Setting the glass down, I finished curling my hair. The Yule Feast would begin in thirty minutes. At that time, I would see and speak with my parents for the first time in months.
And I’d finally hear what they had to say.
Merlin Amphitheater—the only space large enough for all three years of Spellcasters students, their parents, and the staff—looked totally different from the night of the Samhain Trial. But even with the festive streamers, mistletoe, floating candles, and massive pine wreaths scenting the air, the hair on the back of my neck lifted as Eva and I entered.
I wasn’t alone in my trepidation. Eva actually stopped on the threshold, her eyes wide and staring at the spot where the warphole had been during her trial.
“It’s okay,” I said, grasping her hand. “Nothing like that will happen tonight.”
She nodded. “I know, it’s just . . .”
“Hard.”
“Yeah.”
“Eva! Odie!” a voice called, and I scanned the room to find Hunter waving us over. Not far away, I spotted my parents. They had claimed the end of an empty table and were speaking so intently they hadn’t even noticed our arrival.
Unlike Orientation, which separated families, Yule was a time for community. Each table sat at least twenty people. Hunter’s family had claimed the north side of the amphitheater, while Alex’s family resided in the south. The boys had made it a point to arrive right when the amphitheater opened to find their parents.
And they’d arrived together.
I wonder how that went over?
Judging by the diamond-hard set of Hunter’s dad’s jaw, and the narrowing of Alex’s mom’s eyes, I guessed not very well. The guys had expected that. Their parents might not forgive and forget in one night like they had, but seeing their children together was a start.
“I don’t see my parents yet,” Eva said. “Bet they’re still socializing in alumni housing. They plan on spending the whole freaking weekend here.” She stared at Hunter and his family, longing in her eyes.
“Go meet them.” I nudged her. “I should talk to my parents alone.”
“Are you sure? You don’t want emotional support?”
Truthfully, I wanted to pull my parents into a private room and interrogate them. But the feast would start soon, so there wasn’t time for that.
“I’m sure. I just want to get this over with.”
Eva gave my hand a comforting squeeze, and we parted. I crossed the room, wishing a happy Yule to Olivia García and what looked to be three generations of her family, complete with five other chihuahua familiars. The ruckus the other families made was so intense that I made it halfway before my parents saw me coming.
“Odette!” Mom leapt up, ran over, and embraced me. “I missed you so much, honey!”
“I missed you too, Mom,” I said.
Dad took his turn next, enveloping me in a giant bear hug.
Then he stiffened.
I frowned. “What’s wrong, Dad?” I asked, my voice falsely innocent.
Dad gulped and pulled away. Our eyes met, his hazel ones wide.
“Pea . . . We—”
“Wanted to restrict my power? Wanted to hide an integral part of me from myself? Thought I was a menace to society and needed managing? Pick one and tell your tale, because I’m all ears.” I pointed to their table.
We returned to their spot. Dad could barely look at me, while Mom had gone sheet white. I sat down, tented my fingers beneath my chin, and waited.
After a strained minute of silence, Mom spoke. “We didn’t want to do any of those things, honey. The truth is, we bound you—for your own safety.”
I arched an eyebrow. “It seems to me that sending a spy-in-training out into the world without access to her full power isawfullydangerous. The exact opposite of protecting me. Unless another reason existed? The curse of my year, perhaps?”
