Page 92 of Revenant

“Please, if it wasn’t for me, he’d keep you up all night.”

“And what if I don’t want to go to sleep? Come to think of it, I don’t feel the least bit tired.” My argument is already mute as another yawn rips through me.

Elias crosses the foot of the bed before climbing in next to me, hovering over me like he wants another taste. “If that’s the case I’ll bury my face between your legs until you are.”

My eyes widen with the thought, and he leans in, kissing me softly before wrapping an arm around my middle and pulling me into him. Even as my heart rate slows and my eyes begin feeling heavy, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if Elias went through with his promise.

29: Eryx

“Would you just fucking listen to me, Eryx!”

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, brother.” I keep my voice even, almost bored, because I know it’ll infuriate him more than shouting ever could. “Perhaps you should go fist your hand and find some reprieve.”

He scoffs. The same reaction Elias gives when he knows he’s losing an argument.

I’ve struck a nerve. Good.

I don’t care. I can’t—not when every thought in my head is already spoken for. Veil Calder has taken up permanent residence, and I’ve never once tried to evict her.

“You can tell Bastian, Koen, and Pryce to fuck off as well.” I grab my coat from the back of the chair, not bothering to look at him. “My relationship doesn’t concern a single one of you.”

“She’s losing it, Eryx.” His voice lowers, strained with the effort of not making things worse. “Something is wrong. If you would just slow down long enough to—”

“She’s fine!” I snap, whirling around and stalking straight into him until we’re nearly chest to chest. “Veil has a plan! So crawl back to the others and fuck right off.”

“She’s messing with dark magic, Eryx! That’s not a bloody joke!”

I laugh under my breath because, of course, he would reduce it to that.

“She’s one of the most powerful witches alive,” I bite out. “She doesn’t need dark magic.”

“Don’t give her the mirror, Eryx. Please. Whatever she’s telling you—whatever pretty little promise she’s feeding you about the two of you being together—It’s not real. Not in the way that you think. If you just wait, I can figure out what she’s planning. Give the mirror back to the Reliquary.”

Elias has never trusted Veil. That much has always been true, long before I ever started defending her, long before it became something he and I could no longer discuss without it turning into a fight. But I don’t hear warning. I hear accusation. I hear jealousy disguised as concern. Elias has never tried to understand her, and I’d bet my life it’s because she chose me that first day in Professor Eldritch’s class freshman year.

“God, you’re unbelievable, Elias.” I bark out a laugh, running my hand through my hair. “We’re done here. I’m not hearing any more of this.”

I don’t slam the door when I leave my dorm in Vesperian Hall; slamming doors is for people who aren’t sure of themselves and I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.

Blackthorn Den sits at the far end of campus, tucked between two older buildings. The lanterns are already lit inside, spilling amber light through the warped glass, and something in my chest unknots itself before I’ve even reached the door.

We’ve been meeting here for two years—long enough that I don’t even have to think about where I’m going when I need to find her.

Veil is perched on the wide bay window at the end of the closest row of bookshelves, curled into the corner of it like she was made to fit that specific pocket of the world. Her grimoire is open across her knees, copper red hair half pinned at the crown, the rest loose and wild falling in waves down her back. She doesn’t notice me right away; she stays focused just long enough for me to memorize the image of her.

Then, she looks up, and the whole room changes. My attention locks in on her so completely that the shelves and tables surrounding us stop holding detail.

All I see is her.

“Did you get it?” She’s already closing the grimoire, sitting up straighter with that familiar spark igniting behind her eyes—the one that makes it look like she’s discovered something magnificent.

I let the silence stretch a beat too long, just to watch her squirm. Her lips press together in impatience.

“Did you honestly presume I wouldn’t?” I smirk, crossing the space, and she laughs just as I pull her into a kiss. Her giggle dissolves against my mouth, and I feel it more than I hear it, and god, I would burn this whole school to the ground for this woman without a second thought.

She’s had something in the works. A surprise, she called it. Her father has never approved of me—the Deveraux name sits too low on the hierarchy of witching bloodlines for a man like Aldric Calder to stomach. But after tonight, if everything goes the way Veil has promised, his attention will finally shift. With the two of us out of the picture, her sister will marry instead, their coven’s bloodline will be secured…and I will no longer be the problem Aldric thinks I am.

Tonight, Veil and I have a date with destiny.