Chapter 17
Aric
“YOU DON’T HAVE A SPIRIT companion either?” Poppy asks as I walk her back to her dorm room after our Tuesday afternoon tutoring session. We spent an hour studying for my upcoming test in Professor Fleur’s Exotic Flora class, but after that, we broke one of Poppy’s rules—no-off topic discussions—and I’ve learned a number of new things about her.
One: Her mom owns the Wandering Cup, a café in Wysteria that I’ve been to at least a dozen times.
Two: Poppy has a cat friend named Pepper, and she named him that because he had a spicy disposition when he was younger.
Three: Like me, Poppy doesn’t yet have a spirit companion—which is somewhat rare amongst third- and fourth-years.
I shake my head. “No. Not yet. I’m starting to wonder if orcs evencanhave spirit companions.”
Poppy gives me a little smile—it’s not nervous, not like the ones she used to give me—and says, “Of course you can. We just have to have patience. We’ll meet our companions when we need to, and not a moment sooner.”
She says it with such conviction that I’m actually inclined to believe her.
“I’ll take your word for it,” I say. Then I remember something. “Hey, any updates on the ball planning? Decide on a venue yet?”
Her face lights up, and it makes her lavender eyes sparkle. “I talked to Alina, and she asked His Majesty about hosting it at Ravenscroft Castle.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “He said yes.”
“Seriously? That’s amazing.” I grin at her. “The castle is going to be perfect for it.”
“It was your idea,” she says, her cheeks flushing slightly. “So... thank you. It really was a great idea.”
“Happy to help, Brains.”
We reach her room, NT33, and standing outside that room is Raelan Ashvale.
I asked Maeve about him when she was a first-year, and she told me all about the princess’s broody knight—and also may have accidentally let slip what he really is: a dragon shifter. I was concerned about him being around my sister at first—I’ve not heard much about the rare dragon shifters, but most of what Ihaveheard isn’t good—but I decided if the headmistress trusted him, I could too. And now I actually kind of like the fact that he’s always looking over the girls... even if I’d never tell Maeve that. She’d probably kick my ass. Or fry me with a bolt of lightning. She might bethe only witch at this academy, apart from the headmistress, that I’m actually afraid of.
“This is me,” Poppy says, somewhat shyly, like she’s nervous now that Raelan is overhearing our conversation.
“We still on for Saturday?” I ask.
Poppy nods, and her glasses slip down her nose.
I wonder if I could fix those for her...
“Yeah. Want to meet in the entrance hall after breakfast?”
I smile. “Can’t wait.”
My words make Poppy’s cheeks flush, and Raelan shifts his weight and clears his throat, as if to remind us that he’s standing there. Not that we could ever forget. You’d probably have to be dead not to notice his presence.
“Bye.” Poppy waves, then slips into the room and closes the door behind her.
And she leaves me standing with Raelan.
I turn to face him, and he’s probably one of the only people in this academy who doesn’t have to lookupto meet my eyes.
“Hey,” I say, holding my hand out between us. “I’m Aric Vandermere. I don’t think I’ve ever introduced myself.”
“You haven’t,” Raelan says matter-of-factly. He glances down at my hand, then decides to put his in mine, giving it a firm shake. “Raelan Ashvale.”
“I know,” I say. When he arches a brow, I explain, “Maeve told me about you. You know, the princess’s knight and all.”
Raelan’s arched brow smooths out, but he says nothing.
