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Chapter 11

Idown another coffee and continue taking notes from the remedial magic book, which is way over my head. Almost nothing makes any sense. It probably would if I’d grown up here, learning spells since primary school. But that isn’t the case. Ask me the state capitals, and I can list those off. But basic undersea magic? I got nothing.

The music stops and Bash comes over. “Sure you don’t want to practice with us? Even just one song?”

I shake my head. “I really need to study.”

He puts an arm around me and kisses my cheek. “Anything I can help you with?”

“Probably. It’s just remedial magic. Why do we have to study this stuff, anyway? It’s not like we’re in the School of Magic Arts.”

“It’s basic stuff everyone in the royal class should know.”

I slam the book shut. “It’s stupid.”

He snickers. “I wouldn’t go that far. You keep asking about that studying spell your mom cast on you. If you want to learn things like that, you have to take your magic courses.”

“It’d be a lot easier if my mom were here.”

Sadness fills his eyes. “I understand.”

“Sorry, that was insensitive.”

He tilts his head. “Why?”

“Because you’re an orphan. At least my parents are alive. I’ve been able to grow up with them. I’m just being a spoiled brat.”

“You?” He gives me that crooked smile of his. “You’ve had more thrown at you than any of us could imagine. If anyone here was thrown onto land and forced to go to ... what’d you call it? High school?”

I nod.

“We’d all be floundering around, not handling any of this anywhere near as well as you’re dealing with it all.”

“I guess.”

He kisses my cheek. “I’m right, and you know it. You’re doing amazing. You’re mind blowing.”

“Stop. No. Actually, keep going.”

He laughs. It’s grown to be one of my favorite sounds. “I could go on all day. You’re beautiful and smart, funny and opinionated, thoughtful and sweet—in other words, pure perfection. And even if you did have a flaw, I’d still love you.”

“If I had a flaw?” I snort and my face warms. “See? I snort when I laugh. Definitely a flaw.”

Bash shakes his head. “It’s completely adorable.” He kisses me gently. “If you want, I can tell the band to take a hike, and we can go study somewhere a little more private.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I have a feeling we wouldn’t get much studying done.”

He rubs my shoulders. “Oh, I’d make sure we do. Can’t have the princess flunking out of the academy.”

I close my eyes and enjoy the massage. “If you keep doing this, I’ll never get anything done.”

“I promise to stay focused on your books. What do you want to focus on? Magic? Weaponry? History? I passed all those classes when I was a first-year.”

I don’t ever want him to stop rubbing my shoulders. Maybe if I don’t answer, he’ll keep it up.

“Magic it is.” Bash pulls his magical fingers from my shoulders.

I slump my shoulders and pout. “You didn’t have to stop.”