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A fter a frenetic, chaotic summer, the reason I had come to Zürich in the first place finally arrived. I had my class schedule, and I had my books. Siobhan and Gertrude took me around and showed me where all my classes were located. The campus had buildings scattered throughout the Aldstadt .

Two days a week, my schedule allowed me just ten minutes to get from a class at one end of the campus to another at the opposite end. The distance was a very brisk ten-minute walk. After Siobhan went to work that afternoon, I went to a bicycle shop and bought a bike with a rack on the back to carry my books. Even with all the hills, it was appealing to have a quicker means of transportation around the campus than my feet.

On my first day, I walked out of the building after my last class of the day and found Alex Müller standing there grinning at me.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“Both exciting and overwhelming.” I looked down at the stack of books in my arms. “How am I ever going to read all of this? And my chemistry professor is from northeastern Germany—I can’t untangle his accent. Maybe I’m just too dumb for university.”

Alex chuckled. “So, going about normal. I felt the same way when I first started school. Do you have a lot of studying to do tonight?”

I shook my head. “Not really. The main reading assignment is for Master Adolphus’s History of Magic course, but I’ve already read the book.” The text for the course was written by Master Elias, and I had read it in English before I moved to Zürich. Over the summer, under the tutelage of Frau Buckner, I re-read it in German.

“I’m off to Lausanne in the morning,” Alex said, “and then to Geneva. I thought I might take you out to dinner this evening.”

“I’d love to. I need to drop off these books and my bicycle, then change clothes. What time?”

I sorted through my closet, trying to figure out the most appropriate outfit for the night. For once, I wanted a man to notice me as a woman. In the end, I chose a yellow cocktail dress with matching heels. I left my weapons—except for the athame—at home. Between my shield and being with a ley line mage, I figured I didn’t have to worry about safety. In fact, it had been several weeks since I last drew my katana .

Alex showed up in a fancy sports car I had seen at the Müller home when we rescued Verner Karlsson. He was wearing a suit, and I had to admit—the boy cleaned up very nicely. The car did have a couple of bullet holes.

“Makes it more valuable,” Alex said with a laugh when I eyed the bullet holes. “It’s part of history.”

He took me to one of the fanciest restaurants in town, and I was glad I had dressed up. The food was great, but the conversation was the best part. We talked about everything except politics and the war. It turned out that Alex—like Hans—owned a boat that he sailed on Lake Geneva, and he skied.

“You’ll have to come to Lausanne before the weather turns,” he said, “and I’ll take you out sailing.”

“I would love that. Perhaps some weekend?”

“After I finish my business in Geneva. I’ll give you a call.”

I found myself drawn to him, even more than I had been before. For the first time, I wanted a man to touch me, to hold me. He was just so comfortable and exciting.

After dinner, I was a little disappointed when he drove me home instead of taking me to his place. I didn’t want the evening to end.

He walked me to my door, and I turned to face him. Without any conscious plan, I leaned forward and kissed him. At first he didn’t react, then he kissed me back. But to my surprise, he broke off the kiss and took a step back.

“No, too quick,” he said. “Katy, I think you’re wonderful, and I’m very attracted to you, but you’re so young. We need to take things slowly. I’ll call.”

And with that, he turned, walked back to his car, and drove off. I went inside, let Sima into our room, and sat on the bed. Bewildered. And aching with a longing I had never felt before.

* * *

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