I’ve never been a person to receive visions or premonitions, certainly not outside this academy.
I wasn’t sure if what I experienced with Bane—the images that assault me every time I am brought to release—could be construed as visions, since they didn’t tell me anything, and since I rarely saw anything other than us.
Perhaps they were just the magical, mystical ramifications of our bond.
Our mate bond.
I’d never truly said those words aloud, but with every touch, every kiss, and every look, I knew in those moments that it was the truth.
Baneismy mate, my spark.
So why couldn’t I speak the truth to him about how I feel?
What I know to be true, and what I know I want?
“...made any... specialconnections, lately?” The way she spoke, her enunciation on the word connection... it made my blood chill. Something in the way she said the words made me feel defensive, protective even, of one connection.
One I still wasn’t sure how to process or speak about.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said carefully.
“Are you positive? Becausestrongconnections, be that with your peers or with someone... of a romantic nature, can affect the choices we make. And I need you to be absolutely positive about your... attachments before I proceed.”
“No visions, nothing out of the ordinary,” I said.
It wasn’t a complete lie. It had been three weeks since Bane and I started our... I paused as I couldn’t ascertain what we were doing exactly.
Was it a relationship or was it just fooling around?
Friends with... benefits, as they say?
I froze as I couldn’t put a pin on the answer.
I love him, but does he feel the same?
I know I haven’t said those words, but neither has he.
I swallowed the panicked thoughts down.
Maybe that’s why we haven’t...
Headmistress Blackthorn twisted her lips as she looked me over like a freshly delivered specimen.
Perhaps I needed to be honest with Bane about my feelings.
But the overwhelming panic and concern I’d screw up the one relationship I’d somehow managed to manifest, this bond of fate, as it were... was heavy on my heart.
Maybe that’s the missing puzzle piece.
Honesty.
With myself, and with mymate.
“Very well,” she said as she folded her hands in front of her, staring me down. “What I am about to disclose to you, Violet, is something you can not speak of, to anyone. It is of the utmost importance, and requires the utmost confidentiality. Do you understand?”
Her tone was serious, and her gaze just as so. The ominous way in which she spoke had my hairs standing on end, had my heart jumping.
“I understand,” I said as I leaned closer.
