He takes the stack of flashcards from me, our fingers brushing. “All right then, let’s see what you’ve got. What type of magic is used to transmute materials into usable objects?”
“Transmogrification.”
“Exactly right. What is the most commonly transmuted material in the world?”
“Oh, I know this one. It’s not metal or plastic, but concrete. Magic is used to strengthen it and make it more durable.”
He smiles at me and nods as he flips to the next card.
Slowly, the hallway begins to fill around us as other students finish their written exams, but all I see are Marcus’ encouraging smiles.
I’m morethan ready for my Applications in Magic final when it comes around, though I am not ready to sit in the same seat I did when I got the video Rad sent me about the attack on the Hall of the Council of Nine. A shiver runs down my spine as I force myself to take a seat, Marcus taking the seat behind me.
He lightly taps my shoulder, and I turn.
“It won’t be like midterms, Juniper.”
I force a nod as Professor Hayes passes out our exampapers. I’m not the only one who’s agitated, though. Anxiety is like an electric current buzzing through the air in the classroom as we all start into the exam.
It’s a simple multiple choice and short essay test, one that I’m well-prepared for, but I can hardly focus on it as I force my way through question after question. Once I’ve made it through the multiple-choice questions, I sit back in my seat and shut my eyes, taking a centering breath. Though we’re not supposed to use magic during our written exams, I know my affinity won’t be noticed. I let it flow through my body and cast for a vision until I’m dizzy. I have to be sure there won’t be an attack. Finally, my head throbs with a spike of pain.
I grit my teeth against the burning pain and sink a little lower in my seat in case I swoon.
The vision comes quickly.
Wind whipping through my hair, a motorcycle purring between my thighs as I hold tight to Luca, breathing in his scent and the scent of his leather jacket. Flying down the curving roads that follow Deer Island’s coasts.
And that’s it. No Soldiers. No attacks.
I swallow hard, shut my eyes tightly for a moment and open them to resume the exam. I dive into the essay questions with a lightened heart and answer every single one of them to the best of my abilities. I flick back over the multiple-choice questions I had to force myself through, checking my answers for what very well may be the first time, changing an answer here and there. Once I’m satisfied, I turn in my exam and leave with Marcus right behind me.
We crossthe quad to where Luca is sitting his Advanced Transmogrification final and presenting his final project—abeautiful crystalline rose in the prettiest pink quartz he sculpted for me with his magic. He bounds out of the classroom, and I all but dash into his arms. He swings me around until I’m laughing and kisses me until I’m not, until my blood heats for him, and our kiss is more than just congratulatory.
“Later, princess,” he tuts, but he’s grinning his panty-dropping grin, and I groan, shoving him away playfully.
“I had another vision in class today,” I tell him. “I was able to call it myself.”
“And? What did you see, Junie?”
I smile. “Us on the back of your bike again. Are you sure you’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Absolutely sure.” He kisses my temple. “I’m glad it was a good vision, though. You deserve those.”
I sigh and lean into his side as we walk back to Briac’s Hall where Cassian and Simon are presenting their final Casting Seminar projects. Drawing on all the knowledge of casting they’ve learned in the past three years, they were challenged to create a spell from the ground up. My mate and my love have been working hard—harder than even I have—and I’m sure they’re going to crush their presentations. Simon’s presenting a spell he’s been working on for over a year: a spell to increase security and encryption on cellphones with just ten sigils. Meanwhile, Cassian has devised a new type of shield that clings to the caster’s body, covering them and protecting them fully. It’s one I’m sure he’ll want me to learn, and I can’t wait to revel in his success.
When they finally emerge from Briac’s Hall, and find Luca and I under the bell tower, I run into their arms, hugging both of them together.
“Did you ace your presentations?”
Simon scoffs. “Of course we did. We’re brilliant. And you’re brilliant too, so I bet you crushed your Applications final.”
I beam. “I think this calls for a celebration.”
“The fancy drinks from Ciel kind or the naked kind?” Luca asks, tracing his eyes down my body in a way that makes me shiver.
“Both,” I say with a smirk. “Definitely both.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
