Even better. I wanted to spend more time there now that it was mine. Something deep inside of me wanted to spend more and more time there.
It wasn’t my reality, but I wanted to. It was as if I itched to bring it to the full potential.
People were either nervous Tuesday morning or practically rolling their eyes at the midterm. I was pretty sure I was the only one in the middle. I was confident that I could do what was needed, but doing it in front of others was always an added pressure and made things more complicated.
Plus, given my magical education that… It was problematic.
I realized Dr. Haskins was worried about my performance as well because I was going dead last. It was clear he’d arranged that as a favor to me or to take the pressure off of me. While I appreciated it, the waiting actually made me more nervous.
The weight of feeling that my professor thought I needed it.
“I felt your upset and asked Derek if I could come,” Quinn said quietly from behind me. “Are you okay, Bevin?”
I smiled and gave a slight nod, stepping towards him. I patted my shoulder and gave him love when he hopped up. I quietly explained what was going on under my breath so I didn’t disturb the others, glad when Quinn seemed relieved.
“You should text Derek even if he’s in class. I’m afraid I worried him. I’m sorry.”
“You did nothing wrong. Thank you for caring for me.” I gave him a kiss and did as he asked.
I got a few looks because most people in our year knew Wyatt’s familiar now, but others were fairly used to seeing Quinn with me too. I was Wyatt’s only independent study, he was friends with Winter… Most people had accepted the logical reasons we’d given.
I felt malice from my left and turned just in time to see three of the warlocks from the administration walking briskly towards where our class was. One had darkness in his eyes that I didn’t like, so I gathered magic.
Something he sensed.
And so did Dr. Haskins, telling the rest of everyone to hold on.
“You are over the line, Ms. Millen,” the administrator snapped. “How dare you gather magic in this moment?”
“You arewaytoo hostile and I don’t know why,” I defended. “I was prepared to throw up a barrier, and every student should default to that especially when I’m duty-bound to protect someone else’s familiar that I’m responsible for in this moment.”
“She’s right,” Dr. Haskins agreed, moving closer. “I can see it in your aura, and I teach my students to always be prepared. We all do. So I don’t know what the issue is here, but she doesn’t even have it at the ready, simply gathered.”
“The issue here is her flaunting her relationship with Wyatt and his familiar,” the administrator snapped.
“This again?” Dr. Haskins sighed. “Leave it be, man. They’ve been cleared. Wyatt is two minutes older than some of the students because he’s talented. We areluckyhe recognized her talent and locked in on developing it instead of someone else bad scooping her up. That happens to too many and it hurts our society. He is an asset and she feels safe with him.”
I couldn’t hide my shock at what he was saying and clearly had before. But he wasn’t done, gesturing to Quinn on my shoulder.
“You’ve heard the reports that people think she’ll be able to speak with familiars and animals. Let her gifts develop! That’s aneededability in our world, not the posers who fake it and hurt our people. Look at this. Look at how protective another familiar is of a witch who isn’t family. That is astounding. Even my familiar adores her. Stop chastising that!”
I wasn’t the only one who looked at him like he’d grown a second head. He—I had never seen him so upset before. Or ever really.
Wow. This really had pushed a button with him.
“He’s got a point,” one of the other administrators said before focusing on me. “It is unorthodox and can send the wrong message. You have to understand that, Ms. Millen.”
“No, I think it’s sends the right message and one of understanding and acceptance,” I countered. “Myprofessorswere worried about their student. Not just Professor Wyatt, but Dr. Haskins too.”
Dr. Haskins did a double take but then chuckled. “Yes, of course you caught on. Well, you might be naïve on some things, and your formal magical education was worlds behind, but you were never the idiot people painted you.”
“Sometimes we all can be.” I shrugged and then explained that I realized he put me at the end to take the pressure off of me because this was my first structured test since I’d only had tutors. It was my first midterm besides Latin which was fill in the bubbles.”
“And of course Professor Wyatt would have known that, worried as your advisor, and his familiar as well,” that second administrator muttered. “You are correct then, Ms. Millen. I’m glad our staff puts in the extra effort and that can help our students thrive.” He shot a look at the first.
Who was a child and simply huffed before storming off.
I doubt I was the only one who mentally rolled their eyes.
