by Emma Dean
Wonderful, just wonderful.
How was she going to be able to talk to Malachi—to anyone—with this asshole hanging around?
“You better decide soon,” Mika hissed, ignoring the stares of the other students. “Because if you don’t, I’ll just have to take care of things myself.”
Let him chew on that during class.
Audrey’s eyes were wide as she followed Mika into their classroom and up the stairs to their usual seats. Corbin just chuckled which only infuriated Mika more. She slammed her textbooks on the desk and slumped into her seat.
Corbin’s presence was a thorn in her side, and Mika wanted to stab him with her pen just for the inconvenience. Maybe she shouldn’t have trusted him after all.
“Have a good break?” Malachi asked – voice neutral as he passed by to the row above her and Audrey.
“Got a lot of studying done,” Audrey told him. “How’s your mom?”
“She’s working nights now, but that’s the Vegas lifestyle I guess.”
It was like Mika didn’t even exist. But he’d already given her his condolences over text. She supposed there was nothing else for them to really talk about.
Her fingers strayed to the titanium chain around her neck. She’d replaced her gold one with it after Hunter had told her Kenzie had beheaded a raven with hers. The new additions to her charms were heavy between her breasts and it pulsed with secrets and life.
The blood crystals had small holes drilled in the top already – convenient and worrisome.
Then the professor started droning on and on.
Suddenly she realized Corbin was fuming beside her, but his eyes weren’t glowing – hiding what he was.
Mika leaned her elbow on the desk and propped her head up on her hand. “Infuriating isn’t it?”
He eyed her and crossed his arms over his chest in irritation. “Not as much as your smirk.”
Mika grinned. “Imagine all the misinformation witches have regarding shifters. How they judge you with it.”
Corbin didn’t growl like Lucien would. But there was a rumble of displeasure deep in his chest.
“This is Corbin?” Malachi asked, keeping his voice low so the professor wouldn’t overhear him.
“It is.” Mika turned her gaze back to the slides being displayed. They were onto feline hierarchy now.
“Nice to meet you,” Malachi said, holding out his hand.
Corbin just nodded, but otherwise he ignored the captain.
“Corbin doesn’t like to be touched,” Mika murmured. “I haven’t seen you since that day, Malachi.”
“I’ve been busy,” Malachi said lamely, pulling his hand back slowly when Corbin continued to ignore its existence. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more.”
The lie tasted sour on her tongue.
“Being dishonest doesn’t suit you,” she said, turning around to face him. “Are we still friends at least?”
She shouldn’t be having this conversation here and now with so many listening ears and the potential to get bad marks from the normally very easygoing professor. But Mika didn’t know when she’d have another opportunity – when Malachi would be forced to at least listen to her.
Malachi sighed and flicked a glance at the raven. “What I feel for you is more than just friends, you know that.”
“Do I?” she asked, arching a brow at him.
“Ms. Marshall! Can you please tell me who the Alpha of the West Coast Pride is?”
Mika didn’t turn away from Malachi. She didn’t even blink. Mika wanted him to see she wasn’t some kind of heartless murderer. “Samuel Erickson, Professor. He is also the feline representative on the Council and rules over all prides from the Rockies west, including Hawaii and Alaska.”
And apparently a friend of Selene’s, but she wasn’t about to mention that.
“Very good, Ms. Marshall. Can you please at least whisper if you’re not going to listen?”
Mika turned back to the front of the class, crossed her arms over her desk, and rested her chin on them. “I apologize, Professor.”
“Now, who knows what the other positions in a pride are called?”
Mika sighed.
Corbin and Malachi were testing her very thin patience.
The raven took her textbook from her and started flipping through it, growing more and more agitated until he snagged a pen and started scribbling away on the pages. Mika didn’t even care.
This entire semester was a shitshow of epic proportions and there didn’t seem to be an end in sight.
6
The coveralls were a comforting, familiar weight. Mika pushed through the doors into the poison garden and made a beeline right for Ethan. He slid off his chair when he saw her and headed right toward her. Mika threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.
Fates, she’d missed him.
Texting just wasn’t the same – especially when they had to be careful about every little thing they said just in case the Council was monitoring her phone.
“I’m so sorry,” Ethan murmured into her hair, holding her tight. “About your grandmother—about everything.”
She didn’t bother responding. Mika stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
Rain.
Breathing him in she felt every aching muscle release until the pain was nearly gone.
Ethan kissed her back, gentle and sweet. His large hands held her face, tangled in her hair…
Someone cleared their throat and Mika pulled back, licking her lips as she stared up at the storm witch who’d put a spell on her since day one.
“I missed you,” Ethan said, ignoring Corbin completely. He tucked Mika into his side and pointed out his latest creation. “I’m thinking of naming it after you.”
She chuckled and rested her head on his shoulder, wishing he hadn’t had to go home for spring break. “What is it?”
“A beautiful poison,” Ethan murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Dangerous if you don’t know how to handle it.”
