Page 9 of Jinx

The reaction terrified me. Feeling my magic like an actual presence was something new that I couldn’t explain. Why was Bellamy different? How did he trigger this? The last time my magic did something extra, it left me in ruins. But the drive to claim him every time he crossed my mind was intense enough to make my heart stumble. If I let my magic have its way, I would sink my teeth into him so deeply that the whole world would know he’s mine.

“He is.”

I startled and spun around. The quiet words sounded like they’d been whispered right next to my ear in a voice that was sultry and ancient and brimming with power. A shiver ran down my spine, and panic made my throat tight. This was insane. I was hearing voices now. I’d completely lost my mind.

I squeezed the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the pressure I could feel building between my eyes. My breaths felt shallow and erratic. Then, I heard him, and the feeling in my chest went from bristling anxiety to molten pleasure in an instant.

Bellamy was here. My magic pressed against my ribs, eager to do more than just hear him, but I pulled it back with a growl of frustration. It reacted about as well as a cat being shoved into a box. It flared hot and angry that he was over there and we were still here.

What in the actual hell?

I definitely wasn’t moving in his direction to appease the feline-coded monster in my soul. And I definitely wasn’t planning to spy on him when I got there. I had shelving to do, and it just happened to be in the same section. Grabbing the rolling cart half-filled with books, I followed the low tenor of his voice. It led me back to the small corner of the fiction section where Margo and her minions had occupied the armchairs.

Okay, fine. I was totally going to spy.

I sucked in a quiet breath and ducked out of sight down an aisle. Their conversation was loud enough that I didn’t have to worry about whether or not I could hear them. I think this whole half of the library could hear them.

“So, how long are you in town, Bel-baby?”

Margo’s words hit me with a wave of nausea. Bel-baby? Gross.

“Just home for the summer break,” Bellamy answered. “What are you doing in the library?” His tone was light and teasing, and it filled my chest with a deep longing. A longing to replace Margo. To remove her. I’d never once wanted to jinx someone, but the urge to lay both hands on Margo felt like razors across the inside of my ribcage. Tangled in chaos and on the verge of a full-blown panic attack, I just caught the end of Margo whining about her class again.

“Please,” Bellamy scoffed, but I could hear his grin. “Which one of you two does she have writing her papers?”

A feigned gasp of outrage, no doubt Margo’s, while her friends giggled like idiots.

Bellamy went on before she could reply. “So, do you know much about that girl at the counter? With the blue hair. I haven’t seen her in here before.”

My spiraling thoughts came to a screeching halt. If my magic had a tail, it would’ve been twitching.

Margo snorted a mean laugh. “That ugly freak? Not your type.”

I growled at the derision in her tone, hackles rising.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s a total psycho,” Lindsey chimed in. Or maybe that was Gina.

It was Bellamy’s turn to laugh, the sound forced and uncomfortable. “That’s harsh, even for you.”

“It’s not! You’ve seen her. She’s got this whole creepy vibe. She looks possessed.”

“She is possessed. Whatever you do, don’t touch her.”

“Why not?” Bellamy’s voice was suddenly edged like a blade, sharp and dangerous. “Who touched her?”

“Tommy Jones tried to get her attention the other day—barely touched her arm—and he said his insides went ice cold. Now he’s in the hospital, and they had to put him in a coma until they figure out what’s wrong.”

I cringed, gagging on shame, and all of my anger evaporated.

“Sounds far-fetched.” Bellamy’s words were clipped.

“It’s the truth! She’s a demon or cursed or something. Stay away from her.”

Bellamy made a rumbling noise, and one of the old armchairs creaked in protest. When I dared to peek between the shelves, I found that Margo had moved to straddle Bellamy in his chair while his hands held tight to her hips.

“Besides,” she purred, arching her back to lift her chest. “You know I’m so much better for you, Bel-baby. I know just how you like it.”