“Is that a problem?”
“No, sir. I just…” Silver faltered for a moment. “My family calls unexpectedly sometimes and they might be upset about me sharing rooms with a… a…”
“A witch?” the Dean finished.
Silver nodded with a sigh. “Yes.”
The Dean raised an eyebrow. “I’m well aware of the tensions between some dark elf families and witches, Mr. Erestolal, but this is a matter of school safety. I’m sure you can explain the situation to your family if they call.”
“Yes, sir,” Silver replied, looking resigned.
I stared at the floor, feeling completely overwhelmed. In the span of a single night, I’d broken through supposedly impenetrable wards, discovered a forgotten childhood spell I’d cast had actually worked, and was now being forced to wear magical restraints and move in with the guy I couldn’t stop thinking about. A guy who was apparently my magically-bound true love mate thing.
“When do I need to move my things?” I asked quietly.
“It’s already been started,” the Dean said, snapping his fingers. “Campus staff is moving your things as we speak.”
“What about my roommate?” I wondered aloud. “What will you tell him?”
“That you’ve been reassigned due to your special magical needs,” Professor Blackwood said smoothly. “It happens often enough with students who require particular magical accommodations.”
Silver squeezed my hand gently, the warmth of his touch sending that familiar electric current up my arm. Despite everything, I found myself drawing comfort from the contact.
“There’s one more thing,” Dean Thornfield said, his expression growing more serious. “This situation must remain confidential. The official story is that Mr. Vale had a magical mishap that requires closer supervision. Nothing about true love spells or mate bonds or shadow magic. Is that understood?”
We both nodded.
“Good. Now, Professor Blackwood will take Mr. Vale to retrieve the Obsidian Bracers, then to his dormitory. Mr. Erestolal, you’re free to return to your room and prepare for your new roommate.”
Silver reluctantly released my hand, and the loss of contact left me feeling strangely bereft. He gave me one last unreadable look before heading for the door.
“Silver,” I called after him, not even sure what I wanted to say. Sorry for accidentally binding us together with a spell I cast as a child? Thanks for not completely freaking out?
He paused, those silver eyes meeting mine. “We’ll talk later,” he said quietly. “In private.”
As the door closed behind him, I felt a knot form in my stomach. What a mess I’d created. And now I was going to be living with him, wearing magical restraints like some kind of dangerous criminal.
“Come along, Mr. Vale,” Professor Blackwood said, her voice gentler than usual. “Let’s get those bracers fitted.”
Chapter 12
Silver
The academy staff had already left my room by the time I arrived back. Ash’s things were piled in the middle of the room, neatly packaged in boxes or bags. It wasn’t much, but it represented a massive problem. I was bound to a witch, either by a mate bond or a true love spell, and that was not going to fly with my parents. Period.
And the worst part was, I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or terrified. If this was a mate bond or a spell, there was nothing they could do to get rid of it. But at the same time, I knew that if my father caught wind of it, he’d be on campus in seconds with an army at the gates. He wasn’t the kind of man that took no for an answer. My mother wouldn’t help calm him down either. When it came to my father’s tantrums, she made it a point not to get involved.
I liked Ash. Quite a bit actually. But I needed help and possibly a solution. There was only one person in the Twilight Realm I trusted with such a thing.
Shutting the door tight behind me, I headed to my desk and pulled the drawer open. There, lying in a pile of discarded writing utensils and scrap paper was the enchanted mirror. I lifted it up, swiping my fingers across the ornate frame toactivate it. The dark surface swirled for a moment before I saw a face that wasn’t my own.
“Hello, young master. How can I be of service?”
“Caldwell, are you alone?” I asked. “No other servants? No parents?”
“Yes, sir,” he nodded. “I’m in my office at the moment with the door closed.”
“Good,” I replied, relieved to catch him at a good time. “Don’t open the door for anyone. I have something I need to talk to you about thatmustbe kept strictly private. Even my mother and father cannot know what I’m about to tell you.”