She laced her fingers through his and marveled at the way her magic practically purred in his presence. Now that she wasn’t constantly in ‘survival mode’ as Malachi had so eloquently put it, it was a lot easier to control.
Almost second nature around the people she trusted.
Mika no longer feared for Audrey or Ethan’s lives, but she was still very careful. She never let it slip loose from the hold she had on it while she was with them.
Now that her silver bones were useless.
But knowing that had been her in control the whole time eased some of her fear and anxiety. Mika knew she could control her magic thanks to the bones, but now she had to do it without that crutch – without the wrongful assumption that the bones could ever truly bind her.
“Does your sweet Malachi know about this little tryst?” Corbin asked, leaning on the worktable to inspect the plant Ethan was working on.
“Of course,” Ethan said, clearly affronted by the question. “Mika told me he asked her out, what, a few weeks ago?”
“Mhm.” Mika pulled on her gloves and wished for the thousandth time that the raven would just disappear. “Remind me what we’re working on today?”
“Ghost,” Ethan replied, grabbing the plant from the shelf. “Have you read that chapter yet?”
“All she did while you were gone is read,” Corbin muttered, reaching out for Ethan’s new creation.
Ethan slapped the raven’s hand. “Don’t touch that.”
“Don’t touch me.”
“Then don’t mess with shit you can’t possibly understand.”
“Oh, I think I know a little about poisons.”
Mika rolled her eyes as the two bickered. Why did this always happen? Was it a dominance thing guys had to do, find their place and position with each other? Mika would never really understand males.
As she watched Ethan move his plant, glaring at the raven, she couldn’t help but fall for the storm
witch even more. He knew Corbin was an assassin and he still didn’t give a single fuck. This was his plant.
“Look, guy. I’m trying to do you a favor. I don’t have an antidote for this yet. Unless you want to die.”
Maybe it was that Ethan seemed so unassuming. He didn’t act or look like he was top of the food chain. But he had a backbone of steel and never shied away from the hard shit, from the terrifying truth of life.
He’d seen what she’d done to Patricia, and he hadn’t looked at her with disgust even once.
“How’s your mother?” Mika interrupted as other students started making their arrival. “How was your Ostara?”
“We buried a few eggs, nothing special.” Ethan kissed her forehead and settled on his stool, hunching over like he always did.
Corbin hovered awkwardly and Mika did nothing to help him. She took a seat on her stool and started working on the Ghost plant with Ethan.
When it was dried and ground into a powder and mixed into food or drink it was flavorless, odorless, and undetectable by spells – hence the name.
Mika wanted to ask Ethan if he’d told his mom about her, but she pressed her lips together instead. Ethan would tell her when he was ready.
Professor Hayes walked in, giving her and Corbin a nod before barking out orders like she always did.
“Have you seen Lucien?” Mika asked while trimming Ghost for cuts she could plant in the smaller pots.
“Yeah, he stopped by with coffee this morning,” Ethan told her. “We have martial arts together.”
Mika paused and stared at Ethan. “I had no idea.” It explained so much – why Ethan had so many abs and muscles. “How is he?”
“Says he has a present for you.”
“Another boyfriend?” Corbin asked, dragging a stool over obnoxiously.
“Maybe,” Ethan answered. “Lucien is complicated.”
“He kind of hates me,” Mika murmured, remembering their conversation at the temple that fateful night she’d first met the Morrigan. “But most people do.” She didn’t dare glance at Corbin.
“Most people are idiots,” Ethan told her, kissing her cheek this time. “Would you like to go see a movie sometime?”
“What’s the rec room playing?”
“The latest Marvel movie.”
Mika couldn’t help her small smile as she planted the cuttings. “You’re such a nerd.”
“Would you have it any other way?” Ethan asked, nudging her slightly as he worked.
“You two are going to make me gag,” Corbin muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. “Wake me up when class is over.”
Mika knew better than to think that he was actually asleep. She couldn’t talk freely with Ethan in the conservatory anyway. “If you see Lucien before I do, tell him I miss him.”
“Will do. Hand me that trowel?”
They worked together in comfortable silence and Mika wished the rest of her life was as simple as her time in the greenhouse with Ethan.
Corbin actually did sleep in her Interdimensional Physics class.
Ryan wouldn’t stop staring at them, and Mika kicked herself for forgetting to ask Claire about him. She had been a bit distracted though. Mika would make sure to talk to Claire on Saturday when she went back home for her grandmother’s funeral.
Then dodgeball practice was two hours of nonstop brutal drills and sprints and scrimmages. Malachi was punishing them for their week off. The only reason she and Audrey didn’t end up on the floor with the rest of them was thanks to their independent practices all week.
Malachi even gave them a begrudging nod of respect as they managed to keep up.
Corbin had stayed hidden in the trees the entire time.
Mika sighed as she wiped down. Another healing bath was definitely on the list of things to do when she got back to their House. And a nice glass of wine sounded perfect. The only upside to this mess with Corbin was she’d done all her homework for the rest of the semester.
Now she could finally relax.
“Dining hall?” Audrey asked as she wiped off her own sweat. The sun was just now setting, spring making her presence known.
