I stared up at the ceiling and snorted. “There was summer reading?”
How was I ever going to catch up?
“Don’t worry. Most of it is stuffy theory, mages pontificating just because they want to. I’ve highlighted the chapters you should read and X’d out the ones that are worthless.”
Wow. “Um, thanks for that.”
“Don’t thank me yet. After today, I’ll make you read on your own time. Here, in class, this is where we practice. You’ll need to have the first four of those chapters read by tomorrow so we can start training.”
A smile stretched across my face. What a contrast. “No problem.”
When I opened the textbook, my jaw dropped as I stared at the same three wavy lines that were burned into my solar plexus. Without thinking, I raised my hand.
“Master Jin.” I pointed at the lines when he returned to my desk. “Do we get marks related to our affinities? Like after we graduate…”
His eyes lit up, and he chuckled. “Sorry, no. Nothin’ like that. You get magic. That’s enough.”
I frowned, debating whether I should ask him what it meant, when he continued.
“Though, if you really want something like that, I know a tattoo artist that can put one on ya.”
Hmm. “That’s okay. I was just curious.”
Note to self: ask old high mage man. He was the only one who seemed to already know I wasn’t normal.
I bent my head over the book and started to read.
The first weekof school passed in a blur. There were no more selkie attacks, thank the mage. And I’d gotten a bit of a reputation for being a badass. The other students gave me respectful nods and glances, a far cry from that first day. All except Rage. Needless to say, our fire element classes were beyond awkward. I read my book in the corner while he shot nasty glances my way and ignored me when I spoke. I worked the coffee cart in the morning and then the lunch and dinner periods as well. By the time I got home to study, I usually fell asleep with my face in a book. But today was Friday.
I bade “Madam Scary Dark Witch,” aka Kalama, goodnight, and grabbed my box of cold pizza and cheese sticks before heading to the door. The cafeteria was mostly empty—all traces of the Selkie attack gone. A few groups of students still sat at the Formica tables even though dinner was over, all of them chatting about … who knew? Probably weekend plans or sucky class assignments. I had far too much of the latter to worry about the former. Not to mention the sorry state of my dorm.
Ugh.The only food I had was the three meals served at the school or what I could snake from the coffee cart if it didn’t sell and was near the expiration. We’d literally been given nothing. I was surprised we had running water.
“Hey, Nai,” Noble shouted from across the room.
I spun, and my boxed dinner slid from the stack of books I carried. Reaching out, I managed to swing the stack and prevent the loss of dinner and then looked up.
He sat atop the table with Justice and Honor on either side, a cluster of girls spread on the benches at their feet. Evil Barbie was one of them. Anyone who needed a reminder of pack hierarchy needed only to see this. The princes appeared as if ministering to a harem of admirers. Funny, Rage wasn’t here with them. Justice muttered something to Noble, who cut him off with a shake of his head.
“Are you coming tomorrow night?” Noble asked me, raising his chin, his smile promising mischief.
Sighing, I shook my head. “Nope. Not even sure what activity or thing you’re referencing. I’ve got too much work tomorrow.”
The corner of Honor’s lips turned down. “You don’t have work tomorrow. It’s Saturday. No work. No school.”
Must be nice.
I snorted. “I’ve got homework and housework, things I can’t do when I’m working my three jobs. No. Still not going.”
“But it’s the bonfire,” Noble explained. “You’ve got to come. We’re going to eat s’mores—”
“And drink mage wine,” Honor added. “Everyone gets happy drunk. You should totally come. You need happy—I can tell.”
The girls at his feet shot me a glare, which I gladly returned. Okay, maybe I was in need ofhappy, but I had no time for it if I wanted to pass my classes.
Justice took a deep breath and met my gaze, his green eyes searing into me. “You do look like you could use a dose of happy.”
I rolled my eyes.
