Page 104 of Wicked Ends

Eight months, and he can still make me blush with a single touch.

“Soren.”

“Fine, fine.” He holds up his hands in surrender.

Soren steals a quick kiss before heading for the door. “Oh, and Drake wanted me to remind you about dinner tonight. Some kind of celebration for the first day of term.”

“I remember.” I haven’t forgotten. How could I? It’s the first time in a week that all five of us will be in the same room for more than a quick breakfast or late-night collapse into bed.

Our schedules have been busy and all over the place with the new term preparations. Drake’s been developing his curriculum, Ash overseeing the installation of new protective wards, Lucien coordinating about security, and Soren doing whatever Sorendoes when he’s not teaching or tempting me away from my responsibilities. Meanwhile, I’ve been stuck in meeting after meeting with the council, trying to make sure this term goes smoothly for everyone.

I settle at my desk, finally focusing on my notes for the meeting. Thorne’s seventeen-page cafeteria manifesto is actually eighteen pages, with an appendix listing every known food allergy among the student body. It’s meticulously researched, professionally formatted, and makes several compelling points about inclusive dining options. I hate that I’m impressed.

My relationship with Thorne has been the biggest surprise of the last eight months. We’re not friends exactly, but we’re not enemies anymore either. I guess I’d call us reluctant allies. Two witches who want different things for very different reasons, but who’ve discovered we can accomplish more by working together than by undermining each other.

She’s still a privileged, entitled brat. But she’s also whip-smart, uncompromising when she believes she’s right, and genuinely committed to making the academy better. At least, her version of better, which involves a lot more luxury amenities.

As I head to the meeting, I think about how much has changed. Eight months ago, I was just trying to survive this place, to find a way to control my own magic without being drained or devoured. Now I’m helping rebuild it from the ground up, creating something that might actually deserve to exist.

Hank hops along beside me in the corridor, keeping pace. My loyal familiar, who apparently enjoys council politics more than your average frog.

“Rose! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We need to talk about the dining hall.”

I sigh, but I'm smiling, too. “Sure thing, Thorne.”

The night I got the invitation to Serpentine Academy, I could never have imagined how my life would change. But as I stand here now, I know I'm where I've always been meant to be.