𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍


 

Mortals were many things, yet the only word I could think to use to describe the one in front of me was boring. For the past hour she had been nursing a hot — cold by now — coffee and reading a book. From what I could see she had short hair in a style that reminded me of Freddie Mercury and tawny skin. Her face was buried between the pages, though I did catch a glimpse of a gold horseshoe through her nose as she pulled back to flip the paper.

"Forty." I counted aloud to my counterpart. "One more minute here and I'm going to poke my eyes out with a fork."

Theron rolled his own eyes that resembled freshly poured whiskey, while shifting my unused fork to the other end of the round table. "Castor is joining us soon."

I huffed a breath, leaning against the back of the uncomfortable chair. "And by then we will be nothing but bone and decaying skin."

"Stop being dramatic." Theron was in no way in charge here but as a beloved member to the society I did have to show some respect. Which meant sticking my tongue out at him would have been frowned upon. Good thing we weren't in Polaris then. "Can you just do as you're told?"

"My ass is falling asleep from doing just that." I grumbled all the while peaking over at the Freddie Mercury wannabe.

A broad figure slid into the seat beside me and I didn't need to look to know it was the brunet ball of antidepressants known as Castor. His scent of sandalwood and cinnamon wafted off him in waves that made me feel nauseous. He was sitting too close for my liking. Then again I would have preferred if everyone was at least six feet away from me at all times.

"How long has she been sitting there?" His hands folded together atop the table, the sleeves of his button up rolled just high enough to see his Aries marking. The white of the ink somehow made his skin appear darker than it actually was.

An hour." I leered over at the oblivious eighteen year old. "One long hour."

I could feel Theron tapping his foot against the tile floor but in front of our professor he bit his tongue. I was willing to bet he wanted to correct me on the time since he cast his eyes down at the watch around his wrist.

"Have you seen any of the signs?" Castor looked to Theron for an answer. Okay fuck you too buddy.

He seemed unbothered by attention being directly on him but the slightest twitch of his little finger gave away the ounce of disturbance in his calm facade. "Her wrists are covered, there's no way for me to see if she has the Marking." His thumb ran over his Sagittarius mark with a dullness to his voice that made me want to slam my head against the wooden slab. His tone always went haunting when Markings were mentioned, and I had a good guess on why.

Theron was the first Ignis of his family in almost a century while every other Circinus had been born Aqua. No doubt he'll be forced into a courtship with someone of that element by the end of our second year. I would have felt bad for him if he wasn't so controlling as a future nobleman. My own brother didn't even try bossing me around on some sort of power trip and he was going to become the next Lord Hail.

"We should have brought Selene, as an Aer she would have been able to just make the sleeve inch up a bit."

An animalistic growl came from the back of Theron's throat but it was Castor who shrugged off the suggestion. "Lupus has yet to master the element and as a fae of no social standing the Council wants to keep her and the others from coming in contact with mortals."

"Still could have brought an Aer instead of Ignis."

Castor pinched the bridge of his nose while using his other hand to rub at his temple. "I should have begged for the Heirs." He muttered as if Theron and I wouldn't hear him.

"Yeah, you should have." I agreed, my bed was missing me. "But the Council won't risk their children, only the future advocates of each Guild."

Theron kicked my ankle under the table, his face impassive. We, technically speaking, weren't allowed to speak illy of any member of the Council. Some saw it as an act of rebellion. One of them being the young man with a mop of dark curls across from me. "It's an honor to be given a task by the Council."

Oh, gag me. "That's enough out of you two." Castor huffed a sigh, his fingers still massaging the side of his head to release the built up tension. "In case you haven't noticed with your constant back and forth, the girl has left."

True to his word, the second I could will myself to keep my glare off Theron the mortal was gone. Her coffee cup was still in the same exact place it had been since I first arrived but she and her book had vanished. I glanced around in case she was still in the building but I came up empty. "This is your fault," I shoved my chair back to stand as did Theron and Castor. Though the eldest among us appeared the least bit worried despite our charge missing.

"Mine?!" Theron seethed through his teeth with forced restraint. He had this ire in his eyes that made my knees buckle and spine straighten. "We're wasting time standing here." He stalked away, his back facing Castor and I, shoulders squared as if he were ready to start a fight.

I peered up at Castor but his gaze was already narrowed down on me. My hands rose on their own accord, silently surrendering to the intimidating aura that came from the man. I spun on my heels and slowly backpedaled from our table till I was a safe distance and bolted from the diner, hoping to be faster than the not-so furry beast.