I’d never been more wrong in my life.

Knowing what little I did about Dimitrius, I’d assumed that he would contain his excitement surrounding the new things he’d be learning. The man was the image of a refined and put-together gentleman, so surely he wouldn’t act like a kid in a candy store set loose with a hundred dollars.

Yeah…I vastly underestimated his exuberance for trying new things.

Generally, this wouldn’t be a bad thing, seeing him all but zipping around the market asking questions a mile a minute was almost cute, but I already had a bad reputation with my fellow mages. If they learned I’d brought a prosaic here, even though he wasn’t technically human, they’d bring it right to the council in an attempt to land me in trouble.

Which, to be fair, wouldn’t do anything. After all the years of them trying and failing to get me into trouble, I’d figured out how to dodge most of them. The worst they could do was give me an irritating fee, but if I could avoid the entire clash, I would. They already hated me as it was, no need to add fuel to the fire.

Watching the blond gawk at everything in the market, occasionally zipping off to get a closer look, I sighed. I should stop him, before he attracts even more attention, but he just seemed so…happy. Something told me he hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time and I didn’t want to ruin that for him.

This was probably the first time in forever that he’s had so many potentially immune people around him. It allowed for a bit of leeway that I doubted he’d had in years. Despite that and the guilt simmering low, I gently gripped his arm to steer him away from the shadier shops he was inching toward.

Once we were back on track to the herb shop, I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, but we should be a bit more conspicuous.” And not wander into the magical version of a fence shop.

He paused, realizing how energetic he’d been, before visibly composing himself with a grimace. It may have been my imagination but I could have sworn there’d been a flash of pink to his cheeks…

“My apologies, I let myself become carried away.” He rumbled, eyes contrite.

I mourned the loss of his excitement the second it faded. Under other circumstances I wouldn’t mind it, but this wasn’t the place for it. “It’s fine. If you have any questions I’ll happily answer them and let me know if you see something you want to get. Regular money does nothing here and if you try to buy something with it they’ll know instantly that something isn’t right.”

His mouth tugged down in a frown. “I could not ask that of you-.”

I cut him off. “Yes you can, because I said you can. I’ll tell you if something is out of my budget. If you see something you’re curious about then I don’t see a reason not to get it for you.”

Confusion knit his brow. “Why would you do such a thing?”

Scratching the back of my head, I shrugged. “Why not? I get the feeling you haven’t been this excited in a long time and there’s nothing wrong with being happy about something new. Besides, it’s easier for me to show you how things work through objects. I’ll need to get a few books while I’m here, now that I think about it…”

I trailed off, mind wandering to just how much I had to teach him. Maybe I should start with smaller lessons, get the basics out of the way and then come back to the bigger things?

“Well, well, well if it isn’t the Inutilis Mage. I’m surprised you managed to hook your nails into such a fine specimen. Does he know who you are yet?”

The nasally tone swept a familiar wave of hot anger through me, every muscle tensing to stone as she approached. I didn’t need to turn to see who that was and her input was definitely not welcome.

I needed to change the subject before she talked anymore. Dimitrius was friendly with me now, but he might not be once he learned about that.

Forcing a polite smile–or my equivalent that probably looked more like an animal baring its teeth–I took a deep breath and faced the bleach blonde behind me. Her eyes raked up and down Dimitrius, tongue sliding out as she visually devoured him.

Dimitrius grimaced, tensing at the attention as he tried to stealthily inch behind me, using me as a barrier between him and Veronica. Smart man. Despite the painfully obvious discomfort all but wafting off him, Veronica didn’t let up.

Even when he hid partially behind me she eye humped him, ignoring his clear cues to stop. When he started shifting in place, I stepped in Veronica’s line of sight, my teeth grinding with repressed irritation. “He’s fully aware of my Auxilio magic and we’re not together like that-.”

Not that I’d mind it if we were, but the fact remained that nothing was there and she needed to step off before I made her. Before I could chastise the wanton hussy over her blatant eye fucking, Veronica tried to shove past me to get to Dimitrius.

“Oh? I thought he was too good for you. Move aside then, so we adults can talk.” Her voice dripped with poisonous honey, launching my hackles sky high as I set my stance and refused to budge. I didn’t want to cause a scene, but the only way Veronica would be getting to Dimitrius was over my dead body.

Protectiveness flared hot in my veins, the urge to rip her apart blitzing to the surface as I struggled to hold it in line. I’d never reacted like this about anyone before and the longer I spent around him, the worse it became. Soon I’d have to put aside time to analyze it, especially if it made me more prone to trying to detach people’s retinas for looking at him…

Veronica shifted her gaze to me, open lust souring to distaste as she sneered. “You’re acting awfully possessive of someone you’re not attached to.”

