The halls of Calami stretched before her. Seren felt so light from Calder’s spell, she thought she might float away or slip through the stone. Carefully made her way up to the second floor where she knew the professor’s offices were supposed to be–most of the time, at least. While there hadn’t been any particular rule about not traversing the halls in the night, Seren had to wonder if perhaps it was simplyimplied.She didn’t dare call her flame back, but instead used the moonlight trickling in from the tall windows to guide her until she came to a door, practical compared to the way many of the other professors had decorated theirs with flourishes of magic like flowers and gleaming vines or shimmering crystals.
Calder had assured her that Atwood’s would be the most boring of them all, and he’d been right. Slowly, she withdrew the spelled pick from her dress pocket and knelt before the cold brass handle. She’d seen village boys in Little Ridge do this very task with ease, but had never tried it herself.
Deftly, the pick slid into the keyhole and, without even having to wiggle it, Seren watched as the soft green power glowed brighter with faint emerald flecks. So bright, she had to look away before feeling theclickas the mechanisms within released the lock. Excitement coursed through her veins. She stood and gripped the knob, releasing a breath when it gave beneath her touch. Cool air rushed over her face as she pushed inside the large office.
Though slightly unkempt, it was a beautiful space—a high ceiling slatted with long wooden beams and rich velvet drapes. Tall windows patterned the wall behind the escritoire desk and row after row of bookshelves lined the two side walls, sagging beneath the weight of what seemed to be an endless collection of books.
Cal had advised her to start her search with the desk, so that’s exactly where she went. Stacks of paper, like small mountains, piled on the surface. Each lower side had two drawers. Seren reached for one, hands shaking as she realized the gravity of what she was about to do—steal from a professor. What would her father say?
The thought was a stinging pain, one she could hardly stomach. He had wanted so much for her. For both of his girls. And yet, somehow, that thought only made her angry now. Angry that he’d thrust all that expectation on their shoulders and then left them.
Bella hadn’t understood that thinking.“He didn’t leave, Renny, he died. There’s a difference . . .”
But Seren didn’t see it that way. She couldn’t. It was easier to be angry than sad.
With a quick shake of her head, she jerked open the drawer on the lower right side.
“Well,” she whispered to herself, “must be my lucky night.”
Sleek black ash wood gleamed back at her, ripe for the taking.
The wand seemed to quiver beneath her touch, humming with power as she stuffed it into the deep pocket of her dress and eased out of Professor Atwood’s office. Through the hall and down two flights of stairs, it felt like a lifetime before the cool wind of Calami’s grounds was dancing over her face again. She imagined the handsome wizard waiting for her within the treeline, only a meadow between them, and the darkness no longer felt like such a foreboding beast. She would welcome the cover of night to hide what came next.
Through the shadows, she spotted those flashing amber eyes that glowed, almost like an animal peering at her from the wood. But she knew it was him, and a grin split her face. From her pocket, she withdrew the wand and waved it victoriously.
“I’m here,” she called softly, waiting for him to remove his spell and join her in the meadow where she stood a few feet from a tangle of elms and willows, but he only leaned into the tree next to him, smirking, before he lifted his hand, calling back the magic that cloaked her.
“Well? Bring it here.”
Something in her stomach gave a sharp squeeze, a pulse of suspicion. A quiet warning.Why wasn’t he coming closer?
“Come and get it.” Her voice was a croon, rushing with undertones of something heavy. Sensual. She let her dark eyes flash with a look that made him stand straighter and clear his throat. She could play his game, manipulate a manipulator.
His fingers found the give in his suit collar, where he tugged slightly. “About that.”
Stepping only an inch forward, the toe of his shoe met with an invisible barrier that suddenly sparked bright blue. Magic ricocheted straight up, a winding mist that disappeared once he pulled his foot back to rest on the ground again.
“It’s warded.” Seren crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to tell her what she’d already put together.
His answering smile turned rueful. He was hiding something for certain, but Seren wasn’t so sure that she cared. His earlier words had rattled her. She was ready to do near anything to protect her power and she felt drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain—drawn to the knowledge and power she knew he could offer her. But there was something else, too. A familiarity she couldn’t place.
“Let me guess.” Her boots grazed over the lightly browning grass as she paced back and forth, rolling the wand between her fingers. “You need this in order to get over here.”
He shrugged, a look of nonchalance painting his handsome face. “It would be helpful.”
Seren felt the gentle furrow of her brow. “Does it even do what you said it would?”
His nonchalance fell away, and he looked genuinely offended. “Of course. I’m many things, Seren, but a liar isn’t one of them. Bring it here, I’ll show you.” His fingers reached beckoningly toward her.
“Tell me what to do,” she said through firmly gritted teeth. “I can do the spell to let you across. Though I’m not sure what you want with this place at all."
At that, he smirked, and his gaze raked over her. A look of uncharacteristic hesitation spread quickly there and away. “I’ve upheld my end of the deal. You weren’t caught, you’re back in one piece, dear Seren.”
His lips curled around her name and heat flashed in the orange inferno of his gaze, but behind it, Seren could see something else—desperation—and she knew there was more to this than he was likely to tell her.
“Then tell me what to do,” she repeated more forcefully.
“It’s not that simple. The magic is complex, far too difficult for a Hatchling.”
