21. Serafina
TWENTY-ONE
My eyes immediately fall on the grumpy Phoenix Shifter sitting on the floor, slumped against the wall on the other side of my door. He has one knee bent, arm resting on it, as he scowls at me.
“That was mean,” he pouts, his black curls sticking out in all directions as he jumps to his feet, brushes off his dark-washed jeans, and straightens the black leather jacket he has on. I eye the buttery smooth leather, wondering what I would have to do to steal it from him.
“I needed to get dressed, and you were hovering,” I defend with a shrug. I watch as Neva puts herself between Adam and Teos, looking forward, but her hand resting on her hip where I’m assuming her knife is.
I nod in approval, more than happy that she’s protecting Adam. From what I’ve heard from my newly acquired redheaded friend, he and Neva have been friends for years. It makes sense that she’s protective of him. Hell, I feel protective of him, and I’ve only known him for about a week, which is honestly concerning since I haven”t bothered worrying about someone other than my family in years.
“That’s because you don”t care for anyone but yourself,”my father”s voice mocks in my mind, making me grunt at the reminder of how emotionally unattached I am. I wish I could be better at it, but I think something in my brain doesn”t work right.
“Where are you going?” Teos snaps, annoying me with his attitude as I rush down several flights of stairs and through the lobby of my apartment building. The lobby is full of students, several sitting on the couch while two guys play basketball in the corner of the room with a small hoop attached to the wall. I ignore Teos and the looks we get as I storm through the lobby and out the door, mentally going through everything that happened with the Reaper in the red cloak and what I need to tell Atlas.
“Bella,” I hear Teos call as he takes longer strides to keep up with my fast pace.
“We’ll see you at lunch,” Neva calls to me as she pulls a worried-looking Adam after her. I toss them a wave, too caught up in my thoughts to reply as I stalk down the path, glaring at anyone who gets in my way.
“Bella.”
I look up at the towering castle, the gray stone glimmering in the sunlight as I rush up the stairs. Students are pouring out of the double doors, most of them headed toward the cafeteria, though a large crowd is walking to the small shop Adam brought me to the other day. I cut through the crowd without an issue, letting the students weave out of my way as I make it to the stairs leading me to the castle”s second story.
“Serafina!” Teos snarls, his fingers wrapping around my wrist and yanking me to a stop. This earns us some wide-eyed glances from a group of girls next to us. My magic springs from me in an unbidden wave, making the girls next to me scream and run down the stairs, one in tears while the other two are rubbing at their arms, whimpering in pain. The temperature around me plummets and I feel it in my bones, making me shiver as my fingers start to go numb.
I glare down at Teos” hands, counting to thirteen as I wrap my magic in my hands. Within seconds, I control it and bend it to my will, calming its deadly rage and soothing its bloodlust.
“Shit! Sorry! I’m sorry!” Teos rasps, immediately letting me go, eyeing the dark magic circling around my ankles, climbing up my heels, and wrapping protectively around my calves. My magic is still out, curiously scoping out the people around me, but it’s no longer looking for a victim to rip a soul from. I look up at Teos, noticing the regret in his eyes as he raises his hands. “I’m so sorry, Bella. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I won’t touch you again. Well… like at this moment,” he amends, and what little forgiveness I had started to feel toward his apology vanishes.
“Go. Away.” I grind out under my breath, spinning on my heels and rushing the rest of the way up the stairs, my magic following me, calmly drifting at my side. A sudden realization strikes me only a moment later, and I pull up short.
“What?” Teos asks as I look over my shoulder to where I was just standing and then back at my calm magic. It”s calm, and it did what I asked without me having to cut myself to keep it under control.
Holy shit!
Lifting my hand in front of me, I call the void of black up, letting the deadly magic pool in my palm. It rests there, moving like water in a pond, the motion constant yet controlled. It didn’t press against my control; it simply came when I bid. Granted, it attacked three girls before that, but I’m still calling it a win.
“Nothing. I’ll talk to you later, Teos. I don’t have the time or energy to deal with you right now,” I call over my shoulder, dropping my magic and turning back around. I move to the door that leads up the tight spiral staircase to Atlas’ classroom, taking them two at a time, while trying not to roll my ankle in my shoes.
“How the hell are you doing that in heels?” Teos asks from behind me, making me roll my eyes in annoyance as I reach Atlas’ door and shove it open, finding my brother sitting behind his desk, clicking a pen and glaring at the phone he has clenched in his hand. When he hears me come in, his head darts up, angry brown eyes locked onto me like a predator with its prey. I almost laugh at how adorable he is when mad but hold my tongue, not wanting to piss him off more than I already have.
“Are you serious right now? Last night, you flew off with the Phoenix boy, and I let you because I knew you needed a moment since Ryland took you by surprise. But then you miss class and…” he stresses the word as I walk over to stand in front of his desk. “You don”t answer your phone until I’m about to call Gabe and tell him you’re MIA!”
“Good morning, big bro,” I chirp with a large smile, knowing it’ll ruffle his feathers. Atlas glowers at me as I jump up and perch on the edge of his desk.
