Page 129 of Echoes of the Banshee

She’s trying to pretend like she isn’t cursed. She’d had another ‘episode’ right after class ended yesterday and is now, for lack of a better term, on a witch hunt. It’s clear she’s losing control. She thinks everything’s real. She thinks she’s losing something she never had. It’s driving her crazy.

Ever since Benson suggested that they starved her, it has become more and more obvious that they did. I thought she just had spent so long watching her weight that when she stopped she was just enjoying her life.

But even if that’s the case, it was never on her terms. I can see it in the way Anita looks at Thea like she’s about to do something desperate, something reckless. Whatever happened between them, it’s bad. There’s something about her that digs deep into Thea’s skin, something no one else seems to be able to do. If I had to guess, Anita’s the one behind whatever is broken inside her.

Thea was called into the dean’s office about the curse. But apparently, there’s some obscure bylaw that says sibling pranks are exempt from the rule against cursing other students. Only Thea would know that — and only she’d have the nerve to use it. She then used the opportunity to argue that the library books needed to be updated and that she’d file a discrimination complaint with the Ringed Hand. They let her go with a warning.

We spend most of Friday tucked into the nook. She’s buried in a massive tome on death magic, and honestly, I’m a little terrified about what she’s working on. A fresh notebook sits open next to her, well, fresh from today. It’s probably already half-full. At this point, I’m convinced her dorm room is just walls of scribbled notebooks.

She hasn’t said a word in over an hour, and when I realize I’m only pretending to work anymore, I start packing up. I debate insisting she come eat with me, but I already know how that’ll go. So instead, I run downstairs to the café, grab her a sandwich, and leave it beside her without a word.

I head to lunch with the guys, falling into a seat next to Dylan.

“Where’s Benson?” I ask, glancing around.

“Isn’t he supposedly keeping that Thea chick company?” Jack jokes. “And half the female population.”

“Maybe he’s avoiding you guys,” Marco booms, laughing loud enough for the whole dining hall to hear. “I wouldn’t blame him.”

“Honestly,” Jack agrees. “Bet it’s been hard to get some with you two as best friends, I’m sure he loves having his pick of hot girls.”

“Pick of girls? Has anyone else noticed how hot Thea’s been looking lately?” Marco says. “If she’s into goblins, I bet she’d go for a big bad wolf. I’ve never had a witch before. She’s so little and weak I bet she wouldn’t even be able to stop me.”

My blood runs cold. Dylan stiffens beside me, but he keeps his easygoing mask in place.

“Did you not hear her call out pickle dick?” Dylan says lightly, trying to steer it back to safe ground. “I don’t think you want to be on her bad side.”

Marco leans forward, smirking. “Then I’ll just have to keep her mouth full of something else.”

I don’t even realize I’m standing. My hands are gripping the table, nails digging into the wood.

“Shut your mouth, Marco,” I snap. “Or you’ll be the one who can’t talk.”

Marco just laughs. But there’s a flicker of something mean under it, like he’s not used to being challenged.

“Jeez, Zair. Calm down. Just kidding.”

“Why you care so much about Benson’s girl?” Jack needles as Dylan tugs me back into my seat.

“Thea’s our friend first,” Dylan says. “What she and Benson do alone is between them.”

“You sure that’s all it is, Zair?” Marco taunts, leaning in.

“Thea doesn’t need me to defend her,” I say, leaning forward with a sharp smile. “She’s perfectly capable of putting you in your place on her own.”

The table bursts into laughter like I just told a joke.

Across the table, I catch Bernard’s eye.

He doesn’t laugh.

Instead, he gives a small, knowing nod, subtle enough that no one else notices.

He gets it.

He knows, as well as I do, that Thea could wipe the floor with them. The only question is if she’ll do it with her words, her magic or something these idiots wouldn’t even see coming.

The conversation shifts, loud, forced but the tension clings to the edges. I leave a little earlier than I normally would. Dylan reminds me I promised Thea and I’d be at his party tonight, which sparks another round of jokes. I ignore them and head out. Before class, I swing by the nook to check on Thea. I want to make sure she’s eaten and not going to forget her afternoon lectures. She’s packing up when I walk in, books scattered across the table as she tries to organize them.