at Dorian and hairs on the back of my neck raise. Has he taken his eyes off me at all?
My view is blocked as the guy responsible for the herbal smell in the room appears and holds out a hand, palm up. Something small rests in the centre, a tiny parcel of paper.
“On the house.”
His smile is warm and friendly but his appearance sets him apart from the others around—apart from the girl he’s with. They’re identical-looking, skin and hair free from pigment as if they’re albino, but their eyes aren’t pink. The irises shine white with the subtlest tinge of blue to them.
“Thank you, but no,” I say.
His mouth purses at my rejection. “At least talk to me. I want to introduce you to my sister.”
The girl sits in the same position, knees to her chest and arms wrapped around them. The dark spiral tattoos on their necks stand out against the pale skin, and she watches impassively.
I haven’t seen the pair in any classes—hemia attend their lessons at night, but these aren’t vampires. I don’t sense he holds any ill will to me the way I’ve sensed from others, but he’s creepy.
But then, everybody is creepy to the witch barely exposed to the world before she arrived here.
“Sebastian is okay,” says Oriana and holds a hand out. “If you’re giving away freebies, and Eloise doesn’t want it, I’m happy to take Lix off your hands.”
He chuckles and closes his fist. “First time freebie only. Eloise? Please come and say hello.”
Oriana nudges me. “They’re okay. Don’t stress.”
I look between Dorian and Zeke, both who’ve taken an interest in what’s happening. Both frowning.
Annoyed that she seems to dictate what I can do, I stand. “Sure.”
I cross to sit with Sebastian. “This is Aurelia,” he says and gestures at the girl.
Her smile drops. “Can’t you feel her, Sebastian?”
I edge away. I don’t want anybody feeling me, physically or mentally.
“Everybody has an aura,” she continues. “You can’t magic that away.”
Aurelia leans over and whispers to her brother.
“Necromancers don't exist,” he retorts and stares at me.
I fight showing a reaction as he searches my face.
“That’s why her aura is black,” says Aurelia and peers closer. She shudders. “Like Dorian’s. Perhaps I’d like her to keep away from me, Sebastian.”
Sebastian reaches out and touches my hand and before I have a chance to withdraw, his mouth forms an ‘o’ as he drops his fingers. “I knew it! You’re the trinity witch. No wonder you have bad blood.”
“Excuse me?” I retort.
“I mean, you can’t help what runs in your veins. We understand.” Sebastian gestures at his sister. “I so love your innocence. Such a contrast to your hidden nature.”
I won’t be able to bite my tongue for long, so I make my excuses. As I step back, I hit someone solid behind me. Immediately on alert for Dorian, I quickly move away and turn.
Ethan looks down at me. “Are these guys upsetting you?”
Aurelia snorts at him. “And here’s another one. Dark as they come.” Ethan glares at her. “One day, Dorian will discover there’s more to you. How long are you waiting, Ethan?”
"You're both high again. Have you been claiming to be a non-existent race?"
Huh? They haven’t said anything.
Aurelia giggles again. "I can be who I want to be, Ethan."
He shakes his head. "Sure, you can."
“Are you Eloise’s bodyguard? Believe me, she doesn’t need one,” she purrs.
“Don't listen to them,” he says. “Would you like to talk to me instead?”
Aurelia laughs again. Is everything amusing to this girl? “So, you are considering challenging Dorian, Ethan? For Eloise or the academy?”
I screw my face up. “I’m nobody’s possession.”
“No, but many will try.” She cocks her head. “Correct, Ethan?”
With one last glance at me, he turns and moves away. Across the room, Dorian breaks from his group and takes a step in my direction.
Crap.
He blocks my path back to Oriana, and in a split-second decision I turn and rush after Ethan.
“Wait.”
“I’m leaving,” Ethan says and doesn’t look back.
“So am I.”
“Good, you don’t belong here, and neither do I.”
His strides are too big for me to keep up with as I hurry along, expecting Dorian’s hand on my shoulder at any moment.
I claim I don’t want a bodyguard, but I’m nervous about wandering the academy halls at night. Nobody appears to want to mess with Ethan and I’ve a strong feeling he has no interest in doing anything with or to me.
Chapter Twenty-One
The mid stands guard at the top of the stairs and watches as we walk by,