The hellhound gave a soft woof as if agreeing with Devin. Devin dared to reach out and scratch the beast behind the ears. He was sort of an adorable guardian of the underworld.

"I can't help how I feel. I was told my entire life that I had little magic and should be happy with whatever scraps I could dredge up. Now I find out I'm pretty powerful and the people who should've been helping me all along didn't care enough to test me properly. I didn't just come into these abilities overnight. I must've had them all along."

"I could feel your magical energy when we first met, didn't anyone comment on it?" It baffled Devin that no one had investigated the amount of power pouring off a supposedly low level wizard.

Eli shook his head. "No. I was considered the weak one. Maybe if I'd shown some skills they would've double-checked, but I think they followed my father's lead and the evaluations they were given. No one thought I would be good for much. Frederick always had father's attention as the family star."

Devin snorted. "I've met your brother. Trust me when I say you are anything but weak."

"Thanks."

He knew what he'd liked to be thanked for, rubbing Eli off or fucking him into the mattress. "Would it be wrong to kiss you where anyone could see?"

He winced after he asked the question. Now he sounded like he'd only listened to Eli so he could get a kiss. Why did this one guy always make him feel as if he were on the wrong foot?

"I would love a kiss."

Eli's words, soft and breathless, almost escaped Devin's hearing.

"Good." He slid his fingers through Eli's hair. The soft strands wrapped around Devin's fingers like the silky fringe of his mother's favorite lamp. He'd been smacked more than once as a child for playing with the edges. Eli didn't slap his fingers-instead the young necromancer leaned into Devin's touch and pressed his sinfully sweet lips against Devin's.

Eli's flavor always surprised him. A man who consorted with the dead should taste like ash with a side of death. Instead, Eli tasted like a wet, possibly sticky dream, the type of perfection Devin would wake up yearning for with a firm hand wrapped around his cock.

When they broke apart, Devin could almost swear his body wept over the separation.

"Wow," Eli said. Color spread across his cheeks in a brutal, brilliant crimson.

This time Devin touched the heated skin. "Nice."

"It's my stupid fair complexion."

"I love it. I can feel your emotions with my fingers." Devin brushed the pads of his right hand across Eli's face, relishing the warmth.

"I don't know what to say to that."

"Why say anything?" Devin dove in for another kiss.

Devin's fingers tightened, holding Eli's head still so he could devour the necromancer in big, greedy bites. He tore his lips away to slide them down the slim marble column of Eli's neck. Cool white skin, a cock-stirring contrast to the heat of Eli's face. Unable to resist, Devin bit down, leaving a mark on the flawless surface.

Now everyone would know that Eli belonged to someone.

Devin jerked back. "Oh, I'm sorry. So sorry. I don't know what came over me."

He continued to babble and couldn't seem to get his mouth to shut as words spewed forth like a fountain. He'd never been possessive of anyone before. Devin loved well and often, but he'd never had the compulsion to stake his claim on anyone or to make sure everyone around knew about his interest. What was happening to him?

"Hey, it's all right. We're talking a couple of kisses, not a lifelong commitment." Eli quickly snatched up his backpack from where it had fallen on the ground while they'd kissed. "I need to go study. I'll see you later."

With a last wistful glance, Eli went inside the dorm building. The hellhound followed at his heels.

"Crap," Devin muttered. His first impulse was to run after Eli and apologize. Would that be enough? What was he apologizing for anyway, for marking Eli, or for being sorry about it afterward? He'd have to straighten everything out in his head before he could properly formulate a plan because he refused to let Eli slip away from him. For the first time, Devin knew why Dan had been so obsessed with Farren. When you found the right guy, you didn't want to let him go.

Eli opened the door to his room with shaky hands. He let the hellhound in first then shut the door behind him and leaned against the firm surface.

"Rough day?"

Eli laughed at Porter using the same words Devin had a few minutes ago.

"You could say that."

