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I gritted my teeth, finding my eyes stinging with the threat of tears. I pounded my fist on the desk in an attempt to let my emotions flood in a different way. It wouldn’t do for Arya to see me sobbing like an infant. But at least the scandalous thoughts that had been plaguing me were being overridden by the pain.

I tapped on my tablet, opening Kai’s schematics, trying to distract his mind from everything. I needed something productive to focus on. After scanning the description of the project, I found I couldn’t concentrate on the technical terminology.

I could use a flight right about now.

And then Arya entered the room, hands in her uniform pockets, looking tired and a little out of place.

I smiled, shoving all my feelings aside for the moment.

“Come in,” I said, getting to my feet and gesturing for her to come forward.

“You wanted to see me?” she asked, moving closer to the desk.

“Just for a moment,” I replied. “I know after a full day of being stuck inside classrooms, the last place you’d want to be right now is back here.”

She shrugged. “This place is incredible—even the classrooms. I’ve been to a lot of schools, but this one? It’s amazing.”

I chuckled. “Yes, it’s quite a unique school, and it will only get more amazing for you. But tell me, how has your day been?”

She breathed in heavily, then let it out in one big gust. She paused for a moment, looking above me for a few moments, then made eye contact again. “Overwhelming?”

“I can imagine. This school, although amazing, is very different from any other school you’ve ever been to. And while there are good differences, there are likely some that aren’t so good.”

“It’s actually the similarities that make it hard,” she said quickly, her lips instantly becoming a line, as if she felt she’d overstepped some boundary with her words.

I cocked my head. “What do you mean?”

Arya shrugged. “You know…cliques. I’ve already run into some.”

“I suppose you’ll find cliques just about anywhere you go,” I replied.

“That’s just how it goes.” Her tired eyes suddenly widened as a wave of excitement lit up her face. “I shifted into mermaid form for the first time today!”

Smiling, I said, “That’s great. You’ll find that shifting will be an excellent outlet for you, something you’ll be able to turn to whenever you want. At least, with enough practice.”

“Hopefully, it won’t take me too long,” she replied.

“The best advice I can give you is to have patience,” I advised. “Have patience and keep trying. A mix of those two things will get you there.”

She looked down at her hands in her lap and nodded.

“One more thing and then you can head back to your afternoon,” I continued, taking on a more serious tone. “It’s not something that is easy for me to discuss. But I know what you are going through and that a lot is hitting you at once. Most of all, I know what it’s like to lose family members.”

She continued to look down, and I saw her neck bob with a forced swallow.

“If youeverneed someone to talk to, and you don’t feel like there’s anybody else, you can come to me, okay?”

Arya nodded quickly, sniffling. “Thank you. Can I go now?”

I studied her for a few seconds, fighting the temptation to ask about the one thing that had truly been on my mind all day. But I knew I couldn’t, shouldn’t. It was completely inappropriate. “Of course.”

She stood up and hurried out the door.

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling deeply. I should be focusing on the prophecy, on Kai’s stupid inventions, on preparing Arya the best I could for what was to come.

But how was I going to do Arya justice when I couldn’t get her sassy witch friend out of my head?

Chapter 9