Page 11 of Venomous Lies
“With everything going on, I just haven’t been able to ask you about it, and I know you don’t really like to discuss?—”
“I’ve never heard about anyone besides weavers being able to see magick. Granted, I don’t know of any other weavers…” Wells started pacing back and forth as he trailed off, a faraway expression taking over his face. “I’m sure I can find some things at the library here. Greywood has a huge collection of magickal tomes.”
“I can help you research if you want,” I offered, thankful he was willing to help me.
He sent me a half smile at that. “Let me start and see what I can find. How about we meet up in a few days? Then you can help me go through, hopefully, a large stack of books.”
I teasingly groaned, making Wells smirk. “Perfect. We can meet up at the greenhouse if you want? I know you’re not big on talking about your abilities around others.”
“It’s more that I hate how weird it makes people act around me.” He grimaced before offering his hand.
“Good thing I’m already weird then,” I joked, loving the way he burst out laughing at that. Sliding my hand into his, I tried to focus on the books under his arm as he transported us back to the forest around the school.
“I’m going to start researching before I have to get to class. I’ll see you tomorrow?” Wells dropped my hand and started walking away before he even finished talking. He was practically jittery with excitement about having something to research.
“Yeah.” Waving goodbye to my friend, I started making my way to the dorms.
‘She could hear us.’
‘She could,’I agreed, not surprised that Cas had broken his silence once we were alone. That odd interaction at the shop had thrown us both off.
‘No one else has been able to, so why her?’It was almost refreshing to know that he could be just as out of his depth as I was.
‘I couldn’t begin to guess.’I sighed.‘But I’m going to take a small nap before dinner and figure out how to get in touch with Mom.’
Cassius hummed in acknowledgment, letting me have some downtime before dinner without more commentary.
BRICRIU
It had been days since I’d seen Julian, and the distance between us made the knots in my stomach twist ever tighter.
Anxiety, excitement… My mind was a complicated mix of emotions.
Actively avoiding him had become my default after Isla and I unexpectedly mated a week ago. I’d only go to the library when he wasn’t working, and even then, I wouldn’t stay long.
There was no telling how he would react to the news that I was bonded to Isla. How that would affect our arrangement, I had no idea, and that was also something I had to tell Isla about sooner rather than later. Ideally, that discussion would happen before I ran into Hellsing, but so far our lives had been too hectic to see each other outside of class.
Even if we found the time, bringing up the topic was easier said than done, especially since I wasn’t sure of my own feelings about my mating with the witch—or my ties with Julian if I were being honest with myself.
Isla had drawn me to her since the night I saw her wielding a baseball bat in her garden. Never flinching or showing fear when faced with my bone fae form, she was a breath of fresh air.
I’d never been sought out or needed, much lesswanted, by someone before, and a mate bond included all of those things.
But change wasn’t easy.
Acceptance wasn’t either.
A mate bond didn’t guarantee love no matter what myths delusional people told about it. Lust and attraction were already there between us, but that was all. Could love come to exist in time? I still had to share all my baggage with her, and who knew what she would think once she started unpackingthatbullshit.
“Bricriu. I was beginning to wonder if you had diedwithout me being aware.” The familiar clipped voice brought my racing thoughts to a screeching halt.
Forcing myself to appear unfazed, I remained seated beneath the large pine tree, refusing to look in the vampire’s direction. Slowly, I was surrounded by the faint smell of leather and paper that always lingered around him. I had no idea how much of that was his natural scent and what could be attributed to the time he spent in the old library.
At least it’s not Ambrose.I doubted he would react with words once he found out about the bond.
“I’m a student. I’ve been busy.”
“Helping Miss Hallowes catch up as well, I’m sure?” He clicked his tongue as I nodded silently, then his clothes rustled as he moved around. Out of the corner of my eye, I could make out him sitting down on the top of the half wall by my tree.
