Chapter 43: Wolf Illuminated
WINTER TERM - February 5th
I hung the witchball in Aries’s room. I’d only made one and it might be awhile before I’d make another. That meant Whisper and I were living in Aries’s suite, not really my own. Aries said he didn’t mind, though I suspect he was trying to play it cool. He was a little too thrilled by the fact that I’d stolen a few of his shirts.
We tried not to talk about the witchball, Ianthe, all that. But Aries couldn’t help himself. One night, lying in bed, he’d asked, “So if I’d ever shown up at the Stag’s Court, you know, before all this– would someone have asked you to distract me too?”
I knew exactly who he meant. What it would’ve sounded like—Zephyr, darling. Be a dear. No one else has the patience. The question hung there, quiet and awful.
I tossed my head back, horns clanked against the headboard. The bed was still too small—especially with Whisper sprawled across the mattress. “I think you’ve got the wrong idea about who distracts who here.”
“Zeph, come on.” He wasn’t going to just let it go.“Like you haven’t blown me before just to get me to shut up.”
Maybe once, but I didn’t want to examine that too closely. Not now. “I think we both know blowjobs don’t make you any quieter,” I said. “Enough with the what-ifs. I’m exactly where I want to be. Alright?”
He didn’t bring it up again. I hoped he never would.
And because the gods were cruel and uncaring, tonight was the Grand Illumination— the triple full moon. It meant something to the Court. Marblebrook mentioned it in passing, I ignored it pointedly after the mention of the full moon. Coven events weren’t as fun when I knew I’d have to miss them.
Aries and I were walking Whisper when we crossed paths with Yinuo— Aisling’s roommate. I hadn’t seen her since before the Masquerade, hadn’t exactly thought of her since then either.
“Zephyr. Hey!” She called out brightly. “Heard you were in my room the other day.”
Whisper was circling like he was about to shit out a fireball and Aries was on his tail with an ice spell prepared to keep from setting the newly laid mulch ablaze.