I barked out a laugh as I took in the piece she pointed to. It was a necklace with a massive, silver-dollar-sized hunk of amethyst as the centerpiece.
“Be glad it didn’t,” I said. “A show-stopper like that wouldn’t go unnoticed in many settings. You’d have to be super creative with your outfits.”
Amethyst let out a sigh filled with longing. “It would have been worth it. I guess I’ll go try the wands next.” She wandered off.
Someone came up behind me and wrapped their arms around my waist.
“Any luck?” Alex asked, his touch sending a shiver up my spine.
“Not with the wands,” I admitted, kissing his cheek. “I haven’t picked any of these up yet. I’m trying to be more discerning. I don’t need a necklace slicing my finger off, or something crazy like that.”
Alex snorted as he let me go to stand at my side. “The sword only attacked Efraim because he was begging it to choose him. You’re not that dim.”
I beamed at him. “What do you say we try choosing totems for each other? Clearly our first opinions weren’t very trustworthy anyway. And we seem to know what the other likes and needs in some aspects,” I suggested, eyebrows wagging.
Alex stepped closer and dipped his lips to meet mine. Our bodies pressed together as our kiss deepened. Tingles rushed through me, as they did every time we kissed. How in the world had we been able to deny this chemistry for months?
“Ugh, get a room,” someone mumbled, and we broke apart laughing.
“I’m game,” Alex said, agreeing to my idea. “I had no luck with weapons. Maybe I’m more in the market for a beautiful necklace?” He pointed to the amethyst honker.
“Talk about an awkward totem-and-wizard combo.”
Alex chuckled, and together, we gave the display our full attention.
My gaze traveled over the trinkets and baubles. There was quite an array, ranging from elaborate, costume-style pieces, to rings that appeared to have been crafted by a very amateur smith. I didn’t relish the thought of walking around with a poorly made ring. It would limit my fashion choices drastically.
Shaking my head, I focused on what to choose for Alex. While he was always well dressed, he was also generally very classic. He preferred jeans or tailored trousers and a button-down shirt. Depending on the shirt, cufflinks would do nicely, whereas something like the necklace with ruby red salamanders would not compliment his tastes.
Of course, the salamander necklace mightactuallybe his totem, but if it was, I wouldn’t be the one springing it on him.
I gravitated toward a simple, sterling silver band. The label said it belonged to a wizard from Basque country who’d been renowned for his fairness and skill in healing. Alex would like that.
“Try this one,” I said, and then rattled off what the label specified.
Alex’s grin grew with each word, but when he placed the ring on his pointer finger, I could tell that it wasn’t a match. When Efraim had found his wand, he’d been ecstatic.
“That’s not it,” he said, confirming my suspicions. “But perhaps I found one for you.” He picked up a bracelet dotted with emeralds and diamonds.
“Beautiful,” I murmured and extended my wrist. As soon as the metal touched my skin, I knew it wouldn’t do.
“But not for me,” I said, and admired the bracelet once more before setting it down.
I chose one of the pounded metal rings, and Alex slipped it on. He once again shook his head.
His next choice for me was also a ring. This one made of yellow gold and bearing an amethyst and sapphire. As beautiful as it was, I couldn’t claim it was mine.
“I can’t help but think we’re doing this all wrong,” I said with a frustrated sigh.
While we’d been choosing for each other, three of our other classmates, Olivia, Kira, and Joseph, had discovered their totems.
“I agree.” Alex frowned down at the table. “Although, I get a more positive vibe about this table. At the wall of swords, I felt nothing. What about you?”
I focused inward and found that he was right. I hadn’t noticed the welcoming sensation before, probably because being around Alex always made my insides fuzzy.
“You’re right. I think I’m meant to be here, too.”
I cocked my head and took in the table once more, trying to see all the pieces at once, rather than studying them one at a time. Then I had an idea.
