Page 20 of A Drop of Anguish
I’m still not sure what to think about the shifter. He has to have some kind of agenda, but also, he makes me forget the bad. It’s like he doesn’t even see the hurricane of drama surrounding me, and the moment I sit at the table, all of it disappears.
His charming mix of goof and arrogance sucks my attention in. Almost like he knows it’s what I need.
But I still don’t trust him.
Thompson pushes an open book in front of me. “I’ve tried it three times and can’t get the stupid foam to turn blue.”
I glance over the potion instructions. Then, I shrug. “I’ve never done this one.”
“Are you in level-three potions?” Janet asks, leaning across the table to stare at the book.
Thompson nods.
“That’s impressive for a shifter,” I comment, still examining the instructions. Shifters don’t have a ton of usable magic. They rely on brute strength, which is built with inherited magic, but it’s not exactly the same.
“What, you think because I’m a wolf I have to be a brute with no brains?”
“Pretty much,” I mumble and grab a fry from his tray and pop it between my teeth.
His jaw drops, like it’s the most offensive thing I could have done. I grin.
I chuckle. “After classes, you can come with me to Under Hall, and I’ll see what I can figure out for you.”
“Yes!” Thompson says, head falling back. “It’d be so embarrassing to fail this class.”
“Really, though, wolves aren’t usually into potion-making,” Marcus says lightly. “What’s your deal? Who you trying to impress?”
I roll my eyes.
“It’s not like that,” Thompson says more seriously, but there’s a glint in his grey eyes. “My pack isn’t very big, but we’ve got pretty strong witch blood. That’s what sets us apart, and as future alpha, I’m expected to be proficient in multiple strains of magic. Having pretty girls who help that endeavor is just the cherry on top.” He shoves three fries into his mouth and chews quickly. “Besides, I know better than to think I could compete against Orizian royalty.”
I freeze. Thompson hasn’t mentioned Jarron since the day he joined our group. I got the feeling he was trying to ease into it, butter us up so we’re less suspicious of him. Him dropping that comment now only makes my Spidey senses tingle even more.
“Jarron isn’t here,” Janet says with a wiggling brow.
“He will be, eventually.”
“What the hell do you know about it?” My fists clench. I shouldn’t be so fast to react harshly; I know that. I’d get so much more information from the suspicious wolf shifter if I’d act casually, but apparently, I’m worse at that than I am at magic.
Thompson raises a brow.
“You weren’t even here when we were together. You’re just talking crap to bother me.”
Thompson’s expression falls, giving me a more serious look than I’ve ever seen on his face. “I’m certainly not trying to bother you.”
“Then, why would you make comments about an ex—that you’ve never met—coming back?”
He rolls his shoulders. “I just… think that. Based on what I’ve heard.”
“And what’s that?”
“That he was incredibly into you. That he’s the sexiest guy alive, according to the Major witches in my potions class. And that he and his brother almost died trying to save you from entering the Akrasia Gamesafteryou broke up. Exes who don’t care don’t put themselves at risk like that.”
“Is that what people are saying?”
“What?” Janet asks, tilting her head.
She didn’t hear the subtle difference?
