I hung my head miserably. “Yes. I got scared, and it tried to protect me.” A tear slid down my cheek, but I brushed it away, not wanting to look weak in the company of such a powerful witch.
“Yes, I saw a video of the prank.” Her lips thinned in anger. “Certain members of the student body will be punished accordingly.”
“I don’t know why anyone would be so mean,” I admitted. “Or who set me up.”
“That’s not important right now,” Miss Windborne said firmly. I sort of disagreed with her because Maverick had told me he plannedto eviscerate the person or persons behind the prank, which made me want to warn them before they died in a gruesome way, but I kept my mouth shut.
“What matters,” she continued, “is that you learn to control your magic better. The whole point of this school is to teach our students how to wield their magic safely. Out-of-control power hurts everyone, and if a magic accident happens around humans, the penalties are severe.”
I knew she wasn’t trying to scare me, but her warning still did. My magical outbursts were the reason Adam didn’t like me leaving the compound. While my everyday magic could barely light a candle most of the time, it sometimes burst free in unexpected ways, as if a valve inside me had opened to release the pressure.
Destructiveways.
Adam had never figured out why I had so little control over what little magic I manifested. Honestly, the way my magic worked made no sense most of the time. Other witches and mages could control their magic and do cool things like teleport and create ice sculptures, but not me.
Nope.
“I think it would be helpful for you to have a magical mentor for the next few weeks. Someone to guide you in learning how to control your magic.”
“You?” I asked hopefully.
“As much as I wish it could be me, sweet Raven,” she said with a sad smile, “I simply don’t have the time.”
“Oh.” Miss Windborne was the nicest witch I’d ever met, so I couldn’t help but feel disappointed she didn’t have time to give me extra lessons beyond helping with my mental shields once a week. “I’msorry I didn’t show up last night,” I apologized after a beat, but she waved her hand dismissively.
“The minute I got word about what happened, I understood. No apology needed.”
I expelled a sigh of relief, happy she didn’t hate me.
“So who’s going to be my mentor?” I cringed, hoping she didn’t say Demelza.
“Alaric Vane is the most powerful mage student at this school, so I’ve asked him to be your mentor.”
My jaw dropped in shock.
Oh. My. Stars.
This would not end well.
21
Raven
After I’d read the same paragraph ten times, absorbing nothing useful, I threw the book on lesser demons down. Alar-dick was supposed to have been here thirty minutes ago, but it was becoming increasingly clear he had no intentions of becoming my magic mentor.
As the Mage Council leader’s son, there wasn’t much anyone could do or say to force him. One thinly veiled threat from his father and even the most powerful witch would back down.
I sighed. It was time to call it quits and leave. I had almost completed my assignment on demons, so I planned to go back to my room and sleep. Tomorrow was Saturday, which meant we had no classes. Glynda had suggested we binge-watch a supernatural series humans loved, which seemed like a fantastic idea to me.
Just as I stood to leave, a familiar face appeared. “Leaving so soon?” Alaric smirked before stumbling to a halt next to my table. His hair was a mess, and he reeked of shifter moonshine and cheap perfume. Not that his disheveled appearance detracted from his sex appeal. Even drunk as a shifter at a full-moon party, the mage had it going on.
Arrogant pig.
Oh, wait. Pigs were sweet creatures. Affectionate and intelligent. Qualities this mage lacked.
“I was leaving, yes. Figured you weren’t coming.”
“I came,” he drawled. “That’s why I was late.” The subtext of his words sank in, and I blushed. Stars above, what a disgusting male. I felt sorry for any poor witch invited into his bed. Still, my disgust at his nasty insinuation didn’t stop me from admiring the way his shirt molded his cut chest muscles.
