“Talent like yours doesn’t simply disappear because it’s ignored.” His gaze pins me in place. “I know potential when I see it, and you have more than you realize. You wouldn’t have won two duels already—and come close to winning a third, if what I’ve heard around these halls is correct—if you didn’t. Now, tell me,” he adds, his voice dropping lower, “do you believe we choose our path, or does it choose us?”
I blink at the sudden change of subject and take a moment to contemplate his question, remembering everything that’shappened to me since the near plane crash in the silver storm. “I think sometimes we don’t get a choice at all,” I finally say. “Sometimes things just... happen to us.”
“Interesting perspective.” He studies me for a long moment. “And what do we do when things ‘just happen’ to us?”
“Try not to die?” The words slip out before I can stop them.
He actually smiles at that. “Indeed. Which is why I believe you’d benefit from individual tutoring sessions. Shall we say Thursdays, after regular classes?”
My heart sinks.
Thursday tutoring means less time for everything else. When am I supposed to breathe?
But I can’t say no. Not without raising questions. And maybe, just maybe, if Thad knows something about my electricity and is trying to help me in his own subtle way, these sessions will give me answers I desperately need.
“That would be great.” I force a smile that definitely isn’t convincing. “Thank you.”
“Excellent. We’ll begin next week.” He makes a note in his planner. “Do try to finish the reading before then. I think you’ll find the chapters about mortals who were feared for powers that defied classification to be particularly… illuminating. History has a way of repeating itself, don’t you think?”
“For sure.” I nod, gathering my things with shaking hands. Because it definitely sounds like he knows something, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Not to mention that I don’t know when I’ll find time to read the entire book, but it’s going to have to be a tomorrow problem, for after I survive the Halloween ball from Hell.
“Oh, and Jade?” Thad calls as I reach the door. “Be careful tonight. Strong emotions have a way of bringing out aspects of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden. Especially in places designed to judge authenticity.”
“What do you mean, ‘places designed to judge authenticity?’”
“I mean that the fires in the Starflare Ballroom reveal truths, whether we want them to or not.” His eyes hold mine. “I’d hate for you to be caught off guard.”
“Thanks for the warning.” I glance around the room, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. “I’ll see you next week!”
It comes out too cheery.Waytoo cheery.
“I’ll see you far before next week,” he says with a half-smirk.
I do a double take. “What?”
“The Halloween ball,” he says slowly. “The professors attend, too.”
“Right.” I smile again. “Of course.”
Luckily, I’m saved from further embarrassment by Nina walking into the room.
“Sorry to interrupt.” She pauses in the doorway. “I was just hoping to speak with Professor Thaddeus.”
“All yours,” I manage, sidestepping her.
She catches my arm as I pass.
“A word of advice about tonight?” Her dark eyes are serious. “If you’re hiding anything, be extra careful. The Starflare Ballroom has a way of revealing what we most want to keep hidden.”
My entire body tenses. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She releases my arm, then gives me a close-lipped smile. “I’ll see you around, Jade.”
Her gaze follows me as I leave, and I can’t shake the feeling that the walls are closing in. Because Thad seems to know something. Nina suspects something. Evie’s being remarkably chill about my nightly rendezvous with Logan. Callie and Alessandra likely still want to kill me, and given Avery’s jealousy, she’s probably dying to become the third member of theirI hate Jade Harringtonclub.
Plus, I don’t know how I can get through the Halloween ball with Oliver while Logan watches.
On the other hand, I’ve already survived Hydra attacks, Lampades trying to drown me, magical duels in the Scorched Circles, Hecate’s four torturous trials, and Fury Loop sex so intense it probably registers on the academy’s seismic wards.
