The Shadow Student (Wraithwood Academy #1) - Teresa Hann Page 0,19

glint of something darker in his eyes now. The girl he’d been bullying effortlessly up until now had drawn first blood, and he didn’t like that at all. Maybe he’d have been content with a quick, easy victory before, but now he had something to prove. He wanted to watch me bleed.

I could tell the moment he lost patience, telegraphed in the shift in his posture, the glint of his eyes. He slammed a fist into my shield, backed up by all the magical strength and speed he could summon.

I let it absorb just enough of the impact, no more than I had to, then silently dropped the spell.

Acubens's fist continued forward, slamming into my face.

My head snapped back. Stunning pain exploded through my senses.

Fuck. I’d known it would hurt. But. Fuck.

I couldn’t think. My eyes were watering, but it was blood dripping over my lips and chin, hot and wet. For a moment, even Acubens's eyes widened.

But that moment passed. He grabbed me and threw me back against the wall.

Acubens leaned in, pinning me in place; distantly, I heard Professor Sarva begin the count to ten. His face was right up against mine, his handsome features drawn into a vicious smirk. “Well, that was easy.” His body was hot and hard against mine, his grip bruising. “For a moment I thought you were more than you’d let on. Guess not. You’re just trash, Cly Redbriar.”

I struggled for breath through the blood streaming from my nose, the taste of copper thick in my mouth.

Focus.

I flexed my wrist, breaking his grasp. Before he could react, I put my hand under his chin and forced it up toward me.

Acubens's eyes widened. He tried to jerk away, but I pushed all my remaining magic into my iron grip.

“Oh, you have no idea, Acubens Nightfeld,” I rasped, staring him straight in the eye. “You have no idea what level of game I’m playing.”

And then the walls flickered off.

I pitched backward, a moment of breathless fall—before Aegis caught me in his arms.

“Count of ten reached. Victory to Acubens Nightfeld,” said Professor Sarva.

The adrenaline was fading; pain and exhaustion came down on me like a ton of bricks. Other students’ whispers rose and fell around us as I slumped heavily against Aegis's broad chest. My nose was still bleeding and I couldn’t muster up the energy to heal it. The neckline of my top was wet with blood, sticking horribly to my skin.

“We’re leaving now,” Aegis said, low and deadly. There were no protests. He picked me up and turned on his heel, carrying me out of the gym.

I tipped my head back to slow the flow of blood. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Acubens, still staring at me as we left.

Let him remember our encounter. Let him wonder if he’d truly won, or if he’d lost without even understanding how. Let questions and frustration haunt him.

He’d be back.

Aegis stared straight ahead as we made our way through campus, drawing curious glances and whispers from around us. “You shouldn’t have been hurt like that.”

I would’ve laughed, if my face didn’t hurt so much. I gingerly felt the area around my nose, then dredged up the last dregs of my magic to stanch my nosebleed. The damage wasn’t too serious—nothing broken, nothing too internal—but I was going to be bruised and aching for a while.

Wearily, I turned toward Aegis. “I’m flattered,” I rasped. “I’d like to think I’m very badass normally. But thanks to you and my charming relatives, I’ve been getting my magic drained and suppressed constantly these last few days. How much magic do you think I have left?”

Aegis thinned his lips, looking uncomfortable. “But at the end of the match, you said…”

I rolled my eyes, and regretted it; somehow even my eyeballs hurt. “That it was all part of the plan? I have some pride, you know. I did what I could under the circumstances to keep myself from losing too much face, with the added bonus that Cly now gets to look like a mysterious schemer instead of a weakling punching bag. You should be grateful.”

“I suppose, but—”

“But what?” I challenged. “You’re implying that I somehow planned to get punched in the face for some bizarre reason? Therefore it’s all my fault? So you don’t have to feel bad about getting me into this situation in the first place, then standing by and doing nothing?”

Aegis flushed. I’d managed to sting his conscience. “You’re right,” he said, struggling to meet