Page 44 of Venomous Lies
“You know, when you say you want to sleep with me, that means you actually need to sleep, right?”
I huffed a laugh as I looked over my shoulder at Bones. He was laid out on his makeshift bed, watching me flip through my grimoire.
“I did sleep,” I told him with a grin. “But I need to work on my potion for herbology so I can show this new professor that I deserve to have a mentor for my specialty. There’s no way in hell he’s going to say I’m inept at the only thing my power can fucking do.”
Bones nodded slowly then began to feel around for his sunglasses. He looked tempting sprawled out in his bed, though I had to admit he looked good all the time. In this form, his short hair was messy from sleep, but when he sat up, his fingers easily fixed it.
Damn fae.
I was sure my hair looked like an entire damn mess.
After having dinner together Thursday, we had to rush back to our rooms before the curfew went into effect.Yesterday, Bones tracked me down for an earlier dinner then invited me to stay with him for the night.
I thought he wanted sex, but instead, we spent the night talking and actually having quality time together. I told him about my moms and siblings, along with the insanity of my home life—wonderful craziness but craziness all the same.
He told me about his parents and the way he’d been abandoned as soon as was acceptable by bone fae standards. I learned about how he fought for his place among his people and the moment when he’d been surprised by the offer to attend Greywood. It was his chance to get away from people who would never let him stop fighting to prove he deserved to live.
My anger heated with the memories of all he had shared with me.
I instinctively knew it was just the surface of his trauma, but I already wanted to snap their necks and rip their bones out for my mate.
One day.
“Witchling.”
I blinked a few times then looked back at Bricriu as I licked my lips. “Sorry, just lost in thought.”
“Bloodthirsty thoughts from the expression on your face.”
“A few,” I admitted before returning my gaze to the mostly blank book in my hands. “But I really need to start on this, or I won't get any sleep at all ‘til the potion is done.”
“Do you need help?” he offered.
I chewed my bottom lip, going over just what I needed to do for a potion of decay. I’d first found it in one of the oldnotebooks I’d discovered at the academy, and it was now one of my favorites. With Cassius’ help, I’d researched it, but now was my chance to finally make it myself.
The best place to do the crafting would probably be in my greenhouse. It certainly would be the most secure place so no one would accidentally get hurt.
And there was a bed there, so I could stay with it all weekend and get my work done. But having someone else there, even for a visit, might help me remember to eat. Plus, they could get me tea.
An absolute necessity.
“Yeah, that would be great, if you don’t mind. I could also get some of the others to help me too… I bet Wells would be perfect if I can find him. Do you?—?”
“I don’t mind the witch,” Bones said easily with a shrug. “Whoever can help is fine with me. After all, they’re your friends andI’myour mate.”
I shivered at the possessive declaration.
“You certainly are.”
Bones stood up slowly, his joints cracking as he stretched. In my mind, his form shifted to his full fae form. Silver-white hair lengthened, twisting into a braid that flowed down his back. His skin thinned until it revealed the bones that created his form, including the horns jutting from his head.
“Witchling?”
Along the outside of his form I could see strands of purple and a hint of green twining around him. My lips parted in awe of the beautiful fae that fate had tied me to and the magick I could see and feel around him.
I never saw myself having a mate, and hell, I didn’t even want one, but I couldn’t find it in me to regret us beingbrought together. Was this because of the mate bond? Or could it be due to us spending more time together? Either way, emotions were getting involved. I knew without a doubt that he was someone I was growing to not only want, but need.
“Isla?”
