The air filled with the familiar scent of hemlock, nightshade, and just a touch of oleander. It was sharp, bitter, and comforting.
Carefully, I padded over to the low table in the center of our common area and sat cross-legged on one of the overstuffed velvet pillows. I cradled my mug between both hands and inhaled deeply. The warmth seeped into my fingers, softening the constant thrum of magic beneath my skin.
Eleanor walked in with a bright smile. She was pretty, even in pajama shorts and a fuzzy robe; her hair still hung in a braid. She zeroed in on my mug with excited eyes.
“Ooooh, tea!” she sang. “Is that peppermint?” Before I could speak, her dainty fingers were already on the handle, pulling my blaring neon mug away from me.
“No,wait!”I lunged forward, grabbing the mug just before it met her lips.
She froze, wide-eyed. “I—I’m so sorry! Are you afraid of germs? We’re supernaturals, so not many are, but?—”
“It’s poisoned,” I said calmly. “It’ll kill you.”
There was a beat of silence.
Eleanor’s face crumpled. “Whywould you do this?” she wailed, letting go of my mug quickly. “There’s so much to live for! You got accepted into this academy!”
“It’s my tea,” I said, resting the warm cup in my hands again. “It’s not for you. It’s literally medicinal. For me. Not for you. It could killyou.”
“I thought it was mint,” she sniffled. “It smelled minty.”
“If you think so. In a ‘melt your insides’ sort of way.”
She started wailing.
Aura came around the corner then, yawning with a bag of cheese puffs in one hand. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene of Eleanor weeping and me cradling my tea, the air still fragrant with lethal herbs.
I brought my mug to my lips and sipped.
“Oh, my Fates,” Eleanor shrieked, her brown eyes widening in horror as if she didn’t hear what I said about it not being deadly to me. “She is actually drinking it! We need a healer!Koa!You’re going to die! She’s dying!”
“I’m not dying,” I said flatly, raising my mug for emphasis. “I do this every night.”
“Everynight!” Eleanor gasped, looking between me and the tea like I was a walking crime against nature.
“Every night,” I said again, sipping.
“...That’s badass,” Aura whispered, crunching loudly on her snack.
Koa, Slater, Zuko, and Hawk came running out of the rooms and paused when they noticed us.
Eleanor pointed at me in tears. “She’s drinking poison!”
Slater dove for me immediately, all crazy limbs and wild red hair. “No, no, no, no!” He snatched the mug out of my hand like it was a grenade about to blow. It sloshed some of my tea but thankfully didn’t spill. “We haven’t even kissed yet! You can’t die before I’ve ruined your standards forever!”
Zuko snorted, being the only one not concerned. “I’ll be the one ruining her standards.”
“Slater, give me my tea back!” I lunged for him, but he held the cup high above his head, moving out of reach with a horrified expression that made me want to both strangle and kiss him, which was so inconvenient for me.
“Hold on, okay?” Koa was suddenly at my side, dropping to his knees like I’d taken an actual fatal blow. His hands hovered over me, and a soft blue glow lit up his palms. Warmth poured into my skin, his magic brushing against my core like ecstasy on my frayed nerves.
“I’m fine,” I insisted, but my breath hitched as his blue flames licked softly over my abdomen, sinking low and blooming heat through every inch of me. “Koa, I’m not dying, stop with the sexy healing magic, Fates dammit.”
His cheeks flushed as he drew back just slightly, hands still glowing, clearly torn between concern and the sudden awkward realization of what exactly his magic was doing to me.
Slater held the mug to his chest protectively. “Don’t worry, venom baby. I’ll get rid of it for you. That’s what fated mates do.”
“Don’t you dare—” I reached up and swiped at it, missing by half an inch.
