She was one of the few students who seemed to believe me after Tabitha’s death, and she had always been kind. The number of students who shared those traits were so few that I could count them on two hands, and I clung to those people.
“All right! Everyone, release your conjurings. Class is almost over, and I want to give homework,” stout and graying Professor Umbra yelled over the din of students.
Her blue eyes twinkled as she gave out the assignment—an impossible team project that made me groan—right before the hooting of an owl rang through the academy. The first years spilled from her classroom, making our way to Faeology.
“Can you believe that homework?” Eva’s blue eyes were wide with disbelief. “Three new two-piece conjurings by tomorrow! No freaking wonder they call this year the Culling. We’re gonna be up all night, with all the homework we have.”
“Especially if you have to wait for mine to materialize,” I said. Mastering my own magic was hard enough, but with this project, I had to meld it with Eva’s. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to partner with me on this.”
“What? No way am I leaving my bestie high and dry. Plus, you’ve gotten better. I’m sure it will be fine.” Eva’s tone brooked no rebuttals.
Even though my progress felt excruciatingly slow, she was right. Over the past month and a half, I had gotten a lot better at magic—but then again, so had everyone else. And as our collective skill level increased, the professors assigned our homework and projects accordingly. My worst fear was that my halting progress would trickle to nothing, while everyone else advanced.
“Thanks, girl,” I said, and gave Eva a grateful smile. If it wasn’t for her and Hunter, I’d be alone in all this.
As if my thoughts had conjured him, Hunter appeared at Eva’s side. “Hey, babes.” He grinned at us, and I heard a girl sigh somewhere behind us. “I need to run up to the tower before Faeology. Save me a seat?”
“Sure,” I replied, and he peeled off.
I was about to comment on how silly it was that others were still so smitten with him, when I noticed Eva watching Hunter dash awayveryintently.
In the short time I’d known him, it had become obvious that Hunter was a major flirt. Eva and I had both commented on the fact many times. But maybe Eva wasn’t as immune to his charms as she let on.
I opened my mouth to ask, but she spoke over me.
“I gotta stop in the bathroom. Save me a seat too?”
I didn’t even respond before she took off in the direction that Hunter had just gone.
A grin split my face, and I shook my head as I watched my bestie chase after Hunter.
Go get him, girl.
When I arrived at Faeology, only three seats remained, all in the back row, where one other person sat.
Alex Wardwell.
Mr. Hot Grouch caught me staring at the empty seats, and his blue eyes pierced through me, studying me for a heartbeat longer than normal. My stomach fluttered, and I dared to hope that he wouldn’t snub me. My hope was quickly dashed when a second later, Alex pointedly looked away.
Inwardly groaning, I made my way toward the back of the class.
Would it be too weird if I took the chair farthest from him?Quickly, I concluded that not only would it be weird, it would be poor form. If there was one person Alex rebuffed more often than me, it was Hunter. Taking the most distant desk would only serve to force them closer together.
In an effort not to be a jerk to one of my few friends, I took the spot next to Alex.
The minutes ticked by, and my discomfort grew as he stared out the window. For some reason, despite how much he disliked me, I was drawn to him, wanted to know him. If someone else told me they felt this way about a guy, I’d want to slap them, but I just couldn’t help myself.
Finally, the silence became unbearable. “Hi, Alex. That assignment from yesterday was killer, huh?”
Alex snorted and the pit in my gut deepened, even as my jaw began to clench tight.
Should I confront him? What does he have against me, anyway? I don’t get it . . .
I still hadn’t decided on how to proceed, when Hunter and Eva burst into the classroom. They spotted me and made their way to the back as the owl hooted, announcing the start of class.
I arched an eyebrow, taking in the disheveled state of Eva in the desk next to mine. “Dude. What’s up with your hair?” I whispered, as Eva dug into her bag for her book.
Eva froze. “What do you mean?”
