Being torn away from everything and everyone I knew felt more like a punishment than an opportunity.
“The lock has been keyed to your magical signature,” Moira explained when we reached a plain door on the third floor of a dorm building that backed onto a thick forest. “So nobody else can enter unless you give them permission.”
“And what if I change my mind after I let them in?” A frisson of excitement shot through me at the thought of making new friends. I loved Willow, but she was a lot older than me. It would be nice to have friends my age.
“Then say out loud that you revoke permission, and the door magic will eject them.”
“Cool!” Maybe the headmaster had a point. If being here helped me learn how to do new magical things, I would be more useful to Adam when I finally went home.
“Once you learn how to do wards and other protective magic, you can tweak the door lock, but for now, this basic ward will keep you safe.” I frowned. It sounded like she was warning me I might not be safe here without actually saying the words.
“Am I not safe?”
Moira’s lips flattened as she stood on the threshold of my room, unable to enter because I hadn’t given her permission. “Not everyone here is nice, Raven. It’s best to always be on your guard. I recommend you join a coven as soon as possible. Once you do, your coven members will protect you from the more aggressive shifters and other magicals with bad intentions.”
“A coven?” Adam was the head of our coven at the compound. Surely I was already a member of his? Then again, maybe not. He’d never once mentioned an initiation ceremony, which I knew from reading books was essential if a witch joined one.
“Yeah. Come downstairs once you’ve settled in. This building is where all the witches live. We hang out in the common room on the ground floor after lessons.”
I hadn’t realized this dorm building was only for witches.Silly me. I’d assumed all the various magical factions at Starfall mixed as one big, happy family. Given how divided the magical communities were in the wider world, I should have known better.
Moira gave me a small smile. “Welcome to Starfall, Raven. I hope you’ll be happy here.” From the way her smile didn’t quite meet her eyes, I had a feeling she thought I wouldn’t last long, which was a legitimate concern.
But I refused to be a Negative Nancy. That wasn’t me. I preferred to look on the bright side, even when life gave me lemons.
Moira left, leaving me to check out my new room. It was small, but I didn’t mind. The realization that I’d have a space of my own for the first time in my life helped soften the blow of being kidnapped.
The bed had a pale blue comforter and two pillows. There was a small chest of drawers next to it, and under the window stood a desk and chair with a reading lamp. A door to the left revealed a small bathroom, and inside another door, I found a closet with three sets of uniforms and other assorted items of clothing and accessories.
A sudden wave of exhaustion hit me hard. Even though it was barely midday, my energy levels were at rock bottom. This was all too much. Being targeted by mean humans, then the bear-man calling me his mate, followed by the mage depositing me in a strange school, was more than I could handle.
Willow had always told me I was stronger than I knew, but right now, I didn’t feel strong. I felt weaker than a newborn kitten. And I missed my friend and the familiar faces I saw every day.
Okay, so maybe I didn’t miss Tally. Was she still bedbound with explosive gastrointestinal issues? I hoped so because she deserved it.
I sighed and sank down onto the surprisingly comfortable bed. A brief nap might help. Once I’d boosted my energy levels, I would go explore my new home and, hopefully, find somewhere that served food. No doubt all the important information was in the folder the headmaster had given me.
I should probably read it.
My fingers touched the amulet around my neck, and a yawn broke free. The stone comforted me. A reminder of home. I curled up on my side, pulling the comforter over me, ready for a quick power nap.
4
Maverick
The harsh sound of a metal door clanking open woke me. Light stabbed me in the eyeballs when I opened my eyes. Someone had thankfully thrown a scratchy wool blanket over my naked body, so at least my dick wasn’t saluting the world.
“You’re awake.”The mage from the market. That bastard now had a target on his back. I was not the type to forgive and forget. “I’d stay nice and calm if I were you,” he continued in a conversational tone. “Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to keep you locked up for your own safety.”
The pompous prick really thought he could keep me locked up? I flexed my hands and inwardly seethed when I realized he’d cuffed me. Magical cuffs that blocked my shift. A low growl rattled inside my chest as my bear roared in my head, but I forced him to stay quiet.
Now was not the time to lose my shit. While the mages had no official jurisdiction over shifters, they could invoke special powers if they believed humans were in danger. In reality, this meant they couldlock us up indefinitely on a whim. At least until someone notified the Shifter Council.
I’d heard horror stories of shifters being thrown in magical detention centers and left to rot for weeks and months at a time. Was it any wonder we all hated the fucking mages?
Still, finding out my goddess-fated mate was a witch changed things. I would need to adjust my attitude or risk offending her relatives.Fuck my life. I dreaded to think what her family would say when they discovered her mate was a bear shifter.
With that in mind, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I needed to find my mate, not cause a scene.