Porter's eyes widened. "Nice puppy."

"He's my avatar."

"Good work."

"What was your avatar?" Eli wondered about his friend's life before death. Porter didn't exactly offer information-every tidbit had to be dragged out of the reserved man. Eli had thought he was introverted before he met Porter.

Porter shrugged. "I never had the chance to call one."

"I wonder what happens to a wizard's avatar once their wizard dies?" Eli had never given that much thought before, but now that he could see the dead, he wondered about all aspects of the afterlife. He hadn't run across any avatars yet.

Porter straightened from where he'd been touching the hellhound. "That's a good question. I don't know if anyone has ever studied that before. I mean, necromancers are pretty rare. You should check the school library for any research other necromancers might have done. Maybe you can make that a graduate study track or something. I bet you'll be going through wizarding school pretty fast now that they've identified your skill. You don't need a lot of the training the other wizards need."

"True." The day's events rushed through him he dropped onto his bed. The faster he got out of school the quicker he could establish his professional life and get off his father's bank account. His father used money as a means of controlling his children. Eli didn't care if he had to eat nothing but rice and beans, he'd make it on his own.

"You look tired."

Eli took stock of his body. "I'm more hungry than anything else. Damn, I should've stopped to grab some food on the way."

"Best thing about being dead-no hunger pains," Porter taunted.

Eli laughed. "At least there is an upside." He ran Porter's conversation through his head. "So how far can you travel? I mean I know you aren't stuck in this room since we met across campus and you said you were listening to faculty."

"I can't leave campus." Porter's firm tone told Eli the subject wasn't open for discussion.

"Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Can I ask you a question? You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable."

"What's the question?"

"Do I need a ghost's permission to banish them? When I was sending the students, I asked and got them to agree before I attempted to send them over. I got the impression things would go smoother if they were willing." He then explained to Porter about his test and what he'd done, hoping this would be the last time he told this particular story. He didn't want to turn into one of those people who bragged about their accomplishments.

Porter picked at a hole in his jeans for a moment, avoiding Eli's gaze. "You can banish a ghost against his will, but it takes a lot more effort."

Eli had suspected as much. "That explains why they went so easily."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Eli. You did good. Those kids have been ready to move on for a while."

"You knew them?"

"Sure, I've visited most of the ghosts on campus. I mean, what else do I have to do?"

"I got the impression the students couldn't leave their room."

Porter nodded. "I think they were restricted to that floor. Depending on a ghost's death, their bond with the spot they died, or with the person who killed them, can create their environment in the afterlife. I believed-and still do-that the administration at the school were ultimately responsible for my death. They knew the students who killed me were dangerously unstable, but they took a lot of money from their fathers and looked the other way, resulting in my death." The ghost's tone was casual, but Eli knew Porter must've suffered a great deal.

"So you think that's why you're stuck at the school."

"Yeah, I'm pretty certain."

"There are lots of ghosts here." Eli remembered his test in the middle of campus.

"It's an old school. There have been accidents and murders along the way. Not everyone has stayed. I think there are probably only thirty of us now that the students have passed on."

"I'm not sure if I should look forward to finding them all or run the other way. I have enough problems with Devin without trying to solve someone else's problems. He keeps grabbing me then shoving me away."

Porter grinned, but this time it had a more sinister cast than a reassuring one. "Don't you like a challenge?"

"I think he has relationship issues." Eli had heard even in the short time he'd been on campus that Devin was a flirty man. Being bisexual, the triplet flitted from men to women and back again. Eli refused to be just one more victim to Devin's charm. Eli licked his lips as he remembered Devin's taste. Delicious. Devin's mouth had been everything Eli had ever hoped for in a kiss. No wonder the man got lucky so often. Who could say no after kissing Devin?

"You like him," Porter said, studying Devin's expression.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure he's the right guy for me."

