Page 31

“Alright, Miss Matthews, it’s your turn.”

Today is my evaluation in basic elements class, and I’m so here for it.

Knowing this was coming up, Thaddeus has been working me through my elements fluidly in preparation to move on to my next class. But this is the last hurdle between basic and advanced, and if I bomb this test, I’ll be stuck in this class until the next evaluation date. And no one wants that.

Me most of all.

“Now, I’m going to be honest here,” Mrs. Talons says as I join her in the middle of the room. “I’m ignorant when it comes to curiomancers. I know you have three of the four elements. Fire, air, and water, and you weren’t sure the last time we worked on the earth element if you had it. Has that changed?”

“It has.” I nod my head, proud that I can say that.

“Fabulous!” she cheers, clapping her hands, her bangles jingling together. “Let’s get started then. I’ll call out which element I want you to use, and you showcase that for us. When I’ve seen all four, I’ll randomly call them out, testing you on the speed at which you bring them forth and if you do so correctly without messing up. And just like the other students, you’re also subjected to the three strikes and you’re out rule. If you mess up three times, you’ll stay in basics until you can test again. Any questions?”

“No. I’m ready.”

“I like your confidence, Bailey.” She gives me an encouraging smile as she backs up to her podium, leaving me alone in the center of the room. “Let’s start with fire.”

Gods, I love that she’s starting easy with me.

A pink fireball explodes in my outstretched palm the very second I nudge my magic toward the rune. Mrs. Talons’ face lights up in awe just like it does every time I bring forth my flames. And it’s not because I do it correctly. I know that because she told me. It’s because she’s never seen pink fire before, and pink is her favorite color.

“Very good, Bailey. Air next, please.”

A light wind slowly flows through the classroom as my fire cuts off and my belly heats with my magic lighting up my rune. I give it an extra nudge to pick up the pace, turning it into a soft breeze. Just enough to float loose paper without going Gael force on my unsuspecting classmates.

“Perfect. Water.”

An errant piece of paper falls onto my head the moment I cut off my air rune, making the students laugh, but I don’t pay any mind to them. A couple of them that are laughing at my expense are already being held back until the next examination, and I refuse to be one of them.

And just to get the little shits back, instead of creating a puddle of water in my hand, I send all the little drops into the air, letting them rain down specifically on those who thought it was funny.

“Well played, Bailey.” Mrs. Talon throws me a wink, not at all mad that I soaked some of her students. “Now show me earth.”

This one is a little harder for me to work with, not that I’d be honest with her about it. I only discovered the rune myself when I was going through the book Cassian sent over. I mean, who would have thought the little flower-shaped rune on the outside of my pinky would be my earth element. Not me, that’s for sure.

When I told Thaddeus what I discovered, he said that it made sense since there are many different things that you can do with earth. Create a sand sculpture without the sand getting in places sand shouldn’t be. Grow flowers from a seed into one in full bloom without waiting for the season to be right. And if I was feeling particularly confident in my abilities, I could shake the very foundation beneath my feet.

All of which Thaddeus has been working with me on. Flowers are a breeze, and the sand mermaid I made last week in the containment room would win an award if I entered a competition.

But it was when I shook the containment room without destroying the castle that Thaddeus beamed with pride.

So that’s what I choose to do now. Showcase just how much of a threat I am without coming right out and saying it.

The pink glow on my pinky draws everyone’s attention, causing them to miss the start of the tremors under them. It isn’t until the podium Mrs. Talon is standing behind starts to tremble and scoot across the floor that they realize something is amiss.

One of the girls screams, making me smile. She was there in combat class for the whole bullshit during the fight with Giles. She witnessed everything that happened, but yet she has no problem painting me in a bad light.

Mrs. Talon honest-to-gods giggles, holding her arms out at her sides and swaying with the movement.

When I’m sure she knows that was my earth element, I cut it off, letting the room settle once more.

“That! Miss Matthews! Bravo!” She urges the rest of the class to applaud me, and what do you know? It’s half-hearted at best, but I’ll take it. “Now, for the real test. If I walk out my door and check the classroom next door, and they didn’t feel anything, I’ll pass you on the spot. No more testing required.”

“Hey! How is that fair?” that same little bitch cries, still pissy that she’s one of the ones not moving forward.

