“You think it’s always like this with them?” Alina whispers to me.
I nod. “Yup.”
“We can take you on,” Maeve says. Then she props one hand on her hip and looks back at us. “Right?”
“I-I think I’m gonna sit this one out,” Poppy says. She’s still wet and starting to shiver.
Immediately, I walk over to her, then hold out my hands, using a bit of fire magic to radiate warmth. It makes Poppy smile.
“Thanks, Ly.”
“Alina? Lyra?” Maeve presses. “Come on. Let’s show him how it’s done.”
I’m always up for a little friendly competition—plus, it’ll help me stop looking around, wondering if I might catch a glimpse of Cairn somewhere near the runeball field. I thought I saw him on our walk down here, but it just turned out to be Professor Stone bundled up in way too many cloaks, the shadow of him in my periphery playing tricks on my mind.
“I’m in,” I say. I narrow my eyes at Maeve’s stepbrother. “Get ready to hurt, orc.”
“Ly,” Alina says, shooting me a sharp look.
But Aric doesn’t seem to mind. He lets out a big laugh. “Great. This should be fun.”
Chapter 38
Lyra
AS IT TURNS OUT,I’Mthe one who hurts from the epic runeball game against Aric. Poppy returned to the dorm to warm up and dry off, but Maeve, Alina, and I stayed to wage battle against the orc. And we lost spectacularly.
Even now, bouncing along in Alina’s carriage days later, my muscles are still sore.
“We made it through,” Maeve says as she slumps against the plush cushions. There are dark circles under her eyes from staying up too late this week studying. We pulled a couple all-nighters in prep for our finals, and I think we’re all feeling it.
Except for Poppy.
She didn’t need to pull any all-nighters—in fact, I’m pretty sure she didn’t even have to study and just wanted to sit with us during our companionable suffering. Even now,she looks rosy cheeked and well rested, sitting tall beside me, looking out the window as the Mistwood rolls by.
“So, what’s the deal with your community service?” Maeve asks. “Are you starting again next semester?”
Next semester.
Our finals haven’t been marked yet, but somehow, I get the feeling I passed. I should be more excited and relieved, but all I feel is... numb.
Isn’t this what I’ve been working so hard for? To control my magic, to cling to my place as a student at Coven Crest? So, why do I feel so disheartened?
Cairn’s face hovers in my mind. Finals helped to distract me from my thoughts of him, but now that they’re over and we’re returning to Wysteria for our holiday break, I worry that he’s going to be constantly on my mind.
“I think so,” I say. “That’s what Moonhart said, at least.”
But will Cairn be gone by then?
I recall what he said last time I spoke to him, about the conservatory wanting him to start this coming spring. Does that mean he’ll be gone by the time I return to campus?
The realization sweeps over me like someone just dumped a frigid bucket of water onto my head.
Alina reaches over to touch my knee. “You okay? Your cheeks just went white.”
I pull my knee away from her, leaving her hand hanging there in the space between us. “Fine. Just exhausted.” I look down at Juniper, who’s perched in my lap, grooming herself. “I’m just ready to go home.”
In my periphery, my roommates exchange looks, but they say nothing.
