She’s stopped in front of the notice board, where there’s a fresh poster with the faces of the three students Lucian and I killed to save myself and my power from being abused.
Even though it’s been a month, someone keeps insisting on putting up the missing posters.
Sometimes I wish I could tell everyone they’re fucking dead and deserved it, but I know that would have ugly consequences for both Lucian and me.
The dean is already suspicious of Lucian because the guys went missing after he reported Ryan Byron to him. We don’t need to have those suspicions confirmed.
I still think he should have erased the dean’s memories of the night, but Lucian insisted it was better this way. It gave purpose to their absence. Which I guess has some logic, but I still don’t like it. What guarantees he won’t turn on Lucian and accuse him of something just because of what he is?
I go through the double doors and up one set of stairs before I find Jace’s room and knock.
“It’s open,” comes his voice from the other side, and I push the handle down.
He’s sitting on the floor between the two beds next to his desk with his back to me. He’s naked, aside from a pair of boxers. His hands are moving up and down in front of him, and as I approach and look over his shoulder, I find a dead mouse in the middle of a circle.
“How’s it going?” I ask.
Jace doesn’t look up but continues to point at the mouse and twirl his fingers.
“Do you see a ghost mouse running around anywhere?”
I shrug.
“I don’t know what you’re hiding under those boxers.”
He looks up and the pick comb hooked in his curly hair jabs me in the stomach and falls to the floor with a clatter.
“You’re so funny, honey. You know that? Since you got with your future husband, you’ve becomehilarious.”
His verbal amusement doesn’t translate to his face, which makes me laugh even harder.
“If said future husband knew you were naked with me, he’d roast you alive.”
Jace sighs and drops his head between his shoulders.
“And I’d probably still be a shitty necromancer.”
“Shut up.” I set my bag down, pick up his comb, and start combing his wet hair. It’s a habit we’ve gotten into lately since he spends day and night practicing his magic and not doing much else, like looking after himself or eating. “You stopped that time witch, Alan, last month and saved our lives. You’re not shitty.”
Jace looks at the door and shushes me.
“Do you want anyone to hear you? Jeez! And I may have stopped him for a split second, but that doesn’t mean I’m gettingany better. I can split live people from their souls, but I still can’t do the basics of my power.”
“Are the basics making a puppet out of dead mice?”
I reach for the coconut oil and work it through his curls before moving on to his wardrobe to pick his clothes for the day.
“Do I need to remind you that a few weeks ago, you were powerless? We can’t all have demons to look after us, you know.”
“I know.” I sigh and nod.
Not for the first time, I think how easily the problem would be solved if I just let Lucian fuck him, but call it jealousy, call it possessiveness, call it ego…I can’t even imagine suggesting it.
If only there was another way.
“I just…I can’t afford to fail this class. I wouldn’t care otherwise. I’m a useless witch, whatever. But if I fail this class, I may get kicked out, and this place is my home.”
“You can always stay with me,” I tell him, even though I know that wouldn’t solve failing Lockwood.