“It takes a massive amount of control to shake a stone castle, especially one that’s been here for long as Stonewell has. And not once did I hear any of the alarms going off to indicate that there was a problem. So, suck it up, Betsy. You failed because you can’t even conjure a small flame in the time you’ve been here.”

Gods, I could kiss Mrs. Talon right now. But…ewww, no. Instead, I give her a mental high five and a fist bump for good measure.

When the professor leaves the room, I retreat to the corner where Zane and Bane are stationed, waiting on pins and needles for her to check the class next to ours.

“You did an amazing job, snow. There’s no way she’ll keep you back after that display.”

I grimace, a little unsure. “If they so much as felt what I was doing over here, I failed, and there’s always a possibility that I put a little too much juju into it.”

“Nah, pinky. You need to be a little more positive about it,” Zane rumbles, shaking his head, the long multi-colored strands of his hair brushing his shoulders. “You’re being a chicken shit about this because you fear failing more than anything. If you put good thoughts out in the universe, good things will happen in return.”

Aero bumps my belly with his nose, agreeing with the red demon.

He’s right. I fear failing more than anything because I know what the outcome is if I don’t master my magic, and there are too many things I still need to experience in my life before I bite the dust.

“Thank you. Both of you.” They both flash me a peek of fang as they smile, but just as quickly, those grins are wiped away, adopting their stoic masks once more.

We don’t have to wait much longer before Mrs. Talon is hustling back into the classroom. I hide my crossed fingers in the pocket of my hoodie as I wait for her announcement.

“Congratulations, Miss Matthews. That was by far the most impressive and controlled display of the earth element for such a new student. Not even our advanced students can handle earth the way you did.” Holy shit. “You are officially done with basic elements, and next week, you’ll start advanced with Professor Davis. He’s a highly decorated warlock, who’s produced some of our strongest elemental users. You can grab your things and head to your next class. It’s been a pleasure being your professor for the start of your unique journey.”

“Thank you!” Oh my gods. I did it. I’m officially one step closer to blowing this joint and getting the council off my back.

Zane grabs my bag before I have a chance and places his large palm on my lower back, ushering me and Aero out of Basic Elements for the last time. Next week will be a new professor and a new set of students to deal with, but that’s next week’s problem. Right now, I’m celebrating my win, even if I have to do it in a containment room.

With all the other students still in class, there’s no one to put a damper on my mood, so I put a little skip in my step, leaving the demons to chuckle behind me. I think it’s the most carefree I’ve seen them outside of our dorm. I kind of… like it. Okay. That’s a lie. I more than like it, and I haven’t stopped thinking about what Axel and Luka said.

We want what’s best for you, and if it means adding more to your harem, then so be it.

Only, I've been too damn scared to make that move. There’s been chances. Hell, every day in our dorm is a chance. But every time I start to muster up the courage to do it, all I can think about is the possible rejection that could accompany it. Because they’ve had their own chances to start something, but neither one of them has tried, so maybe that near-kiss with Zane was a one-off.

Plus, Zane’s an incubus. He and Bane told me about their classes of demon one night over my confinement. But there was no explanation needed. He’s a sex demon. He feeds off lust and pheromones, needs it to survive. And the only way he’s going to get it being at the academy with me is if she’s working his way through the student body already.

Fuck. Just the thought of someone else touching him makes me so damn angry. The same goes for Bane, but on a slightly smaller scale. He’s a crossroad demon, so unless these bitches are giving up their souls for one night in the sack with him, I don’t see him having as many encounters as Zane.

There better not be any… period.

Gods, who the hell is this possessive person I’ve become? The demons aren’t mine, and they can do whatever they want.

Yet. They aren’t yours, yet, my brain oh-so-helpfully supplies.

“You good, pinky?”

“Huh? What?” I look around wildly, realizing we’ve made it to the containment room.

“You sure? You’ve been staring at the lock mechanism for five minutes without putting in the code.”

Son of a blue-balled Smurf.

“Yeah, sorry. Spaced out. I think I may have gone a little overboard today with my runes.”

Zane’s brows hit his horn line at my lie, but he doesn’t call me on it. He knows I can do so much more with my magic than what I’ve done today, so using it as an excuse isn’t fooling anyone.

