Page 11

The headmaster clears his throat, dropping my wrists.

“Congratulations. I believe this is history in the making.” He doesn’t sound happy; he sounds like he just witnessed a murder.

“As this is a unique circumstance, I will need time to talk with the other tutors and call the Umbral Authority about this situation, as they will no doubt wish to meet with you. But for now, please join the celebrations and enjoy yourself. You’ve clearly earned it.

” A gap in the curtains appears, a few steps down into a thick crowd waiting for me.

I want to get away from the headmaster as quickly as I can, and I go to move, but he grabs my shoulder. “How did you do it?” he whispers low.

“It was an accident,” I tell him honestly.

He searches my eyes, seeing that I’m not lying.

“You probably don’t want to tell that to anyone else here.

You just made yourself the biggest target in this academy and in the war.

When our enemies hear about you, they are going to do everything in their power to make sure you end up dead, along with your dragons, before you reach your full potential.

” He lets me go. “It’s well known the dragons didn’t want to be bonded at all, and they are very, very dangerous shifters, who have lost everything, and that has darkened their souls. ”

“Thanks for the warning,” I offer, because what else can I say to that? I’m well aware of the shit show I’ve accidentally gotten myself into and the target on my back.

He lets me go and I’m tempted to rub my wrist to wipe off the feel of him touching me.

I’ve never liked anyone touching me, hugging me, or just being close in general except for a rare few people in my life who earned my trust. I know it’s because of Melody and the trauma she caused.

I know I could accept that not everyone will hurt me, but it’s easier said than done to make my mind and body accept that truth.

“Nothing done by the goddess is accidental…” His eyes are scanning me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. “She must have a path for you. Aren’t you special?”

“I never asked to be anything from her except to help in the war. I don’t want any more children to lose their parents like I did,” I reply, crossing my arms. I take another step back towards the curtains.

“Some people are born to fates they don’t choose.

” He walks away first, to the leaderboard, giving me his back.

I leave through the curtains as quickly as I can, wanting to get away from him.

The crowd is as huge as I thought it would be, filled with a mixture of second- and third-year students in their uniforms, some older people, and dotted around are first-years, which are easy to spot.

We all look like we have danced with a fire and dragged ourselves through at least ten bushes for the perfectly chaotic, messy look.

People are trying not to stare as they continue drinking while I go down the steps.

I spot a first-year guy shoving little cakes into his mouth off a server’s tray and, by the thin look of him, I’d bet he is from one of the poorer towns to the south.

I’m half tempted to join him and eat too, but I know if I tried to eat anything now, I’d throw it all up.

I’m relieved when Wini comes rushing through the crowd, and the second I sit down, she hands me a glass of wine. “I’ve never been allowed to drink…is it nice?”

“No, but it has healing potion in it, and you look…well, how I do.” She waves at her gray gown, which has blood, black burnt bits, and massive rips in the skirt.

She is also covered in mud. “I used the mud puddles to hide while the dragon went past, and I tore my dress so I could run. I’m so glad you’re alive…

that was terrifying. I’m going to have nightmares for months. ”

“So will I.” Today will go well with all the nightmares I usually have and can’t ever get rid of. I down the drink, which makes my head swim.

There’s a bitter taste in the back of my throat for a long moment, and an icy feeling spreads in my stomach, but any pain in my ribs fades away. The burns on my legs stop hurting, and when I look down, they are gone. Nice.

A man steps up next to Wini and bows his head at me.

“Pleasure to meet you, and congratulations.” He’s got dark brown hair that’s tied at the back of his neck in braids, and he is very pale, like he never really sees the sun, almost the color of moonlight.

His eyes match his hair, the same brown color.

“Aster Rogue,” he introduces, offering me a hand to shake.

I shake his hand back. “I was looking for you in the forest, but…it was chaos. The dragons like to make a mess of the situation.”

“Aster? As in the brother of Rue’s bonded?” I question, and he nods.

“I think maybe he was looking for you, and I don’t know how, but we ran into each other, and I asked him to bond with me. I hope that’s okay.” Wini rubs her arm. “I didn’t know he was looking for you until?—”

“It’s fine.” I cut her off. How could she have known?

