Ara reached to tuck a loose hair behind Seren’s ear, the sting of a slap to her hand her reward as Seren batted her away. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the raw ache in her heart. “Of course I’ll help you.”
Ara couldn’t help but recall the last time Seren had looked as frantic and upset as she did now. Seren had been but a child and lost in a cave with a creature twice as large, ready to make her dinner. The legionnaire with the scarred eye had unlocked Ara’s abilities, and she had used it that day, weaving a thread of magic to find Seren that even to this day would lead the sisters back to each other. Ara jolted back to the present as Seren gripped her arm and explained.
She furrowed her brow. “Are you insane? Calder Darkmore? You met Calder Darkmore in The Whispering Woods, spent all night traipsing about Calami with him, and then stole the Pavor wand for him? Seren Marudas, are you insane?”
Her pale cheeks flushed as she forced down the surge of jealousy that swept over her at the thought of Seren and Calder spending the night together. It wouldn’t be the first time a man she was interested in preferred Seren over her.
Seren folded her arms, her voice sharp. “You’ve asked me that twice now, Bella.”
At her harsh tone, Juniper rustled deeper into his den of pillows, the fabric of the pillows rustling with his movements, only his reflective green eyes visible.
“If I’ve asked you that twice now, it’s because I am truly wondering if you have lost your mind.” Ara’s accusation hung in the air between them.
Seren threw her hands up, her body tense. “Are you going to help me or not?”
Ara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling it through her nose in a slow stream. “Of course, I am going to help you, Seren. I will always help you.” The urge to hug her sister, to draw her close, overwhelmed her, but she knew Seren would never allow that, so she wrapped her arms around herself instead.
“What is it he wants of me?” Ara’s voice was soft but steady, caught on the precipice of desire and apprehension.
“To vex me.” Seren’s answer was sharp and angry. “He is the most infuriating person I have ever met. Be careful, Bella. He is a liar. Believe nothing that comes out of that charming mouth of his.”
“I’ve never seen you so affected,” Ara said as she tried to keep her voice neutral. “Are you sure there was nothing more between you two than exploring the castle?”
Seren’s face hardened, and she shook her head. “Must I repeat myself? If you will not help me, then I must go. He wants to meet in the courtyard at midnight.”
Ara seized Seren’s hand, her fingers gripping so tight her knuckles turned white, as her sister turned to leave. “No, I’ll meet him. I’ll do this for you.” Her voice sure and firm.
Seren searched her face for what she didn’t know, but then Seren’s body relaxed, as if a coiled wire had come undone inside of her. “Okay, we’ll go together—”
“No,” Ara said as Seren wrested her hand free. “you are already on the verge of expulsion. Just go back to your room. I’ll get the wand and we can return it to Professor Atwood in the morning.”
Ara’s outstretched hand held a ball of warm, glowing light as she made her way to the statue of Saint Sorath, though she didn’t need it. The full moon provided all the light she required. The grassy lawn of the courtyard crisscrossed with stone paths, all meeting in the middle where the statue loomed overhead.
The faint sound of wind whistling through the cracks of the aged statue was all she heard. Elspeth Sorath, a witch burned at the stake by humans after being betrayed by wizards, watched with unseeing eyes. Ara idly wondered if Seren hated her enough to wish she met with the same fate. She closed her eyes and savored the crisp air, the chill a pleasant distraction from the thought of burning at the stake.
The energy in the air around her changed as a smoldering dark green portal appeared across the lawn, Calder Darkmore stepping out of it. He strode to her, wearing confidence as well as he wore the dark blue three-piece suit. Ara twisted the wool skirt of her plain uniform in her hands, it seemed she had underdressed for the occasion though she had taken extra care with her hair.
“Hello, Arabella. It was nice of you to join me on this beautiful night.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, drawing her into him.
Her magic flared as his lips brushed her skin. There was something about him that felt right to her, as if a piece missing from her could be found in him. Was it the reason she was drawn to him whenever she saw him from across a room?
He smelled of things forbidden and desirable, of earthy wizarding magic. Ara slid her hand back, feeling the rough calluses on his palm. “I don’t believe I had a choice.”
Calder’s strange eyes gleamed under the moonlight as he laughed. “Oh, you always have a choice with me.”
“Keep your voice down,” she whispered, looking around the courtyard. She closed the palm holding her magic, and it blinked out of existence.
He waved his hand around but kept his eyes on her. “No one will hear us. The world is asleep.”
She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to a darker corner of one building where ivy overhung the cornice. If any professors were patrolling after curfew, they might not be seen, the ivy curtaining them from view. She realized her mistake as he stepped closer to her. In the open air, there was more distance between them. This felt more intimate. This was more intimate.
He reached a hand into his pocket and drew it out again, a square wrapped in gold foil appeared. “Chocolate?”
Ara gave him an incredulous look, her lips quirking as she tried not to smile. “Did you just offer me a chocolate from your pocket?”
Calder made a show of unwrapping one, the foil wrapper crinkling, and popping it into his mouth. “Delicious.”
The way he looked at her made her think he wasn’t talking about the chocolate and her mouth watered, chocolate was her weakness, and perhaps, a charming man was too.
