Page 138 of Malcroix Bones Academy

I also suspected he’d heard at least some of my thoughts, if not all of them, and that he was annoyed by having to hear those, too.

If any of that was true, he didn’t turn his head, or give me so much as a glance.

Professor Underwood walked back and forth at the head of the classroom, her back to us while she wrote in the air with her finger. Numbers and geometric figures appeared as she wrote, some on the chalkboard and some floating in the air above our desks.

So our deal’s just off, then?I thought at him, before I could decide whether it was a good idea.You don’t need me for your magic anymore, either, I suppose?

He continued to stare straight ahead. From his expression, every word Underwood spoke held every part of his attention.

My frustration turned to annoyance.

You’re being a prat. An utter child. An immature, childish, ridiculous brat-child.

He surprised me by speaking into my mind.

If you’re going to attempt to insult me,he sent back, his thoughts empty-feeling, even of anger.Could you at leasttryto make the insults marginally more interesting? Or at the very least, less painfully redundant? You’re already like a yammering, nagging, bitchy harpy in my ear. You could at least make an attempt to sound less stupid.

If you answered me, I wouldn’t have to insult you,I sent back, weirdly relieved he was speaking to me.But I’m happy to take pointers from you on how to be a bigger prat. You definitely have more experience in that department than me.

And yetI’mthe immature, bratty one?he thought back.Right. Got it. Keep screaming at me, Shadow. It definitely makes me want to do you a favor.

I fell silent, feeling the real stab of anger off him.

He was talking to me, which was more than I’d expected, honestly. But was he really interested in talking? Or was it just another attempt to get me to stop looking at him? To leave him alone for real?

Yes,he sent coldly.

I bit my lip. I could feel the warning in his magic.

I could feel the wall there, too.

If I was smart, I’d probably listen to both things. Then again, we’d already established Iwasn’tsmart, especially when it came to him.

I figured out the code,I thought at him stubbornly.The one I showed you in my mother’s diary. It turned out, it only needed me or my brother’s blood, and?

Good for you,he cut in.Why the fuck are you telling me?

I blinked, then stared at the back of his head.

What on Earth are you so angry about?I asked finally.Is it really just because?

Magique,he threw at me.What onMagiqueam I so angry about? Are you ever going to get that right, mongrel? Because it’s tiresome having to correct you all the time.

I bit my lip. Frustration roiled my gut, and more shame.

Against every impulse in me, I considered doing as he said, just leaving him alone. Obviously, this wasn’t working. If I wanted his help, antagonizing him wasn’t going to get me what I wanted. I should be listening to the professor, anyway. I should be taking notes. Underwood was explaining the exercise we’d be doing in probably five minutes or less, and right now, I had no clue what that even was.

My eyes returned to the back of his platinum blond head, anyway.

Will you just talk to me, you giant weirdo, so we can get past this?I thought at him in frustration.I’ll apologize to your face if you want, Bones. You have to know I didn’t do it on purpose. It was just a stupid dream. It didn’t mean anything.

His shoulders stiffened.

Really, his whole body clenched. I saw it from five rows away.

My anger turned to puzzlement.

What? That makes you mad, too?I asked, even more confused.I was embarrassed, all right? I’m admitting that I was embarrassed. Even before you threw that poor cat in my face to rub it in, I was embarrassed. I’m apologizing for how I acted, all right? Can we just forget it? It’s not like you sullied your royal body with any part of mine in person, or?