Page 109 of Malcroix Bones Academy

His eyes grew lethal. “It was Hollywood. Wasn’t it?”

“What does it do?” I repeated, annoyed.

“Was it him?”

“It’s none of your business!” I bit my lip. “What does the amulet thing do?”

“It relaxes inhibitions, Shadow,” he said, his voice even colder. He looked away, his jaw clenching as he seemed to be thinking about his own words. “Fucking perv. Needs a lesson in manners. Didn’t even tell you he was going to do it, did he?” he growled.

I stared up at him, feeling a mixture of annoyed, disturbed, and off-balance. I found myself scanning backwards, remembering everything that happened that night. I remembered the small pebble-like flash of gold the bartender had put in my drink, right in front of me. There’d been no attempt to hide anything. Not only that, it hadn’t just been me. The bartender gave all of us one: Draken, Miranda, Luc, Jolie, Darragh, me.

Draken ordered all six drinks right in front of me.

The bartender had been watching me, making sure I saw him make it.

“You’re reaching,” I said. “It did nothing of the kind.”

“It might’ve been a small one, but I can still feel it in your magic. It popped right up when I cast the smallest substance identification spell.” His voice dipped back into dangerous. “Probably told himself he was ‘helping you relax,’ right? Is that what he said? That it would help smooth out the rough edges? Neglected to mention it’s also an aphrodisiac, didn’t he? And a date rape drug in illegal doses?”

But I’d noticed something else by then, and scowled up at him. “You’re getting onmefor being drunk? You’re slurring. Andyou smell like a bloody distillery! No wonder you nearly killed us in that dive!”

He rolled his eyes. “I did not. I was in perfect control the entire time.”

“?And Draken did not try torapeme!” I snapped. “I wasn’t evenwithhim for most of the time after I had that drink!”

His gold eyes locked back on mine. “Who were you with?”

I hesitated, then felt my jaw harden again.

I deliberately blanked my mind when I felt him probing me for an answer. I knew, somehow, Alaric wouldn’t thank me if I mentioned his name, especially right now. The last thing I wanted was to get him in trouble with his unhinged friend, just for spending a few hours with me, for the first time since summer.

Keeping my mind mostly blank, I sat up, realizing he’d moved back enough that I could, and slowly climbed to my feet. My limbs were still shaking from all the magic he’d put into me, but being vertical sobered me up even more. If anything, I wanted a large glass of water, and maybe a shower. I no longer felt drunk at all.

“Well, you feel drunk to me,” he retorted. “Are you going to tell me who you were with, Shadow, if it wasn’t that Hollywood fuck?”

I gave him a cold look and brushed off my blouse and skirt.

Grass stains decorated the shirt, and my stockings were ripped up one side.

I looked around at where we were, and wondered if Draken and Miranda had sent the academy security patrol out looking for me yet.

“Shadow?” Caelum snapped.

“No,” I said, glaring at him. “I’m not going to tell you who I was with. I’m going to bed. And this conversation is over.”

Without waiting for his answer, I began walking in the direction of Malcroix Manor, and the path that would lead me to the Promenade and Grathrock College.

I kept my mind carefully blank until I was certain he wasn’t following.

Even then, I didn’t let myself think much at all until I’d looked over my shoulder and saw him walking with swift strides back in the direction of the forest, likely to collect his wings and whatever else he’d left back there to run after me.

I exhaled in relief only then.

Bloody lunatic.

Still, as much as it annoyed me, I felt guilty about throwing him into that tree.

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