Page 45 of Malcroix Bones Academy

I’d seen that on the schedule somewhere, of course, like flying and magistory and alchemy and telepathic studies and magical botany, but it hadn’t fully sunk in that we’d befighting-fighting. With magic. In a way that got people seriously injured, even sent to hospital. I’d been picturing something more like demo matches with stationary targets.

To actuallyfightother Magicals seemed, well… reckless.

Bloody dangerous, really.

“What’s his name again?” I asked. “The scary one? You said his last name is Bones?”

Miranda nodded, that mischievous glint back in her lavender eyes.

“I keep forgetting you don’t know anything yet. We’ll have to get you up to speed on absolutely everyone and everything so you can gossip with us properly. Anyway, youhaveto know the Bones family, and not only because you’ll be attending the world-famous university one of their matriarchs founded. They’re practically the ruling family in Magique. Particularly here, in England. Really, in all of the United Kingdom and Europe.”

Miranda paused, obviously thinking.

Her eyes rolled up as she pursed her lips.

“Caelum,” she declared, a few seconds later. “That’s the son’s name. I’m pretty sure Caelum Bones is the new heir. Of course, he’s probably got six other names and a Roman numeral behind it somewhere. They switched to full-blown sole-male-descent somewhere in the 15th Century.”

Draken snorted. “Figures.”

I was frowning, though, eyes unfocused.

Caelum.

Hadn’t Alaric mentioned having a friend named Caelum?

Alaric had called him a prick, too, hadn’t he? He’d said hetried to bea prick, anyway.

But who wouldtryto be a prick? Other than an actual prick?

12

Bonescastle

Iclimbed down the metal stairs of the carriage, now wearing my satchel crosswise on my body. I cautiously took in my new surroundings.

The view wasn’t remotely what I’d expected.

I’d expected buildings, parks, fountains, trees, even a glimpse of the university gates, but I saw only what appeared to be empty fields. The ocean of tall grasses stretched as far as my eyes could see. Gentle, rolling hills rose and fell up to the horizon, also covered with waving fronds dotted with the occasional ancient shade tree.

I glanced over my shoulder at the midnight black, horse-like creatures, with their long, writhing, scale-covered tails. I heard a ringing laugh and turned, right as Draken and Miranda tumbled down the metal staircase behind me. One of them stood on either side of me then, and gazed out over the same view.

“It’s the illusion,” Miranda said confidently. “Invisible city, remember?”

She nodded to our left, where a small group of people stood atop a low hill just past the harnessed monoceri. “That guy in the purple robes must be our officiant. They send one every yearto personally invite all the new students to Bonescastle, and to break the enchantment for us. They put a magical trace on us, as well, which is a requirement for all students until they graduate or leave the school… I read about it in the manual they sent last month.”

My eyebrows rose.

Manual? No one sent me a manual.

Had Ankha gotten it, instead? Annoyance swirled around me at the thought. Trust her not to send it on, but to leave me rude notes instead.

Miranda looped her arm through mine.

I looped my own through Draken’s proffered elbow on my other side, and the three of us began following the others up the hill.

When we reached the top, we added ourselves to the single-file line, which led to the white-haired mage. Somehow it was me who ended up first among the three of us. I watched as the old mage raised a hand and spoke words over a male student.

Abruptly, that student vanished.