Marcusand I meet Simon at Saint Aldric’s Hall early Sunday morning, and together, we work through my shielding spells until we’re all breathless, covered in sweat, and I’m able to split my intention between two shields, moving them autonomously from each other as Marcus and Simon circle me, pelting me with spells that are mostly harmless. My workout top is probably ruined by the ink Simon got me with, but I feel… I feelgoodabout my magic.
“So, Cassian’s a fucking liar,” Simon mutters when we finally break for the night, sweat cooling on our skin as we step out into the chill November evening. “Your shields are pretty damn good.”
“And only getting better,” Marcus adds. “You’re punching way above your weight, sweet-tart.”
I wish I didn’t glow at being praised by an alpha like a flighty omega, but I do. Saints, Marcus’ gruff words warm me from my head to my toes.
“Next Peer Advising session, hex him straight in the balls. See how good his shields are.”
“Simon, he threatened to get me put on academic probation for getting too mouthy.”
“Ilikeyou mouthy.”
Saints, how can Simon make me feel champagne-drunk, warm and bubbly, with just a few words? I shrug him off. “Anyway, no ball hexing. I spent too long in academic peril to take that threat lightly.”
Simon twiddles his scribe between his fingers thoughtfully. “He can’t putmeon academic probation…”
A laugh bubbles out of me and Simon slings a long arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. He’s no alpha, but Saints above, I’m falling just the same.
CHAPTER8
Iarrive to my lesson with Ian promptly at seven, a coffee in each hand, and when he snaps his book shut instantly, I pass his over.
“To add to your collection.”
He shakes his head and rolls his eyes, but I can tell he’s fighting a smile. He takes a long swig of the cold brew and then pauses, glass still at his lips.
He sets it down on his desk with a thunk. “Youdrew your scribe on Jaime Brentwood!”
I cringe. “Are you going to lecture me?”
“Of course, I’m not going to lecture you! You were brave and quick on your feet. Your first thought was to defend yourself and you acted on it fast enough to make him pause. Saints, if anything, I’mproudof you.”
Oh. I feel the blood rush to my cheeks and down my neck, pinking my pale skin.
There I go, glowing at an alpha’s praise again. Ian thinks I’m brave. He’sproudof me.
His blue eyes blaze, his gaze ardent and open, taking me in as if seeing me in a way he’s never seen me before. “You did well, but you’ll only continue to do well if you can put a spell behind the threat.” He stands up quickly and goes to a stack of books, hauling them up into his long arms. “So, you’re learning how to cast a stunning spell tonight.” He pauses, looking at me over the tower of books in his arms. “I’ve always thought it was a shame that omegas can’t learn combat magic, even for self-defense. I can’t teach you proper combat magic without breaking all kinds of laws, but I’ll do what I can. And if a textbook you really shouldn’t be reading just happens to fall into your book bag, well, accidents happen. Acceptable?”
I grin, ear to ear, for what feels like the first time in weeks. “More than. So, where does this stack of chaos go?”
He sends me a sharp look, but I don’t miss the smirk he tries to hide. “It’s not chaos, you menace.”
“Sorry, professor. It’s a veryelaboratefiling system.”
He laughs and the sound lifts all the weight, the burdens, and the worries from my shoulders, if only for an instant. “Shred Jaime Brentwood with your wit next time. It’ll be just as devastating as any spell I could teach you.”
And oh, how I glow at that as we move books to the side, clearing space to practice stunning spells.
We’ve utterly destroyed whatever system he had for his personal library in minutes, and I stand back to survey the damage we’ve done to his office.
“Thank you,” I sigh. “I wish it were only Jaime Brentwood I had to defend myself against.”
His scent spikes and when I turn, his eyes shine with protective fervor. “Radcliffe is giving you a hard time again.”
I nod. “It’s not just that. I heard… I heard what he did. His freshman year.”
He goes stock still and ghostly pale. “Who told you?”
