Page 18 of The Banshee and the Warlock

I stand in the middle of the classroom, somewhat confused by what just happened. We were having a good conversation, and it was even bordering on flirty, but then he just shut it down and ran away when we got close together.

I let out a sigh. I guess I'll probably find out what that's about at some point. I just hope it's not going to make things weird between us in class.

Chapter 8

Anja

The dining hall is buzzing with chatter, though I don't know how when it's so early in the morning. I rub my eyes, trying not to let the lost sleep of the past few nights get to me too much. At least there hasn't been any more sleepwalking. Or if there has, it's only led me back to my bed.

"I like your hair," Nati says, reminding me that I'm not coming to breakfast alone.

"Thanks." I touch the loose strands of silver-white, trying not to feel the familiar surge of self-consciousness that comes with them. I know I could use my handheld mirror to message Mum and ask her for another potion to dye it, but I don't see the point if it's just going to turn back to its natural shade every time I have a dream. Especially as they seem to be happening every single night now. Which means that it's time to embrace my natural colour.

I catch sight of Cethin across the room, and he looks up, as if he can feel me watching.

My breath catches in my throat and my heart starts to race in response to his attention. Maybe it's a crush, but it feels like so much more than that. Without fully realising what I'm doing, I wave to him. He returns the gesture, making my heart skip a beat.

"Eurgh, could you be more obvious?" Nati mutters. "Come on, I'm starving, and the gluten-free croissants are surprisingly good."

"I don't think I'm going to be swapping my proper versions for them any time soon," I respond without taking my attention off Cethin. A small part of me wants to go over and sit with him, but I don't think Nati will be okay with that.

"You could just ask him on a date," Nati says.

"What?" I look at my friend.

She rolls her eyes. "Cethin. You spend most meals watching him."

"You're making me sound creepy." I sit down on one of the empty benches, purposefully making sure my back is facing Cethin so I can't look at him. I regret it almost instantly.

"It's fine, he's clearly into it." She sits down beside me and grabs one of the croissants from the gluten-free plate.

"And that makes it not creepy?"

She shrugs and ladles an obscene amount of jam onto her plate. She starts tearing the pastry to pieces so she can dip it into it. "I'm just saying. You could save us all the hassle of watching the two of you yearn for each other if you just ask him on a date. I'm surprised he hasn't asked you."

"Maybe he doesn't want that," I say, my mind going back to the other night.

She snorts. "Yeah, and I don't have snakes for hair. I'm so certain that if he says no, I'll cut Frank's head off."

An alarmed hiss comes from the nest of snakes.

I let out an amused chuckle. "She doesn't mean it, Frank."

"Oh, I do." She stuffs a piece of croissant into her mouth.

I take the opportunity to get myself some of the delicious-looking pastries. It's times like this when I'm particularly glad I don't have Nati's dietary restrictions.

"Where would I even go on a date?" I muse.

My friend gives me a look that says she's got me.

"I'm being hypothetical," I murmur, even though it's a bit of a lie.

"Uh-huh. Like you hypothetically came back to the flat wearing his jacket the other night?" Amusement fills her voice. "You gave Sophia a fright when you came in unexpectedly."

I groan. "I told you, I was sleepwalking and he found me."

"Which is an inventive excuse, I'll give you that."