I didn’t rise to the bait. Meeting her eyes levelly, I shrugged, showing none of the frothing rage threatening to engulf me. “He’s my friend and he doesn’t seem to want your attention. If I’m wrong, I’ll move.”

Glancing back to Dimitrius, his eyes widening in the ‘deer in headlights’ look, I tipped my head in question. When Veronica looked at him expectantly, he spoke, tone firm though discomforted.

“I do not, in fact, wish for your attention. If you would be so kind as to let us be on our way? We need a potion ingredient and it is dire that we retrieve it post haste.”

I groaned internally and Veronica’s eyes sparked with interest at the tidbit he’d dropped.

“An ingredient? What could you possibly be up to now, Inutilis Mage?” She asked, a sharp smirk cutting across her lips.

Biting my tongue at the familiar insult, I glared. “None of your business, now move aside so we can get through.”

The eyes of the market were on us, disapproval burning into the back of my head as grumbles rose. None of those eyes were on Veronica, despite her being the one to start this, and the familiar bias sent a hot wave of indignation through me.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Some things never changed.

Ignoring the urge to snap at the people to look elsewhere, I listened as Veronica purred, flicking another glance over Dimitrius.

“You’re free to move around me.”

Yeah and the second Dimitrius was in grabbing distance she’d cop a feel. Not a chance I’d allow that. Shifting my stance just a tad, I nodded toward the shop to the side of us with a cauldron sign–an outdated symbol but perfect for old farts that refused to get with the times–and spoke over my shoulder.

“You go first, I’ll be right behind you.”

Dimitrius eyed Veronica with open uncertainty, worry edging in as he considered the people glaring at my back. He almost argued, his mouth opening to do so, but I gave a nearly imperceptible shake of the head.

We were attracting too much attention and needed to get out now. I’d be fine, but he might not be if we stayed much longer.

He must have caught that because he scowled, nodding with palpable reluctance before turning toward the shop. When he did, Veronica made to flash forward just as I’d thought she would.

Closing a hand around her wrist, I whispered, “Viribus.” Magic snapped to my command, all but lunging out of me to coat my arm. The spell sank through, strengthening my muscles as I clenched her hand threateningly. Her bones creaked in warning, her smile dropping as I yanked her to hover an inch from my face.

“I’ve had it up to here with you. I won’t retaliate to your childish taunts, but I will stop you from molesting my friends. Now turn around while your arm is still at the correct angle, because if you try that again I’m breaking this in the opposite direction it’s supposed to go. Then any other bone I can get my hands on is going to follow.”

I shot a shark-like smile to the people still watching us, some tense and ready to intervene. “How many do you think I can break before someone drags me off? My bets on six, but I want your honest thoughts.” To punctuate the threat, I tightened my grip, listening to her fingers grind.

She shivered, tan skin paling a shade as she tried and failed to jerk away. When that didn’t work, she nodded with a hiss. “Fine! Just let me go.”

I did, stepping back with a fake smile as my magic coiled back into my core. “Have a great day Veronica!” With that, I spun around and breezed into the shop. Dimitrius hovered near the window, hands lingering near his sleeve where I knew he kept a dagger. Good to know I would’ve had backup, had things gotten ugly.

Forcing my irritation down, I pasted on a smile and gestured to the counter. “Let’s get that herb, shall we?” Before someone calls the guards on me for some imagined slight.

I only made it two steps before he stopped me, concern and gratitude warming his eyes. “Thank you, I was uncomfortable with her advances and appreciate you handling the situation.”

Uneasy with the praise, I shrugged. “That’s not something to be grateful for, anytime you’re with me I’m not about to let someone touch you.” Realizing how bad that sounded, I tacked on. “Obviously unless you want them to, but that goes without saying.”

The word vomit was just on the edge of my tongue, all the ways I’d like to touch him hovering on my next breath, before I swallowed it down. Not the time, place or person for that, Julian…

“What does Inutilis mean?” Dimitrius asked, yanking me to the present with pitiless force. Wariness lingered like shards in his eyes, the clear hesitation and willingness to back off if I ask him to prodding me to answer despite the bitter memories surrounding the name.

“Useless. It means useless. Just a barb at my magic type, I’ve gotten used to it over the years.” I answered, hiding my hate of the name behind the typical stiff lipped mask.

When did they even start calling me that? It seemed like I’d had it thrown my way as long as I could remember.

It was fitting though. My magic had been useless when dozens of innocents were hung for witchcraft, it’d been useless when the townspeople chased me for something I couldn’t control. And it’d been useless when mother turned her back on me, those hat filled eyes never far from memory.

Cold, grasping pain twisted its fingers through my chest, freezing all it touched, but before I could change the subject, warmth curled around my hand.