Porter patted Eli on the back. The cool touch of the ghost's hand froze him through his shirt. "There are plenty of guys out there. I'm sure you'll find one."

"Thanks."

Chapter Seven.

"I can't believe you're leaving already," Eli said. His mentor had done a lot of good, but Eli still didn't think he understood necromancy as well as he thought he should.

Alstair set his hands on Eli's shoulders. "You have all the skills you need-a strong heart, a solid spirit and the will of a giant. You'll be fine, Eli. Just remember to trust your gut."

"Is that what you do?" Even after spending thirty days with the man, Eli didn't feel any closer to Alstair. The necromancer kept his thoughts to himself, but he was an excellent teacher.

Alstair smiled. "I gave up half of my soul to a woman who resurrected me then left me two weeks later. Don't throw away everything for love, Eli-it's not worth it."

Eli held back the urge to say something horribly inappropriate. Any words he might have said at that time would sound sappy. "What about Reaper?" Eli pointed to his avatar. "You never did tell me how to banish him."

"I told you to talk to your teacher. What did he say?"

"That it was a necromancer thing."

Alstair laughed. "I think you might be stuck with him then. I've never seen an avatar more loyal."

He didn't like to admit he enjoyed the avatar's company, but Eli would like some time alone with Devin. They were in the middle of mid-terms, so he didn't see much of his wayward wizard. At least he thought they were still seeing each other.

"On your way out, Alstair?" Eli's father and brother approached.

Frederick sneered at Eli. His brother had come to the dorm a few times to try to reassert his claim in being the favorite. Eli had told Frederick he didn't care to push in on his plans, but they both knew the ultimate decision was their father's. If he decided to give Eli more attention, neither he nor Frederick would be happy.

"Yes, you have a fine son there, Mr Trenton," Alstair said. "I'm sure he'll make a name for himself."

"Sure, sure. Have a good trip home. I've forwarded money into your account."

Eli sighed. Money was the only language his father understood. He was going to miss Alstair. The necromancer had at least partially understood Eli's issues.

"You'll still be nothing but a half rate wizard," Frederick muttered.

Reaper snarled at Eli's brother, causing him to step back.

"Maybe, but I'll be one who can talk to ghosts." Eli flashed Frederick a smug smile before walking away.

"Where are you going, Eli? I thought we could talk about your future," his father called out.

"Sorry, Father, I have to take care of my avatar. I'll talk to you later."

He didn't dare look back as he walked to his dorm. Maybe he could talk to Devin about his hellhound. Devin had mentioned his friend Jaynell might be able to help him banish his avatar. Eli enjoyed his hellhound, but it was difficult to talk to people when they focused all their attention on the flaming-eyed dog beside Eli. Not to mention, more than one teacher had said how distracting Reaper was for the classroom. None of them knew how to banish his avatar, but they all thought Eli needed to do something about him.

He found Devin in his dorm room. Despite his playboy reputation, Eli could almost always find Devin either in his room or with his brothers.

"Hey, Eli!" Devin's smile, the one Eli only saw directed at him, went a long ways toward reassuring him of his welcome.

"Hi. I was wondering if you could arrange a time to go and see your friend Jay? You said he might be able to help me with Reaper?"

"Um, yeah." Disappointment flashed in Devin's eyes before he motioned for Eli to come inside.

"I wanted to see you too," Eli defended. He didn't want Devin to think he had less interest in seeing him than in meeting his friend.

Devin pulled Eli into his arms. "Good."

Their kiss kindled Eli's inner fire. He bit Devin's bottom lip before sliding out of his arms. He took a good look at his boyfriend's face and frowned. "What's wrong? You don't look like you've slept for days."

"I keep having strange dreams."

"What kind of dreams?" Eli stroked Devin's forehead.

Devin shrugged. "I keep dreaming I died. The worst part is, I've had several dreams lately that have come true. I think I might be a latent psychic."

"Do any of your brothers have the same ability?"