“The headmistress will see you now,” the secretary said, jolting me from my thoughts. I picked up my bag and strode in. The doors closed ominously, as if signaling my walk to my doom.
“Good morning, Violet,” Headmistress Blackthorn said as she looked up from her desk, signaling me sit down.
The memory of Bane and his dark, intense stare as he ordered me to do so filled my brain and I had to push the images out, lest I wanted to melt into a puddle in front of the headmistress, which I did not want to do.
“Good morning, Headmistress,” I said as I took my seat, crossing my legs, which shook uncontrollably of their own accord.
“How was your first day of classes?” she asked smoothly.
What could I say?
Wonderful! I found out I really am Fae, brought a dead forest to life, and made out with agancanaghwho everyone apparently despises who also happens to be my...
Mate.
The word filled my psyche and the levity of its truth made my stomach flip, and my legs to shake even more.
I hadn’t given much thought towhyI felt so compelled to feed Bane yesterday, or why I felt so drawn to him from the moment I laid eyes on him. I’d thought perhaps it was just the newness of it all, my ability to latch onto things I can’t really have.
But it made sense.
I was meant to come to Blackthorn, not just to find my answers, but...
To findhim.
My spark.
Myanam cara. My mate.
“Uh... it was... eventful.”
It wasn’t a lie. My day was quite the turn of events, but I didn’t have to disclose every little detail, right?
Blackthorn smiled. “So I hear. You are settling in well, then? Your classes went well?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes. I look forward to learning much while I am here.”
“Your magic seems... different today.”
I paled.
What did she mean different?
Bane had said it seemed bigger than before, but I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
“Has anything... sparked your magic, since arriving?”
You mean like a creepy enchanted forest or a hot, brooding gancanagh?
“Well, actually, there was this moment yesterday, in Professor O’Connor’s class...” I said as I remembered the events of yesterday like some old fairytale. I knew it had been less than twenty-four hours, but it felt so far away...
“Norman gave me some runes for the assignment, since I missed the memo about making my own, and well... when I touched them, I sort of... sparked.”
Blackthorn’s expression was seamless as she touted, “Interesting. And you haven’t had any other... experiences worth noting? Any interactions with anyone that caused your magic to as you say... spark?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure what I could say really, when I barely understood my connection with Bane.
“Not in particular, no,” I said with a shaky smile.
