Page 59 of Spark of Sorcery

That’s if he will talk to me.

This time his head jerks around my way and his dark eyes land on me. He frowns and drops his arms immediately, the shadows retreating back to his hands.

I hesitate, and then step forward onto the icy grass. When I’m a few feet from him, I call out.

“Can we talk?” He stares at me, face blank. Is he seriously going to give me the silent treatment,again? “I know it was you.”

He jolts. It’s minimal and quick but I spot it and I conclude that means he knows what I’m talking about.

His eyes dart to the distant campus and then he steps closer.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he says.

“You do,” I say, then looking over my shoulder to determine no one has joined us out here on the field, I step closer to him and lower my voice.

“I know it was you that helped me in the trial. I know it was your magic that protected me.”

I stare right into his face. His own gaze falls to the ground.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he mutters.

Despite his denial, despite my doubts only minutes ago, everything about his persona and his reaction tells me that I am correct.

“You do. I know it was you.” I step closer still, so I’m right in front of him, and he takes an immediate step away from me. “Why did you do it?”

He lifts his gaze and I see that flash in his usually soulless eyes, a glimpse of what I saw the night of the ball. Pain, longing, anger.

“Don’t lie to me, Thorne Cadieux,” I whisper.

He opens his mouth as if to deny it again and then closes it without saying a word.

“Why did you do it?” I repeat.

His face contorts as if he’s battling his thoughts, determining what is the best thing to do.

“Please!” I say. “Please just tell me the truth! I’m not going to tell anyone. I’m not going to get you into trouble.”

He opens his eyes and something tells me that wasn’t his concern.

“I know you wouldn’t,” he says.

I nod. “Then why?”

“Because you’re our thrall,” he says. “It’s our duty to protect you.”

I shake my head. I don’t buy that for a minute. Dray and Beaufort didn’t protect me. From the cast on the Smyte twins’ thrall’s arm, I don’t think they protected him either. And Odessa’s been bragging about how the handsome Professor Tudor rescued her from the trial.

He didn’t have to protect me, but he did anyway.

“Do you know what they do to people who help others in the trials?” I whisper so quietly I hardly hear my own voice. He stares at me. “You don’t even like me. Why would you risk that … for me?”

“Because you are our thr–”

“That isn’t the reason,” I snap.

He takes the smallest, most minute step towards me. “Beaufort still hasn’t told you.”

“For star’s sake, told me what?”