Page 215 of Rebellious Royals

"Yeah," I breathed, moving closer and lowering my voice. "Zez, Shadow was in there with me."

He nodded. "Not surprised."

"No. I mean it actuallytalkedto me."

"What did it say?"

"That it will save mine if I save its - but I don't know who it meant by that! It also said the fire wasn't an accident, but we already know that part."

"And your shadow is magic, right?"

"Yeah, but like Magic, capital letter and all."

He nodded. "Ok, so maybe what it means is keeping Winter alive?"

"I don't know," I said. "Worse, it's been just a normal shadow since. I try talking to it, and I'm getting nothing."

"Shadow!" Jack said, tucking his head under his wing. "Shadow!" And he sighed heavily, making a production of it.

"I'm going to guess that means Shadow wore itself out helping us in the fire." And he looked down at my feet. "I'm in your debt, Shadow. And more for saving the weapons, because I can't think of any other reason thatentireroom was spared from the flames."

"Wait, what?" I asked.

Bracken chuckled and nodded. "Yep. Even if that room didn't burn, that much heat should've warped the metals or oxidized a few of them. Instead, it's all fine. The paint, the floors, and everything in there is just like we left it - including both your sword and Keir's."

"Thank you, Shadow," I said, looking down at my feet.

My silhouette didn't move much. It merely shifted an arm to make the thumbs-up gesture. It was enough.

But without a gym, we couldn't hold our combat classes. Bracken said the court had all passed, as far as he cared. The sentinels had as well. He sent a digital test to the rest of his students, to be completed at their convenience, and that was it.

Which meant my last final exam ended up being Tag's. Somehow, the schedule for finals worked out so everyone's fifth-period class was the last exam of the week. In other words, this was it. I headed into the Forge just to be caught before I could sit down. Then, one by one, every student in the class brought up something they'd made to help me as the Morrigan.

Some were expected, like the ceramic and carbon fiber knives. Others were impressive, such as the brass bracers a girl had made. Then there was the one I liked the most. The guy who sat in front of me, Heath, had blown a glass mug, then enchanted it. I could see the subtle sparkles of magic caught in the middle of the glass - where I couldn't touch it and ruin the enchantment. When he handed it to me, it was with a smile.

"She won't feel the enchantment," called Lina, the girl who sat beside me.

"So tell her," Tag instructed.

"Um..." Heath ducked his head like he was almost embarrassed. "I put an enchantment in there that will negate any poison or toxin. Depending on who holds the handle, it will make the beverage fit for them."

"Whoa," I breathed, looking at the mug in a whole new way. "And it won't mess up, like, oak syrup?"

"Nope, that's safe, so it won't change it at all." He shrugged. "And it's a gift, Rain. You know, to show I noticed all the times you ended up missing class this year because you got caught in the crossfire."

"Or put herself there," Tag said. "Heath, I think this deserves not only an A, but extra credit as well. Rain, how would you use this one?"

"I'm going to put it beside my bed for the next time someone has to carry my wounded body there and heal me up," I said. "Then, my drink is one thing I will never have to worry about."

"Congratulations," Tag announced. "I think you haveallshown exceptional skill. Now get out of here, and your grades will be posted shortly."

And that was it. I was officially done with high school!

Following the rest of my class out of the building, I blinked against the bright sky - then blinked again. There, leaning against one of the trees and much closer than I would've expected, was a guy I recognized. The sun made it hard to be sure, but when the others waved or smiled at him, offering greetings as they passed, I was sure of it.

"Hey, Hawke," a few called at him.

He nodded, even lifted a few fingers, but never moved. But when I headed toward him, Hawke lifted his arm, catching Jack as he sailed out of the branches above.