Page 16 of Venomous Lies (Greywood Conservatory for the Arcane #2)

Isla

THURSDAY

“ M iss Hallowes. There are things we need to discuss,” Professor Ambrose called right after dismissing the class.

Unsurprised, I didn’t bother to move from the table where I was seated. Most other students left in a hurry, though the girl that had talked to me after my first class, Violet, looked between the two of us in concern before she followed suit.

Ambrose appeared just as ruffled as he had in the library. Sparks of power flickered in his orange and red gaze. Today, he was wearing dark gray slacks and a black shirt with the beautiful coat he had worn the first time we had met.

I studied its workmanship, letting the silence between us grow before I finally met his gaze. But he wasn’t staring at my face, waiting for my attention. No, he was glaring at my mate mark since I had rolled up the sleeves of my shirt earlier in class.

‘Yes, definitely not something you did for his reaction at all, beastie. ’

‘That was just a bonus,’ I replied defensively.

‘Are you really this delusional, or are you playing games with me?’ Cas snarked.

‘Shut up.’

“Is there something I did in class today—?” I began, but he cut me off with a mocking laugh.

“I think we’re past some pretenses, Isla,” he crooned as his stare moved up to my face, his lips bent in a cruel smile. “I’ve given you plenty of time to think over what we… discussed the last time we met, and now I’m done being patient.”

Blinking slowly, I sat back, unsure what to say. When I licked my lips, the movement instinctive rather than teasing, Ambrose’s smile turned into a grin.

‘Told you he wasn’t someone you could play games with.’

“I see you do remember then. Have you got the correct answer for me then, witch?”

“I’m mated,” I replied briskly, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart.

“Witches have multiple mates and other dalliances during their lifetime.” He tilted his head, assessing me just like a predator would, as if trying to figure out the best way to spring his trap.

“I’m not interested in more than getting my fill, witchling.

Don’t misconstrue this to be more than it is.

There’s something here between us, and we can satisfy that without all the mess you seem to find yourself in the middle of with that incubus and Bricriu. ”

‘Beastie—’

“So, let me get this straight, to make sure I’m not misunderstanding,” I said as I stood up. “You want to, what, fuck me then move on? Get a taste to satisfy your curiosity then leave?”

“Are you offended?” Likely hearing the shakiness in my voice, he arched an eyebrow before he shrugged. “I told you I wasn’t going to play any games with you, not like that at least. We’re both adults. Plenty of people have sex for the hell of it.”

He moved toward me quickly, pinning me against the table so firmly that it was impossible to get away.

Ambrose lowered his head, letting his lips brush against my ear as he continued.

The featherlight contact made me shiver, something he was all too aware of with how closely we were pressed together.

“Don’t get things twisted or complicated.

I’ve wanted more than just a small taste of you since you challenged me in your garden.

I want to watch you completely break apart beneath my hands.

Your cries will haunt you, and your begging will make me savor the memory of your flesh long after you’re gone from this world. ”

I could barely hear anything over my ragged breathing and the pounding of my heart. Spice and a hint of sweetness surrounded me, a scent that I’d already come to associate with the fae in front of me.

‘Isla—’

‘I… I don’t know ? —’

Power and darkness rushed forward, washing over me as I took a backseat to Cassius. He rose to the surface and took over my body, leaving me watching the world as though I was peeking from behind an almost blurry window.

“Sounds like you want a plaything more than just a one-night situation,” I heard myself say, though somehow it sounded slightly different than if I were talking. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work I need to do.”

I shoved at the fae in front of me and grabbed my bag before striding out of the classroom .

Ambrose’s taunting laughter followed us out of the building, and Cassius held tightly to his control until we were back in my dorm room. He slowly moved back, allowing me to take over again as we dropped my bag on the bed.

‘He’s not going to let up, beastie.’ His voice was soft, almost gentle.

‘No. Ambrose doesn’t really give me the impression of someone who would just give up.’ I sighed as I collapsed on the bed, my fingers tracing my mate mark. ‘What the fuck is my life, Cas?’

‘Complicated, ’ he deadpanned, and we chuckled together.

‘Cas… Tell me something.’

‘Tell you what?’ he asked after a small pause.

‘Anything that’s true,’ I told him tiredly as I curled up on my bed. I needed to think about something else—anything other than what had just happened with Ambrose and my racing heart.

Cassius didn’t say anything for a bit, though I could almost feel him thinking in the back of my mind. After a few minutes, I opened my eyes and found him in my mirror, watching me with a serious expression on his face. The tattoos on his face looked darker, somehow heavier, as he kept studying me.

His amber eyes met my gaze and stayed there, the weight of our combined attention growing as deep as the silence between us.

‘Cassius,’ I whispered.

‘I knew Julian before, beastie, when I was alive, because he was my mate.’

My eyes teared up at the pain and love that I heard and felt when he spoke of the vampire. Cassius didn’t look away from me as he slowly started opening up.

‘It was a long time ago, a very long time ago ? —’

‘How long ago?’

‘Centuries,’ he replied, unsurprised by my interruption. The corner of his eyes crinkled as my lips parted in shock. ‘Did you really think he or I were young?’