The door to the containment room disengages and I head in, taking a seat in the center to wait for Thaddeus to get here. While we wait, I pull out my phone and fire off a message to my mates.

Me

I did it! I passed basic elements, and next week I start advanced.

Sexy Demi

Congrats, goddess. I knew you could do it.

Me

Thanks, Lu. Love you.

Sexy Demi

Love you, too, mate. I’ll send some cheesecake to your dorm to celebrate. I have to meet with my sperm donor later, or I’d celebrate with you.

Yummy Vamp

That’s my girl. Proud of you, cor meum. Eat a bite for me. I’ll be packing for a business trip, which I leave for tomorrow morning. I’ll be gone for a week, but when I get back, we’ll spend the weekend in Mancer’s Bend.

Me

Sounds absolutely perfect. On both counts. Be safe, vampy. I’ll miss you.

Yummy Vamp

I’ll miss you too. Make sure that if you have any problems, you let Luka know, immediately. Don’t leave it for us to find out from someone else.

Me

Got it. Love you.

Yummy Vamp

I love you too, cor meum.

Sexy Demi

*puking emoji* You two make me sick.

Yummy Vamp

Shut up, asshole. You’re just as bad.

Sexy Demi

Truth. *one hundred emoji*

“Now that’s a smile I like to see.” I startle at Thaddeus’ voice, dropping my phone onto my lap.

Shit. I was so lost in my conversation with the guys that I didn’t even hear him come in.

“So... are you going to tell me, or do I have to guess how you did?” he asks, dropping to the floor in front of me.

Impatient ass Smurf.

“I passed!” I squeal, excitement returning to my veins. “And she said I have better control over my earth element than the advanced students.”

“You went the hard route and shook the foundation, didn’t you?” I’m already nodding my head before he finishes. “I knew I shouldn’t have taught you that yet.” He laughs.

“What?!” I shove his shoulder. “I rocked that shit, thank you very much. And I didn’t even have to go through the whole exam. She passed me after testing my earth once.”

“That’s amazing, sunshine. But completely expected. You’ve been working so hard since…” he trails off, not saying it, but we both know what he means.

Since the gala.

I can’t wait until that gala is nothing more than a distant memory instead of a bitter reality check.

“Yeah.” I roll my lips in, agreeing.

“Yeah. But I have good news. In light of your achievement, I’m canceling rune practice today. So spend the rest of the day relaxing, and if you feel like practicing, work through the ones you know in your dorm.”

“But won’t Head—” He cuts me off, slicing his hand through the air.

“I already spoke to him, and he agreed that if you passed that class, you should get a break.”

Did an alien take over Jasper’s body? Because that definitely does not sound like something he would agree to.

Shit. Are aliens real? I mean, the rest of us are, so why not them, too?

“Eeek!” I squeal. “Thank you, thank you, Thaddy!” I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“You’re welcome, sunshine,” he chuckles, hugging me in return. “Keep working as hard as you are, and I can guarantee you’ll graduate this academy with flying colors.”

“Gods, I can’t wait.”

“I can,” he mutters lowly, before clearing his throat.

“What?” I pull back, not sure I heard him correctly.

“Nothing.” But his ice blue eyes betray him. He searches my face for something, I don’t know what, but his next words startle me. “Faerie fuck it.”

Thaddeus’ cool blue lips crash into mine, his long fingers enveloping my neck and pulling me closer. I quickly climb into his lap, giving into the sexual need coursing through my body. His long white locks tangle in my fingers, and my thumb brushes against the point of his ear. The answering groan to my touch floods my panties with warmth.

His kiss is everything I never knew I needed.

There’s a minty tingling feeling taking over my tongue with every swipe against his against mine, and I swear it’s like the temperature has dropped twenty degrees inside the containment room.

A menacing rumble finally makes it to my ears, and that’s all I need to come back to reality. I’m sitting in my professor’s lap, kissing him. The same Fae who had a girlfriend not long ago. The very reason I’m being called a whore, homewrecker, and mistress.

Fuck. What am I doing?

I tear myself away from Thaddeus and scramble out of his lap, racing toward the containment room door. The confusion in his voice is thick as he calls my name, but I ignore him, grabbing Bane’s hand and bolting through the exit.

I need to get as far away from the confusing Fae and the kiss that rocked my world as I can.