“Ooh, I like this,” Marcus said. “A tried and true method. Bones is already messing with nightshade, anyway. All we have to do is turn him in, and then he’s the Warden’s problem. Charlie, this could actually work.”
“I know! We just have to find a way to tip off the guards without exposing ourselves,” I added. “If anyone finds out we turned him in, we could—”
“Hey!” someone shouted from behind us.
I spun around. “What now?”
“Shit. It’s Bones,” Marcus hissed.
Speak of the devil. Bones stomped straight up to us. He must’ve been alone, because I didn’t hear any other footsteps follow. His gang members must’ve been in class. “Does loyalty mean nothing to you, Little Drummer Boy? You’ve been warned more than once. I shouldn’t have to remind you who you’re dealing with.”
“Loyalty meanseverythingto me,” Marcus insisted. “You should know that by now.”
“No, it obviously doesn’t,” he growled. “Because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen you hanging out with old friends.”
“I swear,” Marcus said. Papers rustled, and he shoved them at Bones. “Here are your bets for next week. I’m on your side.”
Bones paused, like he was looking over the sheets. They rustled one more time, but he must’ve subconjured them, because I didn’t hear them again. He sounded skeptical of Marcus. “You know what happens to traitors.”
Marcus squeaked. I could only imagine the kind of punishment Bones had in mind. They’d already tried going after Kallie— even if none of the Dead Men remembered it. Sooner or later, they’d resort to torturing Marcus just to make an example out of him.
“Let it go, Bones,” I warned. “Marcus and I aren’t friends. I just needed help finding my way back to the building. I nearly fell in the siren lake.”
It hurt to lie and say Marcus and I weren’t friends, but I had to.
Bones laughed, like he was amused. “Poor blind kid. Can’t even navigate campus. I’m shocked Captain lets you fight.”
At least he was taking hits at me and not Marcus. I could handle it.
I smirked. “Yeah, it’s unfortunate— unfortunate that I haven’t met you in the ring yet. I’d love to kick your ass and show you what I’m made of.”
“You keep threatening me, and you’re gonna get your ass kicked right now,” Bones growled.
I scoffed. “You want to try me? Be my guest. Winner gets Marcus?”
“Charlie, no—” Marcus started, but Bones was already stripping off his jacket. The fabric rustled as he tossed it aside.
“Winner gets tolive,” Bones snarled, before lunging at me.
Oberi barked, and Rishi yowled as Bones’ fist cracked across the side of my face. Adrenaline shot through my system. The blow didn’t even shock me anymore. In fact, I barely felt it. This was every other night for me, and I knew how to navigate my way around a warlock’s punches. They didn’t hit near as hard as shifters or vampires.
Bones threw another punch, but I felt the air whooshing past his fist. I ducked, then aimed my shoulder straight for his belly. I leapt and tackled him into the sand. Bones grabbed a fistful of sand and tossed it into my face. My eyes burned, but I squeezed them tightly shut. It’s not like I needed them to fight.
I thrust my forearm into his neck, blocking off his windpipe. Rage boiled in my blood. After everything he’d done to Marcus, this fucker was going to pay.
Bones gasped for breath. He shoved his palm to my chest, and magic shot out of it so hard that I was blasted off of him. I flew several feet into the air and landed on my ass in the sand. My chest hurt like a motherfucker. For a second, it felt as if he’d shocked my heart with his battle orb.
My ears rang, but I could hear Oberi and Rishi howling nearby. Marcus shouted protests, but neither Bones nor I listened. The guards must’ve been too far away to see us, because no one stopped me. It didn’t really matter, because they couldn’t stop me even if they wanted to. I was taking this asshole down.
Bones ran for me, but I kicked up sand at the last second. He cursed as dirt entered his eyes. “Motherfucker!” he roared.
“You have no respect for the blind, my friend.” I laughed. “Try fighting blind yourself.”
I tangled my magic in his before he could react, and I yanked on it. His magic flowed into me. I could feel he was trying to conjure a battle orb, but nothing happened.
“What’d you do?!” he demanded.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said innocently.
