“You guys make this out like it’s some huge deal. It’s just a casual hangout in the forest,” Aurielle said, and Yasmin shrugged.
I tried to suppress a thread of nerves. While I’d been getting along great with these three, this party would be my first real social interaction with the larger academy community. It didn’t seem likely that everyone was as friendly as my fern-affinity crew. And with me not having affinity powers of my own, what would I have in common with the other students?
My attention was caught by a small gathering outside.
“So, what’s up with those three?” I asked, seeing Callan standing with the two students he sat with in Basic Plant Biology. “I notice that everyone acts a little differently around them.”
Coral lowered her voice. “Those three are all founders’ descendants.”
My pulse notched up, remembering what they’d told me about founders’ descendants being more powerful than other botanists and being responsible for charging the verdant shield. Something had seemed different about Callan from the beginning, but I’d never been sure what.
“Callan descends from the tree founder, as you could probably guess. He’s rumored to be the most powerful magical botanist in generations, stronger than any of the professors, even. Eli Quinn—” Yasmin nodded toward the tall boy with a sharp jaw, brown skin, and dark hair in a topknot “—comes from the herbal founder’s family. He’s also a member of one of the Northern California native tribes. Nevah Trinity”—her eyes shifted to the girl, and mine followed. She had warm brown skin and silky, wavy brown hair that reached her waist, even in a ponytail. “—is a descendant of the aquatic founder. She is a wiz with everything related to water, even those things that have nothing to do with plants. She swims like a fish.”
“Wow,” I said, watching as the three founders’ descendants said a few words to one another then went their separate ways. Callan headed off toward the forest, and I assumed he was aiming for the tree houses.
“They’re as close to royalty as you can get around here, notthat botanists care about that sort of thing,” she winked, and I smiled, though my head was spinning.
I thought back to when Callan had caught me as I’d fallen from the trees during my tree affinity test. Did all students with tree affinities have that ability or just the strong ones? And was this ability the reason he had been the one to charge my emerald gemstone? Instinctively, I felt for the gem on my finger and twisted it casually.
Just as I touched it, Callan glanced back over his shoulder to where we were all sitting in the courtyard. I realized I’d been staring, and I quickly turned my eyes back to my friends, trying not to wonder what he and the other tree affinities did when they went out to the woods. I had my hands full enough at Evergreen Academy without getting distracted by the mystery of the founders’ descendants.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The ferns in Yasmin’s room shimmied nonstop as the four of us got ready for the garden party. I watched in awe as Coral and Yasmin applied makeup from small vials.
“All of you have skin like glass,” I said. “I’m so jealous.”
“Oh, we’re way ahead in plant-based skin care here. Like, decades beyond the most expensive products currently on the market. I’ll get you some,” Yasmin said.
Aurielle wiggled her eyebrows at Coral. “So, are you finally going to make a move on Waylon tonight?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Coral replied, dusting shimmering eye shadow on her lids. I caught the faint scent of roses wafting off whatever they were applying.
“You two never stop flirting with each other during Affinity Studies,” Yasmin said.
“Wow. I didn’t know everyone was so invested in our chemistry,” Coral said, though she was tryingto suppress a smile. “How about you, B? Has anyone caught your eye here? Or are you already dating someone outside of the academy?”
“Not dating anyone but… there is this guy at SCC.”
Coral turned her freshly sparkly eyes toward me in the mirror. “Ohhh, a relationship with a regular human. How exciting. Time to spill.”
“There’s not much to tell,” I admitted but shared about the few brief lunches we’d had together and his recent invitation to the barbecue that I’d had to decline.
“Do you want to wear something of mine?” Yasmin asked as the three of them finished accessorizing their outfits with nature-inspired jewelry. Coral was wearing a stunning pair of earrings that looked like wide golden ferns. I looked down at my jean skirt and white T-shirt, which I’d initially thought would be dressy enough for a party in the woods. It certainly was with my local friends, anyway.
“I guess I could borrow some jewelry.”
Yasmin began to riffle through her closet. “And here’s a jacket. It gets chilly out at night.” She was right. The days were beginning to shorten now that October had rolled around. She handed me a trendy black jacket and waved to the jewelry box. “Help yourself.”
While sifting, I landed on tiny white flower clips, which I dotted through the waves of my hair. Once I added a pair of delicate gold earrings, I instantly felt much dressier than I had before.
The four of us left Yasmin’s room and descended the stairs. Other students were also making their way outside in small groups. I followed my friends’ lead as they each grabbed a lantern from a table in the central vein.
“It’s tradition,” Yasmin explained. “No technology at garden parties, equinoxes, or solstice festivals.”
Together, we continued out of the academy, past the back gardens and pond, and into a portion of the forest that I’d never visited before. By the starlight and lantern glow, I saw groups of students sitting on logs or in the gazebos that littered the area. Flowered vines stretched overhead across the clearing, like colorful and aromatic streamers. Music was already playing, though I couldn’t tell where it was coming from.
“Pick your libation,” Yasmin said, waving her hand toward the dozens of pitchers and punch bowls arranged on a flower-covered table. “Alcoholic, nonalcoholic, we’ve got it all. The drinks are made here and magically enhanced, of course. No one will be getting a hangover from these.” She plucked a concoction off the table that appeared to be a mixture of pulpy orange juice, fresh cranberries and—I assumed—vodka.
