Page 41 of Spellbound
“Wait.” I paused, the alcohol making me way braver than I normally was. Buzzing ran under my skin. “Please don’t put your name in at the call, if you were thinking about it.”
“I told you before, doll, I have to do what’s best for me.”
“I need this.” I let tears gloss my eyes. I didn’t care how I looked anymore. “The sister I left behind in Salvius, she needs me. I’m the only family she has left, and being keeper means I might be able to get to her, maybe even bring her here. Also, everyone likes and accepts you here. I’ve never been accepted by the other covens, except for the magicians. My magic’s always been looked at as weak because I’m human-born, like you.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist as I stumbled forward.
“Please don’t. I need this. Promise me.”
“Look...”
“Don’t make excuses. You can wait. Another slot will open in time. Oh, no. I feel a little sick.”
“Okay, doll. Let’s get you to bed. If you’re going to throw up, let me know.”
That okay was all I needed. I relaxed and walked with him to his room.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Iawoke in one of hiswhite shirts. Panicked, I felt the sheets next to me, but he wasn’t there. Last night’s events rushed back to me. Naomi. My heart pattered to the sound of the rain hammering down outside. What time was it? The sky had barely blued from behind the curtains.
Viktor rolled his shoulders back, stretching his arms out. I remembered now; he’d fallen asleep on the sofa in here. I’d forgotten he had one in his room. I flattened my hair, which had gone frizzy from tossing and turning against his sheets. I sniffed the collar of his shirt after getting a whiff of cedarwood. I even smelled like him.
“You are truly devastating in my shirt.”
“Oh, uh.” I flustered, attempting to push my hair back and detangle it with my fingers. I recalled him giving me a shirt to wear when we noticed some of Craig’s vomit had made its way onto my clothes last night. I buried my head in my hands. “Last night was awful.”
“I’ve seen worse. Naomi will come around. Don’t worry.”
I swallowed thickly. “I should go find her, but gah.” I tugged at his shirt. “If anyone sees me in this, they’ll think we slept together.”
He moved toward the bed. His white top hugged his muscles. I breathed through parted lips, then scrunched my nose. My breath smelled like whiskey. I didn’t want to talk near him. He sat on the edge, dipping the mattress. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about your sister. You don’t need to be a keeper to go to her. You can find a way into Salvius. The barrier can be disabled with the very object you’re tasked with guarding.”
“I won’t steal the Serpent’s Ring.” I didn’t ask how he knew about it but guessed Frederick had told him when he used it.
“No one would blame you. Edmund and Dora are gone and won’t return yet, and Maddox is busy with his new lover.”
