Page 76 of Obsidian and Frost

I startled and glanced out at the classroom.

Everyone was already in different stages of the assignment.

The Shadowmancers had already created theirs—floating shadow butterflies, a duck, a bird, and even a tiger.

The Dark Fae and other magic-wielders were still working on producing their shadows steadily. Only Kelsana had managed to actually make a shape with hers and it was a puffy heart that she was drawing Rennick’s attention to and making him smile, even as he struggled with his shadow creation.

I steadied myself and settled a couple of steps back from my desk and concentrated, while Sylas eased away to give me space and to complete his assignment as well.

I closed my eyes to gain better control and block out all the rest, other distractions, focusing on what Professor Selix Nyvarra had said about using this to express ourselves, to create freely—and with fun.

I felt my shadows pour forth, growing stronger, twisting and growing into shapes as I drew on the creative freedom we’d been given and dug deep into the heart of me. Or what I hoped was the heart of me.

I smiled to myself as all that power emanated and I didn’t feel a strain. It wasn’t hard to control or overwhelming. That was why she’d set the class this specific task—to take the edge and the pressure off

Well, it had certainly worked.

I opened one eye cautiously but didn’t look at what I was creating yet.

I looked out at what Sylas was doing.

Whoa.

Crimson and black shadows were swirling as he wove his hands back and forth and created a spectacular—and somehow shimmering in an otherworldly way—giant rose that stretched up to about six-feet in height and at least four feet in width. It was absolutely stunning. So intricate and detailed. So pretty too.

I loved roses. They came in so many different shapes, sizes, and colors. More than that, they were tough, badass bitches who protected their beauty and softness with thorns.

Although, when they didn’t want that protection anymore… they couldn’t take those thorns away, could they? They were just stuck with them, I guess.

He caught me looking and his gaze flicked to me with a wry grin. “They’re my favorite flower.”

What? Sylas Morgrave had a favorite flower?

I didn’t get to further that highly interesting revelation, as his grin slipped in the next moment when he looked at my magic, what I’d conjured with my shadows.

What was—

I finally looked at it as well.

Oh no.

I’d created a cage of thorns. As if that wasn’t enough, there were two shadow form beings within twisting, writhing, and convulsing within and fighting to escape what wasn’t possible with the way I’d formed the thorned cage coiling around them.

A couple of gasps sounded and I looked out to see one of the Shadowmancers—a guy with long silver hair in a metallic tank and jeans—looking on in a whole lot of shock. Another wasKelsana who looked… worried. I jolted as she offered me a smile—akindsmile, it looked like. What was happening?

This entire class had been one hell of a mind-fuck.

I went to call my shadows back and destroy my creation, but then the professor swept in front of me, standing opposite me with the creation between us. “This is intricate work, Velra. Highly impressive. Your skill with creating such complicated weaving architecture is unheard of in one so young and only a mere handful of years into your abilities.”

She knew my backstory. It was clear with the way she was phrasing everything.

I was wielding natural shadow magic, but I hadn’t been born into it naturally.

“But I… look at it… it’s disturbing.”

“It certainly isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Yet, that doesn’t detract from the skill. And it also reveals something important.” She smiled. “Come to me after class. We’ll talk.”

I swallowed hard. “Okay, yeah.”