Page 11 of Eternal Light (Fated in the Stars #5)

There’s a crack of lightning and the scent of wood smoke, and for a second, Finn remembers his mates out in the world. He palms his phone in the pocket of his pants but resists checking their whereabouts.

They’re fine.

It’s just difficult to deny the urge to see it with his own eyes.

The door is flung wide suddenly, and the Magister of Novarum is smiling in welcome, his wiry gray hair smoking slightly, and he has a smudge of black on the side of his nose. He is not, as the kids say, smokin’ hot—so much as he is just plain smoking.

He’s short, rotund, and perhaps in his late sixties, with bright, sparkling blue eyes and a welcoming smile. His glasses are askew, and his three-piece suit looks like it was designed in the 1940s.

“Come in, come in. Welcome. My, my,” he mutters to himself under his breath as he adjusts his glasses to peer up into Grayson’s face. It’s not the same look Finn and his mates get when people stare too long at Grayson’s beauty—it’s more quizzical, assessing even.

“Ignatius, this is Grayson Pearce and his mates, Dr. Finn Merritt and Leo Costas. Gentlemen, this is the Magister Novarum, Ignatius Parvolio.”

The Magister offers his hand, and when Finn clasps it, it’s hot and dry.

“Come, sit. Please, don’t mind the mess—my third-year Fire Affinities were full of spark and flame today.”

He ushers them into a bright, light-filled space and toward a long couch. They wait for Ignatius and Nimue to settle into two wing-back armchairs across from them before taking their own seats.

“Thank you for seeing us today, Magister,” Grayson says.

“Of course. Nimue speaks highly of you and your pack. I must say, I am quite excited to see some of what you can do today. She spoke of your description of The Plain—phenomenal.”

Leo stiffens beside him at the idea that Grayson will be demonstrating his access to The Plain when they are actively avoiding it because of Withers—and the uncontrolled risk to Nix.

“Ignatius, you recall that I told you Aleksander Withers was seen on Grayson’s last journey? They are understandably concerned, as Grayson is more vulnerable when he draws on the magic.”

The older man scowls, and there’s a rumble of thunder from above. When Finn looks up, his mouth drops open just a little in shock. Hovering in the highest eaves of the room are storm clouds, billowing and gray, with sparks of lightning.

“Yes, yes. We’ll keep it under the radar, so to speak. Withers was such a talented boy, but more dark than light. Elysia never liked him, and she would know.”

“Ms. Noctis, from reception?” Finn asks.

“Elysia is my dear, long-suffering partner in life. She can see the balance of light and dark in a person, spiritually speaking,” he boasts, with no small amount of pride.

It explains the white and black eyes. Fascinating.

How has Finn gone so long without seeing more magic in his life?

He’d always known about it, certainly—how could he not, with his Oath at the forefront of his daily practice?

And to be fair, the Were Community is very sheltered.

As far as Finn is aware, the magic community in Tennessee is much smaller than elsewhere, but even so, he imagines this is only a fraction of what Nix must have felt when they told him he was Were.

“She was unsurprised that he was stripped of his license last fall. Still, so sad to lose someone in our minuscule community. I understand you saw him on your Travels?”

“I did, sir. It was unpleasant. He looks…corrupted.”

“Ah. Nimue also mentioned that he might be working with a known criminal. Perhaps it is dark soul magic—it corrupts absolutely, especially if one is already inclined toward the dark arts. Such a shame.

“I’ve put forth a motion to have our Wardens search for Aleksander so we can get to the bottom of this serious breach of magic use. We have also begun a covert search for the mole in our offices. I must say, I am quite concerned for you and your fellow novices.”

Ignatius mumbles to himself for a moment, deep in thought, until he claps his hands together abruptly. The sharp sound startles Grayson enough that he gives a low growl—quickly followed by the pinking of his cheeks.

“Excuse me, sir. That was…” Rude .

But the Magister doesn’t seem to know that Were adults don’t often go around growling at their seniors—let alone their teachers.

“Completely understandable, Grayson. I forget that you are Were and new to The Plain. Surely you feel a great abundance of it flowing through our corridors. I must say, you have impeccable control.”

“Luminary Nimue is an excellent teacher, and I still have so much more to learn,” Grayson replies modestly.

“You have been a quick learner, Grayson,” Nimue says with a smile.

“We’ve asked you and your guardians here today for two reasons.

The first was to find out more about Aleksander Withers, but the second was to conduct a few novice-level tests to determine your Affinity—and whether you will be able to develop a Talent or two.

