“Well, there’s some good news!” Hallie beams. “I heard from some of the older vampires that there’s a visiting professor who practices all sorts of advanced magic. She’s a witch, and she’s teaching the intermediate hexes class on Wednesday! Maybe we can go ask her about binding magic, and why those evil spirits are following you around.”
“Go ahead, but I think you’re wasting your time,” I tell her. “I’m sure it’s not a big deal, and I sort of want to keep a low profile, you know? Especially after Samhain…”
“Sure, yeah, of course,” she rolls her eyes with a grin. “Low profile.”
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” says Rae, transforming into her human form. I hand her a long-sleeved shirt from my bag. I’ve gotten used to carrying them around.
It’s late afternoon, and the sun is low in the sky, but there’s enough light to read by. I put away my herb book and potions assignment, and pat the ground beside me.
She lays down and I put my arms around her. She’s alwayssowarm. I feel safe and comfortable immediately. She pulls me into a deep, lingering kiss.
“Hey, should you be so close to the forest on your own?” she asks, looking at the dark trees that line the clearing.
“I didn’t want to be too close to the lake,” I explain. “Last week the dolphin shifters decided to frolic right up close to the bank and my Book of Shadows got soaked. I sort of fixed it with a drying spell, but you know fire and warming magic isn’t really my forte.”
“I know, but you heard Hallie earlier. She’s right, I’ve noticed the spirits too. It doesn’t hurt to be a little cautious.”
“And here I thought I was with a sexy, dangerous wolf shifter,” I tease, tugging on the sleeve of her shirt, “who plays by her own rules and isn’t scared of evil spirits!”
“Well you’ve got the sexy part right,” she laughs, pulling me in for another kiss.
I let myself melt into the moment. For now, everything feels just right. I thought I was going to be miserable until April, pining after Timothy and my lost gap year. Now Timothy and John Johnson College couldn’t be further from my mind. I’ve got a good group of friends here, I’m doing better in my classes, but most of all…
“You look so cute when you’re lost in thought,” Rae smiles at me, tugging a stray curl away from my face and tucking it behind my ear. “Contemplative.”
“I was just thinking…this isn’t how I expected this year to go.” I bite my lip.
“Neither did I.”
She leans in to kiss me once more, but a familiar voice interrupts us.
“Maggie!” Pantalaimon shouts, hopping out of the underbrush.
I pull away from Rae, “Pan, what is it?”
He points to the sky. There’s a single rider on a broomstick, her long dark cloak wafting elegantly around her, her raven familiar following close by. She’s heading directly for the academy.
“You didn’t evenbotherto tell me you were coming!”
“I did tell you, Maggie, right before Samhain,” Lydia sighs, waving a hand so that a chair pulls out from the nearest desk. “But I understand if you forgot, given the…events of that evening…”
I don’t sit. Astrid and Lydia are at the front of Lydia’s classroom. Astrid leans casually against the desk, avoiding my gaze and fingering a skull that I’m seriously concerned is real. Lydia stands beside her, hands on her hips.
I know when I’m being ganged up on. This is what my whole childhood was like.
“Maggie, darling…” Lydia starts. “It’s been so wonderful watching you grow…”
“Despite being unfairly set onfire!”
“Is it possible to befairlyset on fire?” Astrid interjects.
“Now, now,” Lydia scowls at her, then turns back to me. “I’ve been telling your mother how well you’re doing, excelling in your classes, and your broomstick riding…”
My lip twitches, but then I pull myself back together. I’m not conceding just because she complimented my broomstick riding…whichisactually very good.
“Yeah, well, I never asked for any of this, you know. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”
“Well, that’s exactly what we’re talking about now,” Astrid says. “We know you never wanted this…”
