For the first time, I knew exactly what my Da had been talking about.
The thing was, I wassureI’d seen her among the students— felt her somehow. I’d made eye contact with her, that was for certain, but there was so much going on and so many new people coming into the school it was hard to tell who she was. There were so many new scents and auras resonating throughout the area. I couldn’t tell which one belonged to her.
I knew I had to seek her through the wolven freshman girls. But I had a busy semester ahead of me. I was taking a mess of tough classes, not to mention I had my duties as a vigilante, and preparing for the King’s Contest ahead. I didn’t know how I’d find time to locate my mate.
But finding her was the most important task of all. I needed her for the Contest, but more than that,I needed her.
I wracked my brain, trying to remember her face, but there were so many faces that were brand new. I hoped to the Seven Gods that she’d show herself during class today and that my search would be over. I’d lose my mind in the meantime.
I couldn’t keep my mind on breakfast. I barely ate. It felt like my entire body had been consumed by a vicious fever, and the cure wouldn’t come until she was by my side.
It was wholly unbearable.
Around eleven a.m., I headed to the forest outside the school for my first class. It was taught by Lord Lucien— Monster Hunting 101. It was a freshman class, but I’d retaken it on account that I’d failed it my first year, and the year after that. I already knew how to hunt monsters from birth, so I considered the class a useless recap of the basics, and never bothered to go to class.
Still, it was a requirement for graduation, so it’d be in my favor to not to blow it off. I still felt like I needed a bigger reason to actually show up.
When I turned the corner to see a gathering of freshmen around a large oak tree near the school greenhouses, I got my reason.
I saw her red hair first. It was long and flowing down her back, and it rippled in the sunlight, casting off a golden glow. I was staring at her back— she was tall and thin, with legs that went on for miles but a round ass that Arcanea women were famous for.
When she turned around, my breath caught. Her eyes were green as emeralds. Her skin was so pale it nearly glistened, and she had pink lips that were barely open in a slight gasp. As she brought her hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, I noticed a black paw print on her palm. A wolven, like me.
It felt like she was the only thing that mattered. The only thing that made sense in a world that didn’t make much sense to begin with.
I found her. My mate. What a stroke of luck!
She caught my gaze. I realized that I’d seen her in the entrance hall yesterday as I was showing off my magic to Chastity. Why hadn’t I realized it then? I was so stupid.
She noticed I was staring. Her eyes glanced down and chewed on her lip nervously. A jolt of fear went through me as I realized that sorceresses could reject their mates. This first meeting was everything. If I came off as an ass, I could lose her… and I’d never be the same.
When you met your mate, you didn’t just barge in and declare it to them. You had to win over their heart first. You had to court them, to avoid messing up the mating process. And that’s exactly what I intended to do.
I had to play it cool. I strode toward her with my hands in my pockets. “You look a little lost.”
Why was that the first thing out of my mouth?Her cheeks turned pink, and she said, “Kind of. It’s my first class here. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll get along fine.” I bumped her shoulder against mine. “If you don’t, they’ll just feed you to the dragons.”
She paled. I nudged her— gods, even barely touching her felt incredible. I laughed. “I’m kidding,” I said. “You’ll be fine. Lord Lucien doesn’t leave those in his class behind.”
She still seemed worried. “Aren’t you Prince Ethan?” she asked.
So she already knew who I was. I wasn’t surprised. “That’s me. Though I prefer not to be calledYour Majestywhile at school. It’s rather annoying.”
“So what should I call you?” she asked.
“My friend Stefan calls me Prince of the Assholes,” I said. “Though you can call me Ethan.”
She laughed. It was a light, tinkling sound, like the music of the fairies. “I’m Emma.”
Emma.What a pretty name. My mother had a favorite novel of the same name.
I didn’t get to say much more, because Lord Lucien decided to show up at that very moment. He was in his wolven form, and pulling a cart that was full of bronze weapons. When the cart was before the class, he pulled off the harness using his teeth and transformed back into human form.
Emma’s mouth dropped open when she saw Lucien change, but she looked around and quickly snapped it shut. She realized she was the only one here shocked by his transformation.
Something was different about her… she had an accent that wasn’t from here. American, maybe? How much did she know about the Arcanea, exactly?
