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I smiled at the bright thought, holding onto it as I sank into her, and we headed outside in the direction of the quad.

We made it out there, where I’d figured we were going to sit beneath one of the trees and connect with nature and breathe in the fresh night air.

That was until she rounded me and said in that cryptic way Kai had earlier, “It’s time.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Time for what, Halo?”

“You’ll see, cutie pie.”

In the next second, she was enveloping us in a silver cloud of teleportation.

As we rematerialized, I found myself staring straight ahead at Hollowshade Hearth.

It was situated on the northern fringe of the Maven Academy grounds. It was a secluded, partially open structure originally built for werewolves to use and designed as a special gathering space for full moon rituals and pack bonding. Over the years, it had become a shared sanctuary for other community-based species like Dark Fae and Light Fae. Not really magic-wielders, because those seeking that attended Covens, not going for an academy setting like this.

The building itself was a rustic, circular stone pavilion with timber beams and slanted roofing. There were no doors, just velvet curtains in deep blue and forest green.

I followed Ariana as she led the way inside and eased a curtain aside for me.

As I stepped on through, I took in the center of the room that had a sunken hearth with built-in seating that was carved of stone. There was a fire that burned magically without the need for wood. On the walls were hooks and shelves for ceremonial tools, along with low tables for food and drink. On said tables were trays of so many different kinds of desserts, as well as glasses of my favorite berry cocktails. Magical fairy lights decorated the intimate space. There were cozy multicolored shag pillows and blankets over in one corner, too.

Everything had been specially set up.

“What is this?” I asked, turning to see Ariana’s eyes lit up so stunningly.

“It’s your long overdue celebration for being handpicked as a member of Crossborn, for the work that you’re doing, and the mark that you’ll make on the supernatural world as a result. It’s a great honor in itself and how you’re proving to be so dedicated and passionate about it deserves to be acknowledged as well.” She slid her hand into my hair and stroked the strands softly. “Youdeserve to be acknowledged.”

“I can’t… I can’t believe this,” I said, looking all around and taking everything in again. “I know Kai said we’d celebrate, but I figured that meant getting a couple of drinks or something. Not all of this. Wow.”

A flash of rose-gold magic caught my eye, and then Kai teleported in with Vorzyr.

“Come on now, Luscious, you deserve a whole lot more than that,” Vorzyr said, coming to me and stroking my nape in that way that was somehow both soothing and arousing.

Kai rubbed his hands together, all eager. “So, do you want to start the celebrations, or would you like your gift first?”

I blinked. “Gift? There’s a gift?”

Kai grinned out at Ariana and Vorzyr. “Told you he’d be all over the gift.”

“There’s no question,” I confirmed.

“Thank fuck, because I wasn’t sure I could wait,” Vorzyr said.

“It’s also a good idea to do it first, because you need a release, don’t you, cutie pie?” Ariana put to me.

Like you wouldn’t believe.“Damn, I really do.”

“Then that’s what you shall have,” Kai said, making a dramatic bow to me, before continuing on with the dramatics with a fancy hand flourish, which sparked his magic to life and conjured something that was concealed within his closed fist.

“Damn, are you gonna make magical fireworks again?”

He’d done that before, wherein he’d gathered his magic in his fists, then thrust them up toward the sky and released the power in the form of magical bolts. He’d even taught me how to do it and we’d decorated the night sky with sprinklings and bursts of our blue and rose-gold power.

“Magical fireworks?” Vorzyr queried. “Like Ariana’s shadow weaving? The same concept?”

“They both involve making art in the sky, but they’re very different in practice,” I explained to him.

“Huh,” he uttered, taking it in. He brightened as he said, “Later tonight, we’re doing the fireworks, though.”