I nod, trying to look calmer than I feel. Whatever magical reading this involves, it has to be worth the nerves dancing in my stomach.
That's when he steps out of the crowd.
I feel him before I see him—like stepping too close to a bonfire. Sudden heat that spreads through my chest, makingevery nerve ending wake up at once. When I turn toward that warmth, my breath catches.
Professor Thorian from last night, but seeing him in full daylight is like looking directly at the sun. Golden hair catches the afternoon light, creating this halo effect that makes him look like some ancient god of harvest and growing things. Those forest-green eyes focus on me with an intensity that makes my knees wobble.
He's not just handsome—he radiates power in waves I can actually feel. Every step he takes toward me makes my heart beat faster, my skin grow more sensitive, my body respond in ways I definitely didn't learn about in botany class.
"Maya," he says, my name rolling off his tongue like honey, and I actually shiver. "Are you ready?"
Ready for what? I want to ask, but my voice seems to have abandoned me completely. All I can manage is a nod while trying to remember how breathing works.
God, he's huge. Not just tall, but built like he could uproot trees with his bare hands. When he stops right in front of me, I have to crane my neck back to meet his eyes, and the size difference makes something flutter low in my belly that has nothing to do with nervousness about my research.
"May I?" He reaches for my portfolio, and when his fingers brush mine, I gasp. His skin burns like he has a fever, sending little electric shocks up my arms that make my whole body come alive.
"Beautiful work," he murmurs, but he's not looking at my research—he's looking at me like I'm some kind of miracle he's been waiting centuries to discover.
"The assessment," Professor Elvinia prompts from somewhere behind me, though her voice sounds like it's coming through water.
"Of course." His smile could melt steel. "Maya, this might feel strange, but I promise you're completely safe. Just close your eyes and think about what drives your passion for fertility research."
I close my eyes and try to focus on my work. Plants adapting to stress. Environmental pressure creating stronger, more fertile specimens. The delicate balance between challenge and growth.
"Perfect," he says, and his voice wraps around me like velvet. "Now hold very still."
The magic slams into me like a tidal wave.
It starts as warmth in my chest, then explodes into something that feels like invisible hands stroking every inch of my body. My eyes fly open in shock, meeting his burning gaze as golden light flows between his hands and my skin like living threads.
"Oh God," I gasp, because this is nothing like the gentle magical assessment I was expecting. It's intimate, overwhelming, like he's touching my soul instead of just testing my research compatibility.
"Incredible," he breathes, his voice rougher now, almost strained. The magic intensifies, making me tremble as power explores every part of me—physical, emotional, spiritual. "I've never felt compatibility this strong."
I can't look away from his eyes as the magic builds between us. They're ancient, knowing, filled with recognition that makes me feel like he sees right through every wall I've ever built. The connection grows deeper, more intimate, until it feels like we're the only two people who've ever existed.
My body does things that shock me. Heat races through my veins, my skin flushes, and there's this ache building between my legs that I definitely don't understand but desperately want him to fix. The magic wraps around me like a lover's touch, making me arch toward him without meaning to.
"Extraordinary compatibility," he says, but his voice is strained like the assessment is affecting him too. I can see it now—the way his pupils have dilated, the tension in his massive shoulders, the careful control he's maintaining over whatever this magic is doing to both of us.
The power pulses one final time, flooding through me with an intensity that makes me cry out. For a heartbeat, I feel connected to everything—the flowers blooming overhead, the impossible trees, the very life force that makes this place paradise.
Then it's over, leaving me swaying and breathless.
"Easy," Professor Thorian murmurs, his hands steadying me before I can fall. Even through my dress, his touch burns. "You did beautifully."
I nod weakly, not trusting my voice. That magical reading just stripped away every defense I've ever had, leaving me feeling raw and exposed but also strangely energized, like something sleeping inside me just woke up.
"The results?" Professor Elvinia asks, reminding me we have an audience. Right. Dozens of scholars just watched me practically melt under Professor Thorian's magical touch.
He straightens, shifting back into professional mode, though his eyes stay heated when they meet mine. "Dr. Nakamura shows exceptional compatibility with fertility magic enhancement. Her research would benefit enormously from our collaborative magical growth programs."
"In fact," he continues, never breaking eye contact, "she's perfect for our most exclusive research fellowship. Full immersion in magical growth studies, private quarters in the palace, working directly with our senior experts."
A fellowship. Private quarters. Working directly with him.
"The highest honor we offer," Professor Elvinia confirms, beaming. "Congratulations, Dr. Nakamura. You've been selected."
