“See?” Leo mumbles. “As I was saying. All over you. Butthat”—he points at my face—“isn’t the smile you were giving Poppy.”
He’s right. I know he’s right.
Something about Poppy feels different. I’ll admit, she’s not my normal type, but my normal type has never worked out in the past. And something deep inside mereallywants this to work out with Poppy. Whateverthisis.
When I don’t respond, Leo does what Leo typically does and launches into a new topic of conversation.
“You heard about the Blue Moon Ball?” he asks as we step into the main entrance hall of the castle and start making our way through the cluster of students toward the hallway that’ll lead to the east tower. “Everyone’s talking about it.”
“Yeah. Why?”
Leo looks up at me, one brow arched like he’s saying something obvious and I’m not getting it. “You should ask Poppy to go with you. Be your date.” He elbows me, and I’m distracted enough by what he said that it actually makes me stumble.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Oh, yeah. Because I’ve never been to a ball and haveno ideahow to dance. At least, not the way I imagine people will be dancing at a ball.
Then an image creeps into my head of Poppy in a gown, her hair hanging around her face, pink color touching her cheeks, and I realize Iwantto go. As long as it’s with her.
But I’m going to have to prepare first. And there’s only one person I know who might be able to help me with that.
Hopefully he doesn’t burn me to a crisp for asking.
Chapter 16
Poppy
PROFESSOR SILVERMOON PERCHES ON HER desk, long silver hair hanging around her face and down to her elbows. She tips her head at me as I tap my quill against my open notebook while I sit at one of the first-row desks in her classroom.
“Self-reflection,” she says thoughtfully. “It’s a somewhat simple theme, but for a ball, I think it’ll work. What are your ideas for expressing that theme?”
I flip the page in my notebook and turn it on the desk so she can see. “I was thinking we could use mirrors and water—reflective surfaces. And they’ll fit a blue-and-silver color scheme as well.”
Professor Silvermoon regards the sketches and notes in my notebook, and her pale pink lips turn up into a small smile. “I like that. And we could have quiet areas for reflection as well, to provide an opportunity to step away and be alone with your ownthoughts.”
Or with someone else.
The thought feels unlike me, but recently, I’ve not been feeling entirely myself—and the reason is big and green and has an achingly charming smile.
Professor Silvermoon is younger than many of the other professors, but I think she sometimes forgets what it’s like to be a student here. I almost tell her that I think quiet areas will likely be used for something other than self-reflection, but then I’m reminded of one of my dreams last night.
I was standing in water again, my feet bare, a lightweight summer dress tickling my calves. As I moved through a hedge maze—the Whim, I believe—I got the feeling that someone was following me, pursuing me through the twists and turns of the maze. And though my heart beat fast at the thought, I wasn’t scared.
After getting turned around in the maze, I found myself at a dead end with a big tree towering over me. With nowhere to go, all I could do was wait for my pursuer to catch up. And he did, though I never saw his face. I felt him behind me, hands on my waist, breath on my neck as he traced his lips along the column of my throat.
When I woke, I was frazzled, heart beating fast, skin warm to the point of being clammy. And all I could think about was Aric.
Maybe I wouldn’t mind being able to slip away into a quiet space with him at the ball—if he goes, of course.
So I just smile at Professor Silvermoon and nod. “I think that’d be a great idea. I’m not sure where we’re going to get mirrors and water features though.”
Professor Silvermoon lifts her teacup and takes a delicate sip, then hums thoughtfully. “I’ll think on that. But first, we need to decide where we’re hosting the ball. I assume here at the academy, unless you have a better idea?”
“Actually, I asked my roommate, Alina Ravenscroft, if we might be able to use the castle, and—”
Professor Silvermoon lets out a small excited gasp, her dark blue eyes going wide. “That’s brilliant, Poppy! What did she say?”
“She said she’d ask her grandfather, but I don’t think she’s heard back yet.”
