I snorted. “Way to put that out into the universe. You’ve just screwed yourself.”
Ilia wrinkled her nose at me, and I laughed. “We should get to Princeps Jones,” I said to Larissa. “Lead the way.”
Ilia didn’t come with us, and I felt a slight pang because last year the three of us had gone to this first day meeting together. “I’ll text you,” Ilia called, and I blew her a goodbye kiss.Family.It was the oddest thing to have that in my life now. But I couldn’t imagine ever again being as lonely as I was before the Academy.
The halls were bustling as we walked through, new year enthusiasm at an all-time high. It would die down as the year got underway and the hard work started, but for now there was excitement in the air. Especially for the first years, who were stepping up into this new school. Sure, most of them had come from the junior school nearby, but the Academy was so much more. The big leagues.
“What classes do you have this morning?” Larissa asked as we crossed the huge commons area. Plenty of students were already ordering breakfast, chatting with friends. It was noisy.
I pictured my Wednesday timetable. “Sports Bonding at nine,” I said with a frown. I hadn’t chosen that, so it must be mandatory.
Larissa nodded. “Oh yeah, everyone has that this year. It’s Dad’s new bonding exercise. Literally. There will be exercise and team activities and … a bunch of things.”
She didn’t look that happy about it, but I loved physical activity. I was pretty good at most sports and was somewhat excited to see what this would bring.
“Even third and fourth years?” I asked. My guys were a year older than me, in their third year.
Larissa nodded. “Yep. The Atlantean-five will be there as well, don’t worry. This is absolutely mandatory for all students.”
She muttered something under her breath likeWe’ll see how long that lasts,which had me chuckling.
We were almost at Princeps Jones office, so I quickly rattled off my other classes today. “Before lunch I have Sword and Sorcery and after I have Advanced Attack and Defense.”
Larissa’s eyes got very wide. “Oh, girl! You chose A and D. That’s very badass of you. Let me guess … Ilia suggested it.”
“Uh, yeah,” I said hesitantly, wondering if I’d made a mistake.
Larissa chuckled, holding the door open to her father’s office. “No, seriously. It’s an amazing class, but it’s also very full-on. Students train and fight against each other. You will learn how to take care of yourself and your safety.” She paused. “Come to think of it, with your life, it’s probably the perfect class for you.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“Maddi,” Princeps Jones said, stepping forward with his arms outstretched. “How are you? Please come in.”
As I moved further into his wood-lined office, a smile already on my face for the handsome vampire, I noticed the second figure in the room.
“Louis!” I shouted, hurrying forward and throwing my arms around the powerful sorcerer.
In some ways I owed Louis my life. I definitely owed him my freedom. I’d been a prisoner to my insane powers until he’d fashioned a pendant strong enough to keep me from blowing shit up.
“How’s your power?” he asked as we pulled back. “Had any problems with it?”
I shook my head, dropping my satchel down by the chair. “No, it’s actually been really good. I mean, occasionally if my emotions get too heightened I start to feel my control slipping, but so far the necklace is working.”
He dropped his eyes to the wave-like stone that rested against my skin, and he nodded. “That’s great to hear. I haven’t forgotten about your training—don’t worry, but that’s not why I’m here today.”
I hadn’t been worried. So far his pendant was working perfectly, and I didn’t really want to leave school for weeks or months to learn to control my power, so I wasn’t going to push him.
“What are you here for, then?” I asked.
His purple eyes glittered, his grin amused. “By the way, I love the purple hair,” he said instead of answering my question. “Maybe I’ll look into that as a future color for me.”
Pink stained my cheeks, and I wondered if he knew that his eye color—and everything he’d done for me—had factored a little into the color for this new year. “So far, the year of purple has started out perfectly,” I told him. “Couldn’t recommend this color more.”
His grin widened, and again I was struck by how handsome he was. Not like Asher. Louis was more … refined—in a supermodel kind of way. It wasn’t my preference, but teamed with his power, it packed a punch.
“So, the fact that you’re here usually doesn’t mean good news,” I said, taking a seat across from Princeps Jones. Larissa sat next to me, and Louis remained standing. “If it’s not my training, then it has to be about Atlantis?”
Louis dropped his grin completely, and my stomach was immediately in knots.Oh shit.