“It’s no longer morning, Serafina! And get off my desk. You picked up bad habits while living at Gabriel”s house,” he grumbles, glaring at where I’m sitting on his pretty mahogany desk.
“Phoenix boy? Damn, that”s not the best title, but I’ll deal with it,” Teos says, walking into the room, leaving the classroom door open behind him. Atlas’ glare moves from me to Teos before his eyes narrow, and he looks like he’s about to be sick.
“Jesus, Serafina. Is that why you’re late? I know you’re an adult, and you get to choose how to spend your free time, but skipping class to sleep in from last night”s booty call is not very responsible,” my brother says, a grimace on his face. I feel my mouth drop open at Atlas implying Teos was a late night booty call just as Teos grins from ear to ear, walking over and tossing a heavy arm around my shoulders and squeezing me to him.
“I think I prefer booty call to Phoenix boy,” he admits, earning himself matching glares from Atlas and me.
“Are you serious right now?” I can’t help but ask, wondering how the hell this guy has the balls to say that right in front of my brother.
“Do you have a death wish?” Atlas growls, the gold rings on his fingers gleaming as his magic shifts around the room. Teos frowns, and I realize that in the short time we were friends in high school, Teos was never at my house when Atlas was there. Atlas was still firmly in hermit mode and we never saw him much.
“Teos?”
“Yes, Bella?” he asks sweetly as I struggle against his strong hold. I can feel my magic slowly filter from me, circling around us and making my heart skip a beat.
“Go jump off a roof or something,” I mutter under my breath.
“Aw, yes. Well I would, but then I wouldn”t have the pleasure of meeting this particularly nice gentleman,” Teos says, keeping his arm wrapped around me as he leans forward, hand outstretched and a brilliant smile on his face. “Hey, man. My name is Teos, but you can call me Bella’s booty call if you want to,” he says with a chuckle, winking at my brother and making me close my eyes in mortification.
“God, just kill me now,” I mutter under my breath as Atlas slowly reaches out, taking Teos” hand in his and squeezing it. Hard.
“Atlas Hawkins,” he grinds out, his eyes flashing with an edge I haven”t seen before. “Bella’s…” Altas looks at me, holding Teos’ hand captive in his crushing grip, making Teos wince as he tries to pull it out of his grip. “Big brother.” Teos’ smile immediately falls from his charming face as he stares at Atlas wide-eyed, then darts a glance at me. At my nod, Teos pales and clears his throat, letting his arm fall off my shoulders and standing up as straight as he can with his hand still held tight by Atlas.
“Brother? Shit. Umm,” Teos stammers looking like he’s ten seconds away from shitting himself. “Right. Would it help if I said there was no booty touching? I mean. No! Not booty! I didn’t touch that!” Atlas’ face darkens by the second while Teos digs himself into a deep hole. “I mean, no booty call. Dammit! Nothing of a sexual nature happened.” Teos continues, making me watch in amusement as Atlas only grows angrier.
“Teos?” I whisper, crossing my leg over my knee as I watch the spectacle play out in front of me. I lean forward as Teos darts a panicked look in my direction.
“Yes?” he asks, and I laugh at the pure dread I see on his face. Serves him right for following me up here when I told him not to. Karma and all that. She’s a bitch.
“It’s time to shut up now,” I instruct, and Teos nods so hard I think his head might roll off his shoulders. Swallowing hard, Teos looks down at his hand, which is currently being crushed and tugs, trying to get free. His fingers are turning purple, and I’m starting to worry Atlas may have broken something. My magic rolls inside me, and I take a deep breath to calm it.
“Attie,” I warn, keeping my amused gaze on Teos when Atlas yanks his arm back. Teos grunts in surprise when he’s pulled down on the desk. Atlas leans forward and whispers something into Teos’ ear, making his eyes double in size. Scowling, I lean closer to them, wanting to hear what Atlas is saying, but my brother has released Teos, letting him stand back up.
“Got it?” Atlas whispers, flexing his big hand that he used to crush Teos’ before placing it back in his lap. Teos nods.
“Loud and clear,” he rasps, shaking his hand out at his side.
“Good,” Atlas snaps, then nods towards his door. “Leave.” Teos frowns, looking at me before crossing his arms over his chest and I just know he’s about to make this situation so much worse.
“Teos. I’m unsure how many times I must ask you to leave before you listen, but it”s becoming increasingly annoying. You’re using my fear of hurting you to get what you want,” I point out, making Teos purse his lips and look away from me. “I need to talk with my brother without you here. Speaking of…” I look at Attie. “What happened to not letting anyone know we were related?”
“He won’t tell. Will you?” Atlas murmurs, his voice hard as he steeples his fingers in front of his face and glares at Teos.
“No. I won’t. But I’m not leaving until she sees a healer!” Teos snaps, throwing me under the bus so damn fast I wasn’t prepared. Atlas blinks at Teos, then looks at me, letting his hands fall as his eyes dart over my body.
