Page 7 of Blood Oath
Apparently, powerful legacies draw too much attention. These girls prove that if I want to blend into the shadows and be forgotten during my time here, I’ll need to avoid people like him at all costs. I can’t have the gossips watching me like a hawk.
“…and Crane absolutely humiliated the professor before leaving class. Of course, he didn’t get in trouble for it—who the hell is stupid enough to face off with the Garnet Wizard’s apprentice? Gods, I wish I could school my professors like that,” one of the girls is saying when I tune back in.
“Especially Mr. Frost,” the other agrees with a groan. “So cold and stuck up, but so fucking gorgeous.”
“I see you with the whole student-teacher kink,” Kenzie laughs.
“Sue me! We all have what we like. Don’t you have a thing for vamps? I mean—other than that asshole bully who’s always making your life hell,” the redhead adds with an eye roll.
That gets my attention. Especially since it seems to make Kenzie uncomfortable. She quickly brushes it off with a laugh, makes some excuse about us needing to be somewhere, and gingerly takes my elbow to lead me away.
Once we’re out of earshot, I pull my elbow back, adjusting the sleeve even though she didn’t touch my skin.
“Shit—sorry. I forgot about the no-touching thing,” she says, still looking distracted.
No one is around, so I stop and face her. “A vampire is bullying you?”
She wrinkles her nose and tries to wave away the question. “Gah. It’s nothing. He’s just…no, really, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
Just like Lillian, she’s incapable of hiding her real emotions. They all play out on her face, and right now, I can tell she’s genuinely upset at even just the mention of this guy. Almost on the verge of tears, even.
Which makes me clench my hands. It’s always the nice ones like her who pretend they’re fine when someone is making their life miserable. I had to put up with it whenever it happened to Lillian, but I don’t have to now. I’ve only just met Kenzie, and I don’t want her to think we’re bonding—or, gods forbid, friends—but I decide that once I learn the name of this asshole, I’ll pay him a visit.
Maybe I’ll brew a hex just for him.
But asking more questions about it right now will only upset her more, and I would literally rather pry my nails off with bamboo shoots than be around someone on the verge of tears.
So, to distract her, I mutter, “Touching through clothes isn’t completely unbearable.”
Kenzie blinks. “Oh. Okay, that’s good to know. So I can hug you as long as you’re wearing, like, a super puffy jacket?”
Yikes. “No hugging. Ever.”
She laughs as we start in the direction of the dining hall. “Fine, fine. I guess now I also know you’re a caster—you said House of Arcana, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you like a super powerful caster? Skilled with all kinds of magic and stuff?”
With any other legacy, I’d be on edge, but there’s not an ounce of guile on Kenzie’s face. She’s genuinely just curious, not deciding whether she should try to kill me in my sleep.
“Nope.” That’s not even a lie.
She breathes out a puff of air. “Damn. I was hoping you were secretly clairvoyant and you could tell me if I’ll get matched with someone at the Seeking. It’s all I can think about. Gods, I just want the next two weeks to be over so I can find out who I get to be with.”
I hum in reply, but I couldn’t give two fucks about the upcoming ceremony. I’m far more interested in my mission here. Which reminds me…
“Where can I buy ingredients for potions?”
“Oh, that’ll be at the university store. It carries a lot of stuff, but if you need specific ingredients, you can actually order them on the app lickety-split—or so my caster friends have said,” she chatters, back to her usual cheeriness. Then she frowns. “Speaking of which, I don’t have your number yet. Here.”
She pulls out her cell phone and hands it to me. I stare at it for a long moment, trying to figure out what to do with the rectangle, and finally, I hand it back to her.
“My phone broke. I haven’t gotten a new one,” I lie.
She looks scandalized. “Seriously? Okay, we are so going to Halfton today. We’re getting you all the things, and you can tell me all about humans. Now come on, I’m famished.”
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