It will help us find the best teachers for you and contacts in the Guild of Tennessee as well. If you are willing?”

“I’ll be accessing The Plain?” Grayson asks, and his basil-vanilla scent sours.

“Yes, yes, of course.” Ignatius is kind enough not to add the verbal duh to the end of his statement.

“Magister Parvolio, I think what Grayson is worried about is hurting his soulmate, Nix,” Finn offers. “Our mate is pregnant, and so far, when Grayson has used his magic, his soulmate has been affected as well.”

“A soulmate! Well, that’s a miracle, isn’t it?

A full and complete soul—congratulations.

” Ignatius scrubs his hands over his own portly belly.

“As promised, the tests we employ will require little effort. Given Nimue’s initial teachings, we should be able to conduct them without impacting your mate. ”

The trickle of concern Finn feels doesn’t let up at all at the reassurances, and it’s not so much a reflection on whether or not he believes the Magister at all. It’s entirely that this is an unknown, and Finn has never liked an unknown.

“We could check the app while we observe, Finn. That way, we’d know if Nix was in trouble.

Would that settle your mind too, Grayson?

” Leo suggests, even though Grayson can feel Nix more accurately than any app.

At least this way, if the enigma is distracted, Finn’s technology will be a decent backup.

Grayson looks nervous, and perhaps it’s the idea of tests as much as Nix being in danger that’s affecting him.

“If you think it’s safe?”

“I do. Now, if your guardians will take a seat over there, we can get started.”

Ignatius directs Finn and Leo toward two straight-backed chairs in the corner behind a painted purple line.

“If you’ll stay behind the line, gentlemen, I’ve warded the area to protect against any stray debris.”

“Debris? Excellent,” Leo mutters.

Sitting, Finn pulls out the app, where he can see that Nix’s vitals are steady—the babies’, too, for that matter—although he can only see general health, not details.

Ignatius pulls out a box of earth, a feather, a candle, an hourglass, a withered plant, and a single large, gold glass marble.

“The International Guild recognizes twelve major Affinities, a few of which currently have no known practitioners at the Affinity level. You have already exhibited an unprecedented three to Luminary Nimue: Traveling, Air, and Fire. She suspects a fourth, but we’ll verify as we go along.”

Grayson ties his hair back with the elastic he keeps around his wrist.

“I have to admit, I’m nervous, sir.”

“Well, I must admit to being excited at the prospect of seeing you access The Plain. I will reassure you that there is nothing in the office that is not replaceable. Even Aldis.”

He waves toward the rafters, and for the first time, Finn sees a crimson bird napping—long, feathery plumes on its head and a tail that hangs down at least three feet below its perch.

“Is that a phoenix?” Leo asks incredulously.

“He is indeed. So, no matter what, stay behind the line, please. The rest of us will all live to tell the tale. I think.”

He claps again and sets the candle on the table.

“This should be the easiest, I imagine, given Nimue has yet to be wrong.”

Nimue rolls her eyes and draws her hands from her pockets as if preparing for any mishaps that might occur. Finn thinks he should probably be worried—but witnessing his mate’s magic in use deliberately? He is only anticipatory…and a little turned on.

“You’ve nothing to worry about here, young Grayson. My Affinity is for fire, so I will make sure things stay as they should. Now, can you light the candle?”

In mere seconds, the candle is entirely aflame. The fire bursts from Grayson’s fingertips, causing Nimue and Ignatius to jump back at the sudden explosion of bright flames. The candle is not merely lit—it’s melted into a pool of wax on the table.

“Whoa, shit! Too much, too much!” Grayson squeaks as Nimue waves a hand, sucking the air from around the steadily growing blaze.

The room smells of patchouli, burnt wood smoke…and much like Grayson’s embarrassment.

“Excellent. Now, no concerns about the table—it’s seen worse. So…fire is a yes, wouldn’t we all agree? Now, let’s see if you have any feelings toward Earth.”

He lays the wide box of dirt in front of Grayson, and his fingers twitch at his sides.

“Wolf likes that.”

“Your wolf? How exciting. Let’s see what you can do, then.”

The Magister doesn’t give Grayson any instructions beyond that, so Grayson dips his finger into the dirt with a sigh.

“It fills me up, but not overflowing like fire?” he says, confusion making it sound almost like a question.

“Fills your soul, you mean?” Nimue asks.

“Mmm. This is old. It’s been here a while, I can detect that…but…”

A second later, there’s a puff of dirt, and some rises into the air.

“Hmm…a Talent, possibly.”

“Next…can you move the feather?” Ignatius asks and slides a long red feather across the table.