Papa’s voice is soothing, his hand on my cheek a comfort I didn’t realize I needed. And his words help to slow my tears.
Reaching up, I use my sweater sleeve to wipe the moisture from my eyes and cheeks. “When did you become so insightful?” I ask, a hint of humor to my voice.
He gives me a smile. “Well, I’ve had a lot of time to think without you here.”
At that moment, another whiff of smoke tickles my nose. Papa gets a confused look on his face and glances down at the blanket on the floor, but the broom hasn’t burst back into flames again.
“What’s that—” he starts to say.
“The soup!” Juniper calls.
“The soup!” I echo.
I scurry into the kitchen, where the pot is boiling over, sending bubbly broth cascading down into the flames. This time, I’m able to call on the water magic I’ve been practicing in my elemental class, and the flames are doused in seconds, hissing as they die.
Papa’s boots thump softly behind me, and I turn to find him leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. With a look of exasperated humor, he shakes his head and says, “I’ve got a better idea. Grab your boots. We’re going out to eat.”
Chapter 41
Cairn
FINALLY, IT’S A SUNNY DAY. The sunlight makes the snowy courtyard shimmer like fairy dust as I walk the cobbled path—which I shoveled yesterday—up to the castle. The snow blanketing the campus is pristine, with only a few animal tracks dotting the fluffy layer of white. Everything is quiet save for the occasional plop of snow falling from the pine boughs and the click of my hooves on the sun-warmed cobbles.
When I enter the castle, the scent of sage and old books washes over me. I tap the snow from my hooves, then cross the marble-floored entryway, heading toward Lysandra’s office.
Some professors return from the holidays early, and some opt to stay at the castle year-round, but I’ve yet to see anyone since the students left. Anyone who is still around is keeping to themselves. This leaves me free to walk the hallways alone, with only my thoughts to keep me company.
This is the right thing, I tell myself, my fingers tightening at my sides.It’s time to move on. To move forward.
When I arrive at the headmistress’s office, the door is closed, as I expected it would be. Reaching into the inside pocket of my cloak, I remove the letter I wrote last night. This isn’t the most professional way of handing in my resignation, but it’ll have to do. The conservatory wants me to start right after Yule, so I’ll need to pack up my little hut and be on my way before the spring semester begins.
Stooping, I slide the letter under the door, and as soon as it’s out of my fingers, I know the decision is final.
After all these years, I’m leaving Coven Crest Academy.
With a drawn-out sigh, I straighten up. My gaze remains on the closed door for a moment, and then I turn to walk away.
And almost bowl right into the headmistress.
“Gods above!” I snap, my heart nearly leaping from my chest at her sudden and silent appearance.
She, as usual, is unflustered, her hair coiled neatly atop her head and her dangly blue earrings barely swaying despite me having almost run her over. She didn’t even jerk back.
Witches . . .
“Cairn,” she says. “It’s unexpected to see you here. Though always welcome. Please, join me for something warm to drink.”
Shit. Now I’m going to have to explain the letter, to have to look into her eyes and tell her that despite everything she’s done for me, all the opportunities she’s given me, I’m going to be leaving.
It’s not what I want to do, but I know it’s the right thing to do.
So I give her a nod. “Sure. I’d love to.”
I step aside, my hooves clacking on the stone floor. Lysandra procures a key from deep inside her robe, then opens the door. The windows in her office allow the daylight to illuminate the space, and the letter I slid beneath the door is like a beacon, sitting there on the floor with the wax seal glowing in the light.
“What do we have here?” Lysandra uses a brush of wind magic to send the letter twirling up into the air and right into her outstretched hand. She quickly scans the front of the envelope, then regards me over her shoulder. “Seems we have much to talk about.”
Again, I nod.
