Chapter 31
“You did it.” Those words came out of Benji’s mouth. It was the next day—Thursday—and I had pulled him aside to tell him the news. He brought me to his room to show him the book. Benji was always so mysterious—always hidden away from everyone else. I couldn’t even find him until after lunch.
“I did it,” I repeated, giving a proud smile.
I pulled the leather book out of the book-bag I was carrying.
I hadn’t really inspected it much before.
It was black with the picture of a beaker in the middle of the cover, liquid overflowing from it, and a wand next to it.
There was a title curved above the beaker and wand.
Sivad Potions and Spells Book.
Benji scooted closer to me, reading the title in a whisper. “Who’s Sivad?”
“Hero said it was a language his ancestors created,” I explained.
He narrowed his eyes at the book. “Impressive.”
He ran his fingers over the letters, seeming to be fascinated by the book. Taking his hand off the book, he glared at me. Into my eyes. I stared into his, not being able to look away. He was always so… magnetically irresistible. It was so wrong, yet it felt so right.
“Hero couldn’t say no to you, could he?” he whispered, smirking. “I don’t think anyone could deny your requests, Pepper.”
He was flirting. Not only that—he wanted me to make a move. A request.
“Kiss me.” The words spilled out of my mouth, and I didn’t want to put them back. Benji grinned at those words, rubbing his thumb against my chin. He leaned in, his lips crashing against mine.
After the kiss, guilt washed over me once more. It’s always after. Never during. Never before. After. It was like something had possessed me, not allowing me to think about anything else besides Benji.
“This shouldn’t have happened again,” I said quickly, practically jumping off the bed.
“You complain about me acting like we didn’t kiss, then complain when we actually do kiss again.” He scoffed. “What is it that you actually want, Pepper?”
“Not whatever this is,” I said, shaking my head. “Far from it.”
I only wanted Hero.
“Maybe you should stay away from me, then.” He looked away, then stared at me again, with piercing eyes. “You can’t seem to do that, huh?”
“I’m here because you said you could help me store the book,” I reminded him. “Nothing else.”
“You know that’s not true.” He had a small smirk on his face.
“Just— just store the book, okay?” I stammered, backing up and bumping into the door. “Don’t make me regret trusting you.”
“The book is in safe hands.” He gazed at the book, acting as if I wasn’t even there anymore.