My eyes landed on the empty table next, and Piper’s green glare came into my mind. She’d nudge me toward the seats with other adults like I used to do to her in preschool.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
However, Piper wasn’t here to glare at me, and I was an adult capable of making my own decisions. It was the coward’s choice, but I sat at the table with no one.
We had three more minutes before class started, and instead of watching the rest of the students walk in, I braided my longbrown hair with absolute focus. Then the sound of heels clicking against the floor made me lift my head upwards.
A woman waltzed to the front of the class wearing a purple dress, black robe, and slippers. Recognition flared in me as I realized she was the same woman who greeted me at the fountain yesterday.
“Welcome to the McKenzie Institute. I am your conjuring teacher, Jules. And you may call me Jules, Witch Jules, or Professor Jules.”
While Professor Jules magically wrote her name on a chalkboard with floating chalk, the chair beside me was pulled back.
“We’re going to be learning where magic resides inside you and how to conjure it.” She swished a line under her name, and the chalk slowly lowered onto the desk in front of her.
I personally was mesmerized and looked forward to what she had to teach us.
She walked over to the wall by the doorway and pulled out a spray bottle. “Before we get into the fun, I want to draw your attention to this bottle.”
It glowed pink, and I remembered seeing something similar used on Imogene’s comrade at the feast.
“As newly magical students, your powers are a bit unstable. This bottle contains an herb from Nathuria that temporarily nullifies spells. You will need to visit the hospital wing to permanently remove the spell. In the event of destructive spells or a loss of control, please give yourself or others a quick spritz, and then see yourself to the healers.” She placed the bottle back in the “in case of emergency” box.
Someone sat in the seat beside me, and my magic tingled under my skin. I looked down to make sure my fingers weren’t sparking like they’d done when my emotions spiked. No human sparkler trick so far!
Professor Jules clapped her hands once, drawing our attention as she stood in front of her desk and smiled at each of us students.
“Now, before we talk about your magic, please turn to your table partner and say hello. You’re going to be working together for the rest of this semester.” Professor Jules waved her delicate hand back and forth for us to say our greetings.
I turned to my right with small smile that hopefully came off as welcoming.
Then I froze.
Rylan McKenzie dazzled me with a grin and those stormy eyes.
Rylan was my new partner.
“Morning, Star.”
Chapter Seven
You feel, you create
“Hi,” I croaked, facing forward.
Gah, his magic felt like a cozy winter day—wrapping me up with a thick blanket to bask in the crackling, sizzling, flickering fire inside him.
“Beautiful,” he said, and I turned to see what he called beautiful. It was the leaves outside the window.
A mixture of yellows, reds, and oranges danced outside like a flame in the window.
Then I realized that wasmydoing.
My face heated, and I tucked my hands between my thighs. The magic vanished. A low chuckle tickled my ears, but I ignored it.
I guess his words yesterday were right that he’d see me in class.
“Now, I assume everyone here has experienced magic of some kind, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” Professor Jules waggled her fingers as if to say hello, and a green, wood-carved wand appeared out of nowhere.
