Page 33 of Spellbound
My brain faltered. How was I the bad guy here? “You went into the woods when you swore you wouldn’t. I had to come find you, Maddox is doing another spell to guard the coven, and the magicians are on their way over. In fact”—I looked at my watch—“they’re probably already on their way. You would have been trapped outside.”
“Thanks for the concern, but I can take care of myself, but whoever the murderer is, you are their target. All the victims were young women, actually, except for the last, who was—”
“A boy, I know. I remember.” I scowled.
“My point is you need to be careful. If I knew you’d come after me, I wouldn’t have gone.”
“You shouldn’t have anyway, you crazy person.” I looked him up and down. “What happened to you?”
He looked at his mud-soaked shirt. “I slipped. Let’s head back. It’s getting late.” He looked over his shoulder as he led me away.
***
Maddox was about tohave a fit when we arrived back. I heard him in the kitchen as we snuck through the hallway. I’d kept us out of sight, sneaking Viktor back to my room before anyone could see the state he was in. Hovering my fingers over my hand and whispering the incantation, I sent a quill to Maddox, telling him I’d be back soon and found Viktor in the garden.
I closed the door behind us, panting. “I need to start running more again. I’m so unfit.”
“You’re fine.” He slicked off his white shirt, which was now mostly brown, revealing his abs and tanned torso. My heartbeat crept faster as he tossed the shirt over my dresser. “I should have gone to my room.”
“Which is next to Maddox’s.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Who’s in the kitchen.”
I closed my eyes. I was such a dumbass. “You’re right.”
He grinned. “I figured you were looking for a reason to get me into your room. You could have just asked.”
I blushed, mentally kicking myself for allowing it to happen. Turning away so he couldn’t see my red cheeks, I cleared my throat. “That’s not what happened. Anyway, I’ll, uh, go get you clothes.”
“I could just go by myself.”
I shook my head. “Of course. My brain clearly isn’t working.”
He chuckled. “See ya in a bit.” He grabbed his shirt from the dresser, then paused in the doorway. “Unless you want me to stay, Elle.”
I hate-loved the way he said my name. “No. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Once he left, I ran my hands down my face, pulling the skin under my eyes. “Get it together, Elle. What in the underworld.” I shrugged off my jacket and tied back my hair.
I heard Maddox and Naomi talking as I walked toward the front door. They’d all gathered out front, on the gravel where the shiny automobile stood. Everyone wanted one, but few could afford such luxuries. This one belonged to the grandmagician of the magician coven, Felix Astotle. His eyes were bigger than those of anyone I’d ever met, reminding me more of a cat than a human. His bright-orange hair made him difficult to forget.
“Eleanor. How are you this evening?”
“Grandmagician Felix, it’s wonderful to see you again. Thank you for coming.”
“The pleasure is ours.” He kissed my hand, and I smiled awkwardly. I never knew what to do when he did that. He was the definition of odd though. I was glad his greetings never caught on.
“Where would you all like us to begin? I would like to first place the Felician spell of Lure.”
“I haven’t heard of it,” I said.
Maddox walked up beside me. “It’s a Felix original. Isn’t that right, old friend?”
“Yes, it is.” Felix’s cheeks balled.
Maddox pointed at the gargoyle statues. “Start there and go all the way back to the tree line at the back of the grounds and between those hedges. In fact, I’ll walk you.” Maddox glanced at me before leaving to escort Felix. “I thought you messaged saying Viktor was back.”
“He is.” I gulped. “He’s coming. He went to his room.”
