I need to know what spell he was worried about in last week’s class.
I use my affinity through the whole lecture and glean nothing new. His thoughts don’t stray from the lecture. He doesn’t think of that complex magical calculus even once.
Does that mean he figured it out? Saints, I wish I had even an inkling about what the spell was and what it’s for.
I wear myself out picking through his thoughts, coming up empty-handed with only a headache to show for my efforts.
When he comes by during practicum, I can’t cast the spell we’re supposed to be working on.
He tsks in disgust, staring down his nose at me as I shrivel beneath his attention. “I certainly hope you’ll be studying this weekend, not partying. Saints know you need it.”
By the time class is over, I’m exhausted and my head throbs. I skip lunch and find Professor Hayes eating his in his office.
“Ah, Miss Rose. We missed you in class on Monday. I hope you’re feeling better?”
I wince. “I was actually coming to tell you that I won’t be in class this afternoon. I thought I’d be up to coming to class today, but I was wrong.”
“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I promise to have all my work turned in by our next class.”
He waves his hand. “I know you’re good for it. You’ll get it done when you can. I’m not worried about you falling behind. Take your time and rest up.”
I excuse myself, and Marcus and I make our way back to the omega residences. I’d rather return to my nest in the townhouse, but I’m too worn out. I tug on pajamas the moment we get back to my cottage and fall asleep on the couch, wrapped up in my favorite silky blanket.
A soft knock at the door wakes me around dinnertime and I frown, but Marcus is at the door before I can even sit up.
He peers out the peephole. “It’s Cassian.”
I shake the sleep from my mind and shuffle to the door as Marcus opens it.
Cassian hovers just beyond the wards. “I brought you dinner since you skipped lunch. Mind if I join you?”
I melt a little, take the three covered plates from him and set them down before showing him the blood magic spell that will permit him into my cottage.
He nods in approval when he finally steps through the warding. “You’re being safe. Good. Did Ian set that up for you?”
“Yeah. After Rad broke into my cottage and destroyed it.”
Cassian sits me down at the little kitchen table, passes a huge salad to Marcus, then turns on my electric kettle to make tea, bustling around my tiny kitchenette like he’s been here a hundred times before.
“How was your day?” he asks, leaning against the counter.
I grimace. “Cadigan laid into me about missing class for my heat. He really seems to hate me, and I’m afraid he knows about my relationship with Ian.”
Cassian frowns. “Because Ian was out Monday? Professors are allowed sick time, too. It could have been anything. A coincidence.”
I shrug my shoulders, curling my leg up under my body. “I hope he brushes it off as one. One thing’s for sure, when I’m not with Rad this weekend, I need to study and practice. I failed to perform a spell in class today.”
Cassian fixes me with a level gaze. “Juniper, the whole point of practicum is to practice. Students fail to cast spells all the time. You’re here to learn, not to know everything already. Listen, I’m sorry Cadigan is giving you such a hard time. We’ll work on your spellwork, but I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re brilliant and a far better student than I’ve ever been, and I managed to pass his class.”
“You had a good tutor,” I tease. “Where is Simon, by the way?”
“Dinner with Ellie. She needed convincing he was still alive after he disappeared off the surface of the planet for your heat.”
“That’s not going to make Omega Seminar awkward atall,” I mutter.
Cassian shrugs. “She’s an omega. She gets it. But I’m sure she does whatever she can to not imagine it.”