“I need to at least rinse off first,” Mika told her. “Gym showers?”
“Is your raven going to be joining us in there too?” Audrey asked as she waved goodbye to Malachi.
“He’s not my raven,” Mika muttered. “And he can wait outside.”
They trudged through the forest together toward the hunter’s training center, bags over their shoulders. Mika felt a twinge in her chest as she recognized this part of the forest. It would be hard to walk through these trees without that tingle of fear.
And whatever might be beneath their feet.
Audrey pulled out her phone as they walked in silence and typed something out on her notes before showing it to Mika.
‘Do you think they’re having me watched as well?’
Mika shrugged and Audrey erased the words. There was always the chance they were. She took the phone from Audrey and tapped out her own message.
‘Best to stay topside until we know for sure.’
Again the words were erased. Mika knew Corbin was nearby, but she had no idea where exactly.
“What do you think they’ll have in the dining hall?” Audrey asked. She tucked her phone away as the training building came into view.
“I heard it was pork roast with mushroom dressing.”
“Why can’t they ever serve anything normal?” Audrey griped.
“What do you consider normal?” Mika asked, glancing up at the trees. There he was – a dark speck against the fading sun.
“Pizza, or hell, meatloaf. Maybe even spaghetti.”
“We have those too.”
Audrey looked up as the abnormally large raven settled on the roof of the training building. “It’s still weird. Mushroom dressing? Yuck.”
“I’m starving. Let’s shower already so we can eat.” Mika yanked Audrey into the building and pulled her into the locker room complete with showers, a sauna, ice baths, and a steam room – anything a hunter could possibly need.
“How do you feel about a bit of steam?” Mika asked, dumping her bag into a locker and stripping down.
She grabbed one of the towels and wrapped it around her body, heading toward the steam room. Audrey followed her in and the second the door closed Mika pulled out her necklace. They sat down on one of the benches and Audrey held the chain carefully – staying far away from the fat crystals dangling from it.
“They were in this,” Mika whispered in Sumerian, showing her the box that had caused all this trouble to begin with.
Audrey started signing and Mika had to sign for her to slow down. Her ASL was rusty.
A blood crystal? Audrey asked in sign.
I think so, Mika signed back. It sure looks like one.
What does it do?
I have no idea. Mika knew they were probably making Corbin suspicious. So she switched back to English and tried to sound nonchalant. “So how are things with Natalie going by the way?”
Does she still think you’re lying to her? Mika signed.
“We’re about to have our one month anniversary,” Audrey said, tacking on a little giggle. She knows I’m hiding something, but I told her I would explain everything when I could – that it wasn’t my secret, she signed back.
I’m sorry. Mika sighed, wishing things were easier for her friend and sister. “Any plans?”
“Actually yes, but she said it’s a surprise.” Audrey adjusted her towel, sweat dripping from her hair, down her neck. But the herbs in the steam room would help them heal quicker.
Is there anything I can do to help with Corbin? Audrey asked in sign.
No, Mika signed back. “That’s romantic. I’m sure it will be amazing.” But I need you to get in contact with Jessica James. She needs to know about the seal, and the hellhound.
What about the demon?
Mika shuddered. No, only as a last
resort.
“Are you and Ethan official yet?” Audrey asked out loud.
Mika wiped the sweat from her face and breathed in deep. “Technically he’s my boyfriend since I agreed to a commitment.” Mika fiddled with the largest blood crystal. What did it even do? Was it like normal crystals or something else entirely? “Lucien is…something, I don’t know what yet.” Mika missed Lucien too.
“You see him tomorrow,” Audrey stated carefully.
Did he get the charm to hide his scent? Mika asking in sign.
Audrey nodded. “How do you think he’ll feel about your raven?”
“For the last time he’s not my raven,” Mika snapped.
“You don’t know that.”
Mika gave Audrey a sharp look and shook her head. That wasn’t something she’d talked to Corbin about yet. “I need to get out of here and shower all this sweat off.”
She got up and opened the door, looking back to see if Audrey was following. Then she ran into something hard and familiar.
“Plotting against me again?” Corbin asked in a teasing voice, his eyes glowing red.
The steam curled around them and Mika could only stare up at him, holding onto her towel even tighter, praying it didn’t fall. Then Corbin looked down and his head tilted sharply as he focused on her necklace.
A single finger lifted it from her damp skin, pulling the charms out from under her towel.
The way he stared at the blood crystals made Mika uncomfortable. He’d seen them when she’d opened the box, but neither of them knew what it was other than it contained some kind of power. She could feel them pulsing against her skin.
What did Corbin feel?
“This is the girl’s locker room, get out you perv,” Audrey snapped, pushing him back. “And where do you stash your clothes?”
Corbin grinned at her. “Trick of the trade, gorgeous. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Magic, duh,” Mika said, rolling her eyes as she pushed past the raven. “You follow me into the bathroom anywhere ever again Corbin, and I’m hexing you.”
He just chuckled and folded his body into his raven form, wings flapping and making Audrey scream before he disappeared.
