“Ava, stop!”
Before I could burn this fucker to ashes, Kallie stepped in out of nowhere. She grabbed my arms and wrenched them backward, ending my spell before she hauled me away.
“What are you doing? Let me fry that bastard,” I growled.
“You can’t get in trouble again,” Kallie insisted. “Trust me, I’ve got a temper, and it doesn’t serve well around here. Walk away.”
I let Kallie drag me off, because I’d already drawn enough attention to myself. Starting a fight would get me another one-on-one meeting with the Warden, and nothing was worth being alone in a room with that man.
Digger kept his eyes on me until Kallie hauled me out of sight. He got off the ground with a sullen look, and I knew I’d just made another enemy.
Let them come. I’d fight them all.
Oberi followed. She was so angry that fire came out of her nostrils. Kallie marched me back into the prison and down the hall. Her voice was cool as she said, “People know you’re vulnerable right now. They’ll do anything to rile you up, just to get some entertainment in here. You can’t take the bait.”
I was in half a mind to storm back there and burn the flesh off Digger’s bones, on the verge of losing control. “I want him dead,” I seethed.
“He’s not someone to challenge,” Kallie rebutted. “Digger deals drugs at the prison. What’s worse, he gives the drugs to women— but he taints them with other things. Then he takes advantage when they’re passed out.”
I felt physically ill. “That’s horrible.”
“He’s done it to dozens of girls here at the prison, but he never gets caught,” Kallie said quietly. “You need to avoid getting his attention. I don’t want Digger to slip something into your drink.”
My stomach churned. “I need a distraction. Talk about something else,” I rushed out. “Anything.”
“Um…” Kallie bit her lip. “I went through Marcus’ sketchbook this morning, because I thought I left my paper in there for my fae class, and he usually holds onto my stuff for me.”
“Because you lose everything and are about as disorganized as I am?” I asked.
“Right. Anyway, in the sketchbook, there were a lot of… drawings of me.”
That lifted my mood. “Naughty ones?” I giggled.
“Of course not!” Kallie’s cheeks tinged pink. “Just like, of my face and stuff. I don’t know if that’s weird or not.”
“It means he likes you, doesn’t it?” I said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Kallie said mournfully. Under her breath, she added, “Not like it’s going to make a difference.”
The conversation she’d had between her and her uncle came back to me, and I began to smile. “Kallie, did youbondwith Marcus?”
“No!” Kallie shouted, in a way that clearly meantyes.
I grinned in triumph. “Ooh, you’remated. That’s a big deal in fae culture, Kallie.”
“I can’t have awarlockas my true mate. What would people say?”
“Does it matter? You care about him,” I insisted. She’d made that clear during the Darke Games, though now I knew just how much.
“Well, he doesn’t want me anyway, so there’s that.” She huffed. “It’s fine. I’ll just be forever alone.”
“Don’t be dramatic. Marcus is so shy. He’s not going to make the first move. Just tell him how you feel,” I said.
“It’s not like that in fae culture. Telling someone you’re mated is a big deal. You’re supposed to make a public declaration, and vow to be together forever. It’s like a marriage proposal. Marcus and I aren’t that close.”
“But you could be,” I said. “The fae and the witches might hate each other, but that doesn’t mean you and Marcus can’t be together. Why not try?”
Kallie shrugged miserably. “I’m sure if he wanted to ask me out, he would’ve by now. It’s just not meant to be.”
