Page 66 of Phixmery

“Rav, it’s fine. You didn’t use any other magick types. You didn’t reveal yourself to him,” Nero assures me, but his voice sounds distant.

I feel Bracken grab my arm and I see his mouth moving, but I don’t hear the words before a blur of dark skin and red hair pushes him out of the way, knocking me slightly out of my stupor.

“Don’t fucking touch her again, Cadet Levine. She told you to leave her alone,” Verlice snaps as he stands between me and my squad mate.

“She was fine, she didn’t need your ‘saving’. I had it handled,” he shouts back.

Verlice’s slim yet wide shoulder shakes as he laughs, throwing back his head. “You wouldn’t be able to save her if you orchestrated the situation yourself. Now, do we need to take this to the training yard? Or are you going to be an obedient little bitch and go back to your chamber and I won’t inform Sergeant Craven of this and have your whole squad put on poop duty at the stables?” He leans in. “I saw you signed up to be a Dragon Rider. At least next term we won’t have to deal with you.”

Bracken says nothing, and when I stand at Verlice’s side I see Bracken’s fists clenched, his eyes glowing with hatred. But then it’s like a mask falls into place when he glances at me. “That’s fine. I’ll win her over. She won’t want a bastard as a mate, anyway,” he spits before turning away and heading down the hall away from the training yard.

I blow out a breath and go to thank the male next to me, but he laughs and winks. “We really have to stop meeting like this,” he teases, shocking me.

I blink and then blurt out, “Well at least I’m clothed this time.”

His mismatched green eyes heat as they drag down my frame. “Unfortunately,” he murmurs softly. By the time his gaze finally meets mine again, I feel more bare than I felt that day in the bathing room. “Can I escort you anywhere?”

“Why are you always around lately when things go sideways?” I ask instead, not being able to help it.

Nero’s head is volleying back and forth as he watches us, amused.

Jesper’s lip twitches as he cocks his head slightly to the side. “Why don’t you tell me why you have a necklace on that isn’t uniform—don’t worry, it will be our little secret—and I’ll share mine with you.”

My hand instantly flies to my throat, clutching the pendant tightly. I know he’s seen it, and if he hasn’t said anything since then, then I’m positive he won’t now. So I go with the most simple response I can think of. “My mother gave it to me when I was younger. I never take it off. It’s all I have left of her.”

He swallows hard, like he wasn’t expecting me to answer, but he whispers, taking a step closer and trailing a single, calloused finger along my jaw to my chin. “I can’t seem to stay away from you, Little Mouse. If I could spend my days knowing every little thing there is to know about you, your past, I would. And I hate myself for it some days, but I can’t seem to stand when someone hurts you.”

“I like him,” Nero states succinctly, like his word is law.

My mouth is dry. I don’t have a response for what he said. How does one even respond to something like that? Did… Did he just admit to stalking me? Why am I not mad about this?

“Probably because you like him,” Nero sasses.

I pinch his beak shut. “Enough out of you,” I whisper to my feathered familiar, which causes Jesper to smile.

“Can I walk you back to your tower?” Jesper asks, gesturing down the hall towards the South Tower.

“Actually, I’m meeting some of my squad in the training yard for some practice.” I freeze, realizing that if he’s been following me, he might have seen that little display back there. “I—my magick. Please don’t say anything,” I state, sounding not as demanding as I want.

“You have mastery over four elements. Don’t worry, my wing won’t say anything until you’re ready,” he says a little too casually, with a knowing and hopeful glint in his gaze that I don’t understand. “Come on. Let’s get you to your squad.”

He begins walking, and it takes me a moment to gather my thoughts before I chase after him. “Why won’t you say anything?”

His shoulders rise and then drop. “I figure you have your reasons. But I would come out with it in second year if Levine survives. I don’t trust him not to blab.” He levels me with a knowing look and all I can do is nod back.

Why do I have a feeling that this is going to bite me in the ass?

JESPER DROPS ME off at the field. The sun is nearly gone. Torches and sconces are already lit in preparation for the night. I run to catch up with the four I’ve grown close to.

Ember notices me first and meets me halfway. “Are you okay? You were gone longer than we thought you were going to be. We sent Lennox to search for you.”

“Was that Sergeant Verlice with you? Did he walk you here?” Roz asks, his gaze bouncing between me and the now empty doorway leading into the castle.

“Yeah, just ran into Bracken. Jesper stepped in—”

Melissandre nudges me in the arm. “Jesper, huh?”

I roll my eyes, forcing down the smile that wants to take root at my creepy stalker-Sergeant. I think I may need mental help if that doesn’t bother me. “Anyway, Jesper stepped in after I lost it on him and ended up exposing the fact I have use of all four elements… and then he walked me here.”

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