“He does act like a jerk,” I agreed with a huff. “What’s his problem? There must be a reason.”
Theo sighed and rubbed his face. “First off, let me apologize for my behavior. I didn’t mean to get you kicked out of class. I hope it’s not permanent.”
I laughed. “Are you saying you wouldn’t be happy if you never saw Donovan again?”
He grinned. “Never would be too soon in my opinion. But you need his class. If he won’t let you back in then you’ll be stuck with me as a teacher. At least you’ll have something nice to look at.” He waggled his eyebrows. Unlike when I first met him, he was only trying to get me to laugh. In the beginning, he was, well … a jerk.
“You never answered my question,” I prompted.
“Donovan’s a prick because he has no magic.” Theo toyed with one of his curls, like his words were no big deal.
“What?” I gasped. “Is that even possible?”
“Clearly, it’s possible.” He rolled his eyes. “No one knows what happened. Both his parents are enchanters but Donovan has no magic. He’s … dormant. So, he’s stuck teaching our origin. He lives here all the time too, because some would kill him for being an abomination.”
“So, is that why he doesn’t want anyone to use magic in his classroom? He’s jealous?”
Theo shrugged. “That seems like the logical assumption.”
“Jeez, if the guy wasn’t such a jerk I’d feel sorry for him.”
Theo shook his head and smiled. His gray eyes peeked out beneath his dark hair and he stole my breath. I shook my head. I’d heard enough to know that a relationship between a protector and, well, anyone was off limits. Besides, Theo didn’t see me that way.
Then why did my heart speed up whenever he looked my way?
Stupid Mara, he doesn’t even like you and you shouldn’t like him, either. He can be such a jerk.
But I knew there was more to him than his persona. I knew at his core he was loyal to a fault. I knew he was so much more than he appeared to be. But he could never be mine. And he’d never be interested in me anyway. If he wasn’t my protector he wouldn’t even talk to me. I looked like a child while he was an Adonis. And if Theo would be interested in anyone it would be Naomi. The thought sickened me. I’d never look like her and frankly, I didn’t want to. She might’ve been beautiful but her insides were black like tar.
“No, not even then.” Theo broke me out of my thoughts.
“Huh? What?” I said, fearing he’d somehow heard my thoughts.
“I thought you had zoned out on me.” His lips lifted in a small smile. “I was saying that even if Donovan wasn’t a jerk I still wouldn’t like him.”
“Oh.”
“Sometimes, I’d love to jump inside your head.”
“Why?” I asked, looking at him up through my lashes.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “You seem like a deep thinker.”
If he only knew what I was thinking about; he’d steer clear of me then.
Theo looked at his watch. “Time for botany lessons.”
“Plants?” I questioned.
“Don’t worry, it’s actually a fun class.”
“I’m not sure you and I share the same opinion on fun.” I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder. It was heavier than before. I hadn’t thought about the book Donovan had given me but Theo must have shoved it in there. I’d thank him but he’d get too much satisfaction out of that and his head honestly didn’t need to get any bigger.
“Stop lagging. Do I need to carry you?” He held his arms out.
Yes, please.
“No,” I mumbled, ducking my head so he couldn’t see my face. “I’m fine.”
One minute the boy drove me nuts and the next I was thinking about being in his tattooed arms. I was officially bipolar.
Theo hadn’t been lying. Botany wasn’t bad at all. The little bird of a woman that taught the lesson, Diana Coleman, was surprisingly nice after the encounter I had with Donovan. She spent the time telling us what to expect to learn with her. The gist, which could’ve taken three minutes instead of an hour, was that we would be learning about a variety of human plants and enchanted plants that might help us, whether with healing or with the memory, or any other number of things. Apparently, plants were more than pretty things to look at.
Thankfully, it was time for lunch after and I was starving. The piece of toast I ate for breakfast had been far from enough.
I was taking my first bite of a turkey and provolone cheese sandwich when Winston sat down.
“Afternoon, love.”
“Hey, Winston.” I smiled at the Brit.
Beside me, Theo sneered in a mocking voice, “Hey, Winston.”
Winston chuckled, not at all bothered by Theo’s attitude. “Theodore.”
Adelaide plopped down beside Winston. “Thank God you didn’t get kicked out of anymore classes. I may have died,” she said in her low voice to me.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” scolded Theo.
“Don’t piss off teachers,” Adelaide countered, glaring at her older brother.
As much as Theo and Adelaide loved each other, they spent the majority of their time arguing.
Theo narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
“So,” began Winston as he fidgeted in his seat. “What are you doing later?” he asked me.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Nothing, I guess.”
“Would you like to hang out later?”
My eyes widened. Winston had only ever spoken to me in the hallways and during eating hours. I guess in a way we were friends, but it still felt weird.
“Uh, sure,” I finally answered and saw him relax. Theo, on the other hand, was wound tight as a drum.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Theo growled.
“Why not?” I asked and wiped a dab of mayonnaise from my mouth.
“It’s just—” Theo squirmed.
“Theodore’s jealous,” inserted Adelaide with a smirk.
“Shut up,” Theo screamed and hit his fists against the table. Our plates clanged from the onslaught. The three of us exchanged glances at the outburst before settling our gazes on Theo. He glared at us. “It’s not safe,” he explained in a calmer voice, but it felt more like he was covering himself.
I laughed out loud at this. “Winston’s room is probably the safest room in the whole manor.”
Theo seethed. I watched the veins in his neck pop out. “No.”
It was one word, but the meaning and the tone behind it spoke volumes.
Adelaide laughed. “Jeez, Theo, what’s wrong with you?”
“It’s my job to protect you,” he spoke directly to me as if the others were not there.
Normally, I would let it go and say, “Sorry, Winston.” But Theo’s attitude was really grating on my nerves and I was in no mood to listen. Especially after he got me kicked out of my first lesson of the day.
“You sit outside my or Adelaide’s room whenever we want to talk without you eavesdropping. I don’t see why you can’t do that now.” It felt good to stand up for myself—empowering, even.
Theo’s eyes widened at my comeback but he knew he had no defense. Score one for Mara. Sadly, I knew he was still winning.
Chapter 13
WE HEADED TO OUR NEXT lesson—magic theory.