She smiles at me. “I knew we’d be good friends.

Good friends don’t get angry at each other for things they can’t control.

I can’t stay long. My mother’s on the council, and she’s over there waiting for me.

” Wini points through the crowd, and I turn to see a gray-haired woman laughing, sipping a drink.

For a moment, I freeze, feeling like I know her.

I do…but how? I stare at her so long I don’t notice Aster and Wini are still talking.

“I’m just going to say hello because she won’t be here for long. You should come with me, Juniper.”

“Perhaps I should keep my old friend company, sister.”

My head swings at the sound of the male voice.

He can’t be here. Oh fuck, he really can’t be here.

But as he steps up to Wini’s side, as his blue eyes lock onto mine and that familiar, old tension brews in the air like a stale potion that should have been thrown away years ago, I accept that he is real.

Hemlock Mercury is at Bloodstone Academy.

I really thought this day couldn’t get any worse, but then my ex-boyfriend, my very secret ex-boyfriend, is somehow here.

Lock stayed in our village for two months, and he liked small creatures just like me.

Lock was always in the forest, helping and leaving them food.

We began to talk…and the talking, along with his dimples, led to much more than talking on the forest floor.

But it ended, swiftly and brutally, and I never wanted to see his handsome face again.

“Wait.” I look between Lock and Wini, and I see it. They are familiar, in a way siblings are, the same nose and the same face structure. “He’s your brother? Lock?”

I remember Lock telling me about his younger sister and how much he loved her.

I’m surprised he let her come here, knowing it’s likely going to get her killed.

I knew seeing him again was always a chance.

There aren’t many witches left in the world, but I hope he is just visiting.

That hope sinks faster than a stone when I see his black uniform that snuggly fits every tall inch of his body.

“Yes, Juni. We don’t share the same last name because we have different fathers, but Winifred’s my sister. I asked her to look out for you.”

“Did you?” I sarcastically direct the question to Wini, who looks sheepish.

Wini clears her throat, her cheeks bright pink. “Yes, he did, and I kind of forgot until we met.” She hisses to Lock, “You didn’t tell me that this was a thing and awkward, or I’d have told you to fuck off.”

“I’m telling our mother about your new foul language,” he smoothly taunts before looking at me with a smile that won my heart—or at least my vagina—over a few years ago.

I’m not a love-struck girl who falls for the first guy to give her attention anymore, though.

Love has to be earned and proven. It has to be constantly fed because if it isn’t, it dies.

Whatever was between us is dead, and there isn’t a spell to breathe life into it. “Now leave. I need to speak to Juni.”

“I still want to be friends. That wasn’t…” She stops, seeing me glaring at her brother. “I’m going to leave you both to it. Please don’t hate me.” She smiles at her new bonded. “Aster, please come with me. I’ll introduce you to my mom.”

“Of course.” Aster looks between us and nods at me before going with Wini.

“As usual, you’re gaining quite a bit of attention, and this time it’s more than the fact you’re insanely beautiful,” he purrs.

“And as usual, you’re where I don’t want you to be,” I mutter.

“You’re still mad at me,” he notes. Dumbass.

He was never the smartest. He holds his hands up, his gold, family clan ring shimmering in the light.

“I was visiting all of the towns as part of my leadership introduction. You knew I would be going back, and I had to go back to the academy. We were just kids. I was seventeen and stupid, but I’m not anymore. ”

“I’m well aware of what we were, and what we are now isn’t changing.” I lift my chin. “I’ve had enough of men today.”

He coughs on thin air. “Well, you’ve certainly gotten stronger willed since we were seventeen.”

I glance at his uniform, the number two in Latin on his chest, next to the Bloodstone Academy logo. “Second year?”

“Yes, and I’ll be watching over you, along with Rue. We are friends, not sure if she told you that.”

I scrunch my face. “You slept with?—”

“Fuck, no. Just friends!” He shakes his head, and he looks disgusted. I’m not sure why. She is pretty and single. “Have you had enough of that healing potion? I’m concerned about your welfare?—”