Page 60 of Echoes of the Banshee

“That’s what the witches say. It makes no sense to me. In combat class she’s destroying us. Not only is she smart when she fights but creative. She’s half my size and landed a blow that almost knocked me out this morning.”

“She beat you?” I’m impressed. I’ve only beaten him twice.

“I said almost!” he reminds me. “I knocked her out.”

The growl deep in my throat is involuntary.

“Won’t make her stronger by going easy on her,” he reminds me of Coach’s motto. I wave and he heads off to bed. I finish my loop and radio Denny.

“All good here. Nothing going on.”

“Okay, I’m going to head to the main school for a few minutes,” I reply and head over to the main campus, not even pretending I’m not heading to the park. I drop down on my haunches and survey the area. Wishing I’d had more time to study it before calling in someone to regrow it that night.

I resume my meticulous search of the area. Trying to find anything that indicates what happened. Right where the tree is growing I see something. I step forward and find a small piece of blackened metal.

This is what she was hacking at in the video.

This is why she had the goblin blade and was bleeding.

Raising it to my nose, the curse on it nearly makes me vomit.

She broke an enchantment that night.

A powerful one.

One that people are not going to be okay with being broken.

She’s going to need someone to look out for her.

Zair

The Witch Who Breaks the Rules

After soccer practice I immediately text Thea. She sends me a sarcastic response.

When I look up, Dylan and Benson are both watching me with matching, knowing smirks. “Stopping mid-sentence and then smiling at your phone?” Dylan teases, his grin wide. Was I saying something? “Who is this girl?”

“No one,” I say, trying to shrug it off. Though I can’t help but feel a little heat creeping up my neck.

“Is it that little witch you’ve been studying with?” Benson asks.

“The smart one with the braid?” Dylan adds with smirk.

“Really, guys?” I groan, rolling my eyes. But I can’t stop the smile that stretches across my face.

Thea texts to meet me for dinner. I rush through the shower and make my way to the dining hall. My steps quicken as I think about seeing her. Seriously, what is going on with me? I’ve never been this excited to see a girl. Especially one I’m not even sleeping with. When I get there, I spot her right away. I try to clamp down on my smile. I think I fail.

We pile our plates with the usual mess hall fare, it’s mediocrity comforting. Then we head for an empty corner booth.

She slides into the seat across from me. “How was soccer?”

“It was good.” I know she doesn’t actually care, but she’s making an effort.

Benson drops into the seat next to me with a thud. His bulk pressing me into the back of the booth.

“Guess it was the little witch with the braid,” he announces. His grin is so smug I’m tempted to smack it off.

Dylan slides into the booth on the other side, wedging Thea firmly into my side. We’re jammed together now. Why did we choose a corner booth?