It sounds fucking stupid, which is why I haven’t said a word of it out loud.
So when the gremlins try to lure me back to the dark side, I can’t. I have to keep going, following that feeling tugging me along my path.
What’s the old saying? By hook or by crook?
I flick around on my phone and pull up my text messages with Laurence.
Laurence
How goes the transmutation, my darling naughty child? (Sent by Ambrose)
Ambrose is Laurence’s current ‘lover’, as he likes to call them. Because he’s never not the most dramatic he can be. But I’ve known Ambrose for years now. He’s been around Laurence's estate off and on for as long as I have.
Tell him to mind his own transmutation into a being who minds his own business.
And that it’s going
He asks if you’re behaving yourself now or if he has to come and visit and sort yourself out himself
Gods no. He doesn’t need to come. I don’t think the vamp population of Osneau would forgive me for that. I’m all good. Just had a moment. I’m playing nice. Behaving.
Are you actually okay though? This is me asking, not him.
Yeah, seriously. Just a blast from the past rocked the boat.
And you decided to rock it right back?
Something like that
Zero judgement here. So long as you can swim.
Feet clatter on the other side of the door and I quickly lock my phone and shove it in my pocket. Jumping to my feet, I do a quick check of myself. I came straight from work, but it’s not the weekend so I’m just in our usual black on black uniform, though with my own usual flair. The t-shirt’s been cropped like all myshirts, skimming just at my belly button, and before my shift I went and cut a skull face into the back after seeing a tutorial online. Not exactly practical for 1 a.m. in spring, but the cold doesn’t really affect me.
The door rips open, revealing a harried looking Willan.
“You’re here! Awesome. I need your help!” Strong fingers wrap around my biceps and haul me inside, slamming the door behind me.
With his iron grip on my biceps, I’m pinned between the tall, hard length of him and the wall. Not a terrible place to be. Except he’s quite obviously flustered, his hair has begun to fuzz out of his braids and there is crackling energy sparking off him that even I can feel. It feels a little like before a bolt of lightning hits, or even the jolt of static electricity. His oqic is unbuttoned at the throat revealing the long length of his neck, and when he realises the position he’s pinned me in, I can see every flex in the tendons of his neck when he clenches his jaw. He doesn’t step back, though, and I don’t mind.
“How can I help?”you relieve some of this tension?I finish in my head before tilting my head back to meet Willan’s eyes. Enough of our bodies are touching for me to feel the shiver ripple through him.
Drawing in a deep breath through his nose, Willan closes his eyes and for the very briefest of seconds he pushes harder against me before shoving himself back with a groan. Not the sexy kind, the trouble kind.
“Egbert booked an intro to magic class for tomorrow first thing and didn’t tell anyone. It’sfulland we’re completely unprepared. I need to put together the kits for the class, but I also have to do a heap of marking, too, for the novice witches. I really, really don’t want to ask but?—”
“It’s fine. Seriously, I don’t know how much help I’ll be but it’s not a problem.”
Is this how I pictured tonight going? No. But Iwasworried it was going to be uncomfortable. At least if we’re busy, there won’t be a chance to be awkward.
“If you can stuff things inside other things, you’ll be saving my life.”
I raise an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to realise what he just said.
“Oh, shut up.” He waves a hand at me, a light blush colouring his neck, and runs a hand over his braids, making them significantly worse.
“You said it, not me! But it’s seriously not a big deal. Lead the way.”
Willan doesn’t ask again, probably doesn’t want to risk me changing my mind.
