Page 16 of The Howl
“I want you, Eliana. I want you so much it hurts to breathe.”
His words smothered my raging hunger. Detangling myself from him, I pointed toward the edge of the pool where the others were waiting.
“Go, Eugene. Before the mermaids get their tails back.”
“But…” He looked at me with a longing that made me sick with regret and shame.
“I’m dangerous, too, Eugene,” I said softly. “And I’m trying to save you. Please. Get out of the water.”
“Come on, Eugene,” Fenris called. “Swim or I’m going to need to jump in there, too, and no one wants to smell wet dog for the rest of the day.”
Some of the remaining daze left Eugene’s eyes, and he gave Fenris a quick smile before starting toward the edge of the pool.
I treaded water until he was out then self-consciously swam to the edge. When I glanced back, the mermaids and sirens had their fins once more but didn’t make a move toward me. I could see plenty of hate in their eyes, though. Hate for me because I’d forced my will on them. I’d coerced them like they’d coerced Eugene.
“It doesn’t feel good being manipulated, does it?” I said softly.
A siren flipped me off before swimming to the other side of the pool.
Ignoring the rest, I went to the ladder and climbed out. Fenris was there to offer me a hand.
“Like the shirt,” he said with a wink.
I glanced down, flushed at the sight of my clearly visible bralette, and bolted for the rarely used changing rooms connected to the pool. It wasn’t the secluded haven I’d hoped it would be, though.
In the center of the tiled room, a group of three girls sat around a candle on the floor. One wore large dangling crystal earrings and rings on her fingers inset with different stones. Another had curly dark hair pulled back into a thick ponytail. And the other had the most amazing sparkling eye makeup. They all looked up at my entrance.
“Do you mind?” the one wearing jewelry asked, arching a brow. “We’re in the middle of something here.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled. Still too panicked to think clearly, I grabbed the paper toweling and tried blotting my shirt.
“Pretty sure that’s not going to fix your problem,” the girl with the ponytail said. “Want us to try a drying spell?”
I glanced at the group again and the pink flame of their candle. It finally registered that they were in the middle of practicing magic.
“Thank you for the offer. But, it might be better if I go home for new clothes. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Suit yourself,” the third girl said with a shrug. They joined hands again, and I hurried from the bathroom, almost running into Fenris again.
He held up a white towel.
“Thought you might want this.”
I grabbed the towel and clutched it to my chest.
“Um, can you let Adira know that I needed to run home and change?” I said, backing away. My gaze shifted to Eugene. “And can you keep an eye on them?”
“Sure thing. I’ll keep your lunch for you, too.”
I was in the hall before he said the last word.
Forgetting I was wearing heels, I held the towel to my chest and ran for the exit. Students stepped aside for me, smirking or laughing as they watched my escape.
The heat of my mortification prevented my hair from freezing as I burst outside and fled to my car. The tremble in my hands didn’t make starting the car very easy, and before I put it into reverse, I tried to calm down by looking at things objectively.
Nothing bad had happened. Eugene would shake off the effects of my influence in a few days. The mermaids had gotten what they’d deserved. And Fenris seeing my bralette wasn’t the end of the world. His kind stripped down in front of each other all the time. He’d probably seen a million bras by now.
Yet, knowing all that did nothing to ease my humiliation. I’d almost fed on Eugene. In public. He was supposed to be my friend, not food.
