Page 107 of First Ritual
“Yep,” I replied, walking to my quipu. I tried not to look at the blood. I’d wash the piece tonight and hang it up. I could feel that I’d nearly put enough information into the work. Very soon, the magic contained inside the braids and knots would reveal itself.
Wild rubbed the back of his head. “Fuck, Tempest. I’m sorry this is happening to you. I’m sorry I’m doing this to you.”
Tears stung my eyes. Sorry he was doing this to me? Odds were that I’d given him all this trouble. Wild could have a demon in residence, too, because of me. I sniffed, setting the quipu on the table. My voice wavered. “We’ll figure it out.”
The pain on the skin under my ribs faded. I squirmed as another sensation replaced it. Should have known. Just like after the first rune. This time, I knew what was happening. Warmth flushed my chest. A restlessness filled me. This was like a heat, and I had past experience with the cure.
Not today.
I’d ride it out.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
My mind stuttered as another rush of pleasure hit me. “I’m fine. I… could you give me some privacy? I may just go for a walk and chill out today.”
Wild, gray track pants on and topless. “I hate to be the bearer of more bad news. The council will announce its decision on your placement today. Before the Caves missions are announced.”
I stared at him. “Publicly?”
He grimaced. “They did it for me too. They don’t get many new people here… It’s a big deal to them. Pretty painless, though.”
“What did they decide?”
Wild considered me, and I gathered he wasn’t meant to say anything yet. “Proven.”
Phew. “Not ideal, but better than it could’ve been.”
“You’re no novice. Why do you want to be treated like one? Many in your position would have used their test results to bargain for esteemed ranking.”
“I need no ranking to know my power.”
Wild tilted his head. “Do you see any benefit in grouping magus to aid in their learning experience?”
“Grouping might make the running of things easier, yet doesn’t that place limits on individuals who don’t fit the mold? It’s not our place to shun or diminish any of the mother’s gifts, no matter that changing the systems within the coven may be a difficult task.” My thoughts wandered to Rooke. Why wasn’t she in the Greenhouse of Fun? That’s where her magic was bursting to be. She’d been limited, plain and simple—to the detriment of herself and this coven.
I pressed my thighs together. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to get ready for breakfast.” I couldn’t go out walking until I took care of this rune situation.
His gaze lowered down my body. A sharpness entered his eyes as the magus strode over.
My body quivered at his approach. The way he was looking at me. My mouth. My hands.
“Wild,” I said.
He lifted my hand.
I yanked it back. “Wild.”
The magus jerked and gaped down at me. “Fuck.”
“What just happened?”
Color left his face. “Nothing. I’ll see you at breakfast. I—” He swore again. “Look, we’ll talk later.”
My legs almost gave way as Wild stalked out the door. Today was officially a self-care day, and that was starting with vagina self-care.
I sent a wave of magic to shut the door, then sealed it and shut the bathroom door too. Masturbating in a cave filled with magus was a new one for me, but there was no way I could attend breakfast without it. Heat was the only way I could describe this crushing, all-consuming need, as animalistic as that word sounded.
Against the wall of the bathroom chamber, I shoved off the pajamas itching at my sensitive skin and touched myself.