Pausing mid step, I looked down at the hand now covering mine, scarred and calloused fingers carefully stroking, sending waves of that addicting warmth outward. It hummed, all but singing through my skin until the last of the ice melted away.

Looking up into Dimitrius’s eyes, I swallowed at the anger burning behind them. Anger for me.

His lips curled into a snarl of distaste, honey gaze flashing with lethal intent as he spat. “They are all fools. You are far from useless and if they lack the intelligence to see that, then the fault is theirs.”

The anger faded into something else I didn’t have a name for, his eyes softening as he squeezed my fingers. “You are extraordinary, let no one tell you otherwise.”

A squirmy, fluttering rooted in my chest and I swallowed around it, not sure what it was or what to do with it. When it didn’t fade after a minute, I shelved the subject to think on later and focused.

“Thanks, now come on. We’re here for a reason. Let’s get the herb and your books and get out, before we arouse anymore suspicion.” So saying, I tugged our joined hands toward the counter where the employee eyed me warily.

Hopefully, Veronica would be the only bump in the road and we could be on our merry way soon.

“You’re out until when?”

I stared in disbelief as the shop keep repeated himself. “Next year, I’m afraid. Someone just came in and bought out my entire stock. Frenwere is rare, as you know.”

Then the old man’s smile turned sharp as he needled. “Just ask one of your many ‘friends’ to loan you some.”

I would, but that would require having friends and that asshole knew I had none. Biting back the urge to tell him where to shove it, I nodded, mumbling a reluctant thanks. Turning back to Dimitrius, I scrubbed a hand over my neck and sighed.

Whether we were in the human world or the magical one, items on backorder were a pain in my ass. Moving back to Dimitrius, the man having stayed close to me while eyeing everyone warily, I spoke. “We’re going to have to get the information the old-fashioned way. The herb is out and I doubt I’ll be able to track down another store that carries it.”

He shrugged, offering an arm without hesitation. “Then that is what we shall do. While this would have hastened things, you know as well as I that things rarely work so smoothly in life.”

I snorted, accepting his arm. Didn’t I ever know that. Shaking the thought to the side, I led him out, only to eye our linked arms curiously a minute later.

“I thought you hated touch? You shouldn’t force yourself to do stuff like this if so. I’m not about to huff at you for ignoring social protocols.”

Hell, I ignored five of them an hour. Any less and my day just wasn’t complete.

He shot a glance at our arms, before shaking his head. “I do not mind casual touch.” Darkness crept over his features and he looked away. "Besides, I had to tolerate much worse for feeding before I developed the contactless method. After decades of that, innocent contact does not bother me."

Then he shrugged, the cloud around him evaporating in a blink. "You are immune to my powers, thus, there is no reason to actively avoid your touch." He squeezed my hand and hummed, eyes a million miles away. "At times, I miss innocent contact such as this. It is...refreshing to have it again, without fear of what a momentary slip on my part could cause."

I hadn't considered it that way, but it would be lonely. Hell, I’d felt that ache more often than I cared to think of.

"Well, if you ever want more of this," I tugged at his arm, "then feel free to ask."

A smile, slow and warm, stretched his lips. "I will most likely take you up on that, though I should warn you to avoid certain areas."

When he flicked his hand down to his groin, I choked. “I wouldn’t touch you like that!”

…Okay, wait, that wasn’t quite right.

“Not without your permission.” Alright, there we go, that’s more accurate. Heck even with his permission, I’d probably insist on some kind of safe word too, just to be on the side of caution.

Warmth curled through his eyes, there and gone in a blink. “I know and appreciate that. Should I be uncomfortable with something, I trust you to react accordingly. Now, let us head back. We have a witch to question.”

Not arguing, I led us toward the entrance of the market where the bookshop sat. Everything else had been a bust, but if nothing else I could find some books for Dimitrius. And who knows, maybe Sera would have some Frenwere. I doubted it, since the seer didn’t need truth potion often, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

Stopping by the shop, I nudged him inside. “Come on, let’s pick out some books for you so the trip is at least partially successful.”

Just like earlier, his eyes lit up, the rest of his face keeping its impassive mask. It was cute, how excited he was. And when I showed him all the different areas of magic there were to study I thought for sure he would faint from exuberance.

There were too many subjects to go over right now and something tells me if we hadn’t been on a time crunch he would have happily camped right here and read every book he could get his hands on. Unfortunately for both of us, the clock was ticking so a few books would have to tide him over for now.

While it was fun watching him all but vibrate in place, we have a directive and I wouldn’t let myself forget it. Something fishy was going on and once we got back to the house I’d put in a call to Sera. The odds of her having another vision so soon were abysmal, but it didn’t hurt to check.

Maybe, with some luck, we’d be able to get to the bottom of this quickly.