Page 32 of Beastkin
“Holy shit,” Lila breathed, her eyes wide with fascination. “Look at that.”
The shadow-fire construct writhed between our hands, beautiful and mesmerizing. I could feel both our magics intertwining, hers dark and cool where mine was bright and warm. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced, this connection with another magical being. No wonder my parents had tried so hard to keep me isolated.
“It’s incredible,” I whispered, watching the flames dance through the shadows like they were meant to be together. “Your magic doesn’t feel like at witch’s… it’s more…wildsomehow.”
“That’s because you’ve never had a proper magical partner before,” Lila said, her voice filled with something like pride. “Your fire is feeding my shadows, making them stronger, while my darkness is giving your flames new shapes to explore. It’s like magical symbiosis.”
I was so focused on our combined magic that I didn’t notice Professor Blackwood approaching until she cleared her throat. “Excellent work, you two. This is precisely the kind of elemental fusion I was hoping to see.”
The praise made warmth bloom in my chest, different from my fire magic but just as satisfying. When was the last time a teacherhad complimented my work without it feeling like they were just going through the motions?
“The key,” Professor Blackwood continued, addressing the class as she gestured to our shadow-fire creation, “is finding partners whose magic complements rather than competes. Notice how Mr. Emberwood’s fire doesn’t destroy Miss Nightshade’s shadows but instead gives them form and purpose. They are two sides of the same coin, light and dark, just as with the other elements.”
I caught movement in my peripheral vision and couldn’t help but glance toward Karrick. He was watching our demonstration, but the moment our eyes met, he quickly looked away. The rejection stung, especially when I saw Nerida’s hand still resting possessively on his arm. However, I was certain I saw something else in his expression as he glanced toward Lila. Was it…jealousy?
“Focus, Phoenix,” Lila murmured, and I realized our magical construct was beginning to flicker as my concentration wavered. “Don’t let big boy over there distract you from this moment.”
I forced myself to pour more energy into the spell, watching as our shadows and flames stabilized once more. But my heart wasn’t entirely in it anymore. All I could think about was the way Karrick had looked at me last night, the tenderness in his voice when he’d said my name, and how different he seemed now in the harsh light of day.
“Time,” Professor Blackwood announced. “Please dispel your constructs and return to your seats.”
I let my flames die out as Lila dissolved her shadows, the magical connection between us fading. I missed that connection already, the feeling of working with another person’s magic. It was finally beginning to dawn on me how alone I’d been all my life.
Lila, to my surprise, did not return to her desk. Instead, she stayed in the one next to me.
“So,” she said as everyone shuffled. “What’s the deal with this Beastkin guy? You two got history orsomething?”
“We grew up together,” I admitted, keeping my voice low. “But it’s complicated.”
Lila’s eyes lit up with interest. “Childhood friends to lovers? That’s literally my favorite trope. I can’t get enough of it on the fan-fic sites.” She signed, leaning back in her chair. “God I wish this campus had internet. Or phone service…”
“It’s not like that,” I insisted, though the heat rushing to my cheeks probably told a different story. “We were best friends when we were kids, but then my parents found out and...” I trailed off, the memories still raw and painful.
“Let me guess. They freaked out because he’s a Beastkin and you’re a fancy pure-blood witch?” Lila’s tone was light, but her eyes were serious.
I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “They moved us away without warning. And they...” I hesitated, still struggling to say it out loud. “They modified my memories. Made me forget him completely.”
Lila’s playful demeanor vanished instantly. “They did what?” Her voice was sharp enough to draw glances from nearby students. She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a hiss. “That’s illegal. Like, Elder Council prison sentence illegal.”
“I know that now,” I said, glancing nervously at Professor Blackwood, who was writing our homework assignment on the board. “Professor Blackwood helped me recover my memories last night. That’s when we removed the pendant too.”
“Holy shit,” Lila breathed, genuine shock on her pale face. “No wonder you two are acting weird. You literally just got your memories back yesterday?”
I nodded, watching as Karrick gathered his books, still deliberately avoiding looking in my direction. “And now he won’t even look at me.”
Lila studied me for a moment, then glanced at Karrick. “Maybe he needs time to process. It’s a lot to take in, you know? One day you’re theonly one carrying the burden of those memories, and the next, suddenly the person you lost remembers everything too.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Plus, you’re both different now. You’re not kids anymore.”
I hadn’t considered that perspective. Karrick had lived with those memories all these years, carrying that pain while I’d been blissfully unaware. Maybe seeing me remember was reopening old wounds.
“I guess you’re right,” I sighed, gathering my own books as Professor Blackwood dismissed the class. “I just wish he’d talk to me.”
“So talk to him,” Lila said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “Corner him somewhere private and make him listen.”
“I can’t just?—”
“Yes, you can,” she interrupted, standing up and pulling me to my feet. “Life’s too short to waste time wondering. Well, for you mortals anyway.” She grinned, flashing her fangs. “For me, life’s too long to waste on regrets. Either way, same principle.”
I watched as Karrick lumbered toward the door, his massive frame moving with surprising grace despite the too-small classroom aisles. Something in my chest tightened as I realized he was about to disappear again.