‘Well, no,’ I said defensively. ‘ But realizing I somehow have a centuries-old spirit in my mind is a wild concept. How ? —?’

‘I have no idea.’ He shook his head with obvious frustration. ‘I was dead, and then all of a sudden, I wasn’t anymore. That’s all I know.’

We stayed silent for a few beats before I sat up and faced the mirror. I chewed my bottom lip, urging myself to share the realization I’d been reminded of with his confession.

‘Beastie?’

‘Cas, I… I’ve felt drawn to Hellsing since we got here. Am I drawn to him because of me , or is it because you’re in my mind?’ I asked softly. Sure, I was confused, but if I were being honest with myself, I was scared, too. Was this something else I had no control over?

‘I don’t know,’ he replied gently, something akin to pity in his tone. ‘It could be because I’m tied to you, or it could be both. There’s really no way of knowing.’

I swallowed hard and blinked a few times, hating the tears and jealousy that twisted in my gut. At the moment, I had no idea if it had to do with Bones being with the vampire or Cas’ history with him… I just wished one part of my life could be straightforward.

‘Beastie—’

‘It’s not your fault, Cas.’ I tried and failed to smile reassuringly at the spirit in the mirror. ‘I think everything is just hitting me at once, and I need something that I can control.’

‘You do have to make the potion for that Junichiro guy,’ Cas said after a moment. ‘That will help, I’m sure.’

I nodded a few times. ‘I need to figure out what to choose. That could be a good place to really start making notes in my grimoire!’

‘That it would be.’ Cas smiled at me, the warmth of it fully reaching his eyes so the amber almost seemed to glow.

A new kind of pang hit my heart, but I stubbornly ignored it. Instead, I scrambled off my bed to ramble on about plants and potion ideas as I grabbed my grimoire out of my bag.

I was going to blow this new professor away so he had no choice but to teach and mentor me. I’d be damned if I came all the way to Greywood to leave the same witch that had arrived here.

Too bad I had no idea how true that thought would be.

AMbrOSE

Sprawled on the chaise in my room, I took a second long inhale of my pipe, savoring the feel of the drugs creeping into my veins. My eyes rolled back in my head as the heady feeling weighed down my body.

If only the effects lasted more than a few hours at most.

Damnable fae metabolism.

Exhaling a sweet cloud of smoke, I recalled Isla’s face when I invaded her personal space. Gods, she was going to be so fucking sweet, and I was in no hurry to end the chase just yet .

At first, I had wanted to scream, possessiveness raging through me when Julian said Isla was mated to Bricriu. But after calming down, I realized this was better. I could savor the hunt and the claiming… The fact that she was tied to another would make it all the better when I took her.

And claim her I would.

I lifted my hands, looking at the fingerless gloves I had taken from her room.

Wonder if she’s noticed they’re missing?

Given her wardrobe, she seemed to be very aware of clothes, and her admiration of my coat only made it more believable that she would’ve noticed.

She loved clothing, so even the small things were probably noticed.

Just as I was about to grab my pipe for another hit, a hum filled the space.

With a groan of annoyance, I forced myself to get up and walk over to my desk. Another hum filled the air, and I rolled my eyes.

“Fucking relax. I’m coming,” I muttered to myself.

After moving a few pieces of paper, I found the magicked paper that Julian, Falke, and I used for communicating.

Julian’s flowing script was first on the page.

Any new activity at Greywood?

No attacks or updates,

Falke replied, his response characteristically short and to the point.

From what I’ve heard, it seems the party planning is well underway with the students. Most are turning a blind eye to the lockdowns with the party as ample distraction,

I wrote in response.

No other dead bodies have turned up since the last one. Did you find what you were looking for?

It’s gone.

I blinked at the quick and biting response. The words looked sharp, pointed in comparison to the vampire’s usual handwriting.

Which is a very, very big problem.

What were you looking for?

Falke asked before I could write a response.

There was a brief pause, then the vampire’s handwriting slowly appeared on the page.

A necromancer’s grimoire. It might have held some information that could have been useful.

And you’re just now looking for this?! We’ve been here?—

It was my dead mate’s book.

Julian’s newest response cut Falke off, and I shivered at the power coming through the magicked paper.

The chances of finding it were slim given how he died, but given the escalation with the bodies, I thought it might be worth looking into. Regardless, it was a pointless endeavor.

Mate?!

Where the hell were all these mates popping up from?

Granted, Julian said the mate was dead, but still… A hint of haunting laughter slithered up my spine, making me shiver.

I put the pipe between my lips and took a long drag as I wrote back.

It seems that we will need to look for more information closer to Greywood it seems.

What haven’t we tried though?

Asking for reinforcements,

Julian answered.

I’ll reach out to my contact, but I doubt it’s going to be anyone that we like. I’ll be back tonight.

Just like that, the messages disappeared, and I finally released the lungful of smoke I had inhaled. Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes, savoring the heaviness and the scratch of the gloves against my skin.

Either way, we’d make progress and then I’d be free.

Free of this place and free of Isla Hallowes.

One way or another.