“What?! Why?” he asks, anger melting, turning to concern as I glare at Teos and mouth ‘I’m going to kill you,’ which only makes him smirk and cross his arms over his broad chest.
“He’s being ridiculous. Ignore him. I do, however, have a few things I need to talk to you about,” I say, trying to turn the conversation away from me and back to the actual problem at hand.
“No, I’m not! She’s lying!” Teos growls, anger filling his tone as he brings his fist down on the desk at his side, startling Atlas and making me even more upset.
Atlas looks between us, a contemplative look on his face as I glare death at Teos, my magic whipping around me in a spiral, excited to come out and handle business for itself.
“Get out,” I snarl at him, jumping off Atlas” desk and reaching up. I snag Teos by the ear and yank him toward the door.
“Ow! Ouch, dammit, Fina! You’re like a rabid animal when you”re mad,” Teos complains before he winds an arm around me and picks me up off my feet. I bite back a squeak of surprise, not used to someone picking me up like this. The bruises on my back ache at the movement, but I ignore them, yanking on Teos’ ear harder and earning a girlish squeal.
“Let me go,” I warn, fury building as Teos wraps one arm around my middle. He yanks at my fingers, still pulling on his ear, while shaking me a little, trying to get me to let go.
“You first!” he glares down at me, his warm amber scent filling my senses, covering me in a layer of calm I wish I could escape.
He’s got me so close our noses almost brush, and I simultaneously want to lean forward and kiss him as much as I want to reach up and poke him in the damn eyeball for being so fucking annoying! Almost like he can read my thoughts, Teos’ lips quirk up at the sides, and he leans a fraction closer, making his dark curls fall over his forehead.
“Do you even want out of my arms, Bella? I promise it’s much better in them. You always shiver, always rub at your arms in an attempt to get warm,” he points out, head tilting a fraction, his breath whispering over my lips and making my body freeze like a damn deer in the headlights. “I can keep you warm, Bella.”
“Let me go,” I whisper, wanting it to come out strong, but my voice cracks, making me sound pathetic.
“Never,” Teos says with such conviction that I’m actually scared he won’t let this… me… go. Fuck that! I can’t deal with this shit.
“Uh, Teos. I would listen to her. She’s not…” Atlas trails off as I throw my weight back, startling Teos enough that he loses his grip on me.
“What the—” Teos shouts in surprise.
I twist in his arms, hooking my foot around his leg and yanking it forward, making him lose his center of gravity before throwing my head back and hitting him square in the chest. The grunt of pain followed by the slew of curses Teos lets out as he crashes to the ground in a heap at my feet is music to my ears.
“First off,” I whisper, my rage cooling at the sight of Teos on the ground at my feet. I crouch down, getting on his level as he pushes up to his elbows, his hazel eyes burning with anger as he brings a hand up to push his thick black curls back. “When a girl says to let her go, you listen. And second…” I trail off, leaning closer so that Teos gets my point. “It’s not cute to stalk a girl who said to leave her alone. You want to be helpful?” I ask, tilting my head to the side, watching his expression carefully. “Then stay out of my business. I don”t have the time to deal with you.”
Teos’ jaw clenches as I stand back up and turn my back on him, only to find Atlas frowning at me. I hear Teos get to his feet and ignore his hulking presence behind me. Atlas’ eyes move from me to Teos, hardening slightly, and I give him a slight shake of my head. I don”t need him to intervene, and honestly, I don’t think I can control my magic if he does. When Teos’ fingers started to turn purple, my magic had grown still, quiet, and deadly; the rush to set it free had hit me square in the chest, but it wasn”t to hurt Teos, but to protect him.
“I’ll leave,” I hear Teos mutter. “And I’m sorry for not letting go when you asked,” he adds, making Atlas’ shoulders relax just a bit as Teos takes a small step forward, and I feel his warmth against my back. “But I’m not staying away, Bella. You already know that won”t work for either of us, and you know fucking why. I’m not willing to feel half-dead for the rest of my life just because you are too scared to deal with the shit between us. Three years of hell was enough for me,” he whispers, ducking his head so only I can hear him.
I feel my hair move as his hand soothes the strands, combing it back into place for me. I frown, looking at my feet as I listen to him.
Half-dead? What the hell is he talking about?
“You can kick my ass, yell at me, and hell, you can even kill me as much as you need to until you get it through your thick head. You’re just being too damn stubborn to admit the truth to yourself.” Teos” voice is soft and I swear I hear a hint of sadness lingering there. “I’ve waited three years, Bella, and if you need me to wait more, I can. But don”t ask me to leave you alone—to live without you. Because that will be the only death I won”t be able to come back from.”
I feel the lightest brush of his fingers against the skin on the side of my throat, and like a flame, warmth courses through my body, eradicating the chill that had only increased since my magic leapt out at those girls on the steps. I shiver in response, the feeling moving from my neck all the way down to my toes, making me close my eyes and bite my lip so I don”t embarrass myself or gross my brother out. A moment later, Teos’ warmth disappears, and I hear the soft click of Atlas’ door closing.