boundaries, like something to fear.
But when Beelzebub followed me, there was a quality to him that felt like a bodyguard, keeping people from bothering me. It meant that I moved through the halls more peacefully than I might have otherwise, the recent events making me a subject of interest to all those who wanted to know the details I wasn’t willing to share.
He didn’t bother me, but his presence made certain no one else did, either.
I hated feeling appreciative for anything he did, but the quiet accord we’d reached was one I didn’t want to think about going away.
“Margot!” Keane yelled, catching my attention from the stairs above me as I made my way down toward my next class. “Hold up!”
I paused on the stairs, debating whether or not I could pretendI hadn’t heard him, but my hesitation gave me away. I forced a polite smile to my face as Keane made his way down the stairs, joining me on the landing where I’d paused to wait for him.
“Hey,” I said, my voice a quiet murmur when he finally approached. He reached out, tucking a strand of blond hair behind my ear in an affectionate move that I hated every time he did it. I twisted away, making sure he wasn’t able to touch my skin.
“I’ve been trying to catch up with you for two days. Where have you been hiding?” he asked, his low voice serious.
“Wherever I can,” I said, offering the truth that I didn’t think anyone should be surprised by. I hated being the center of attention, hated the feeling of eyes on me for any reason. Having everyone stare at me forthatreason was even worse.
Keane’s face twisted, morphing into shock, as if he hadn’t expected me to be so blunt with my truth. I supposed it wasn’t something I typically did, preferring to hide behind pretty lies to make everyone around me feel better.
