?Callahan’s aura is wrapped back around him and the tension between all of us feels just as suffocating as my magic and scent did. His magic doesn’t stay wrapped around him for long though as ribbons of his aura strike towards me. The black and white threads wrapping around me and within there’s that tug.
?I glance at him to give Hanna a reprieve from my stare. My attention with all of my magic was only on her for a second and it was still too much. Her body – the fear, horror, terror, petrification – responded immediately.
?I let my eyes trace his aura before raising a brow at him. He’s leaning against a tree with his arms crossed – trying his best to look nonchalant, but his body is wound tighter than Hanna’s but not with fearofme.
?“Every time you do that it feels like you die,” he says, though it’s strained. “Even though I can see you’re still here, alive, itfeelslike you died.”
?I didn’t know that. Yet another reason to get rid of my soul so he doesn’t have to worry about that.
?I face Hanna again and her back is straight with her shoulder back, but her face is pointed to the side and her eyes are deliberately looking away from me.
?“I’d say I told you so,” I start with a lilt to my tone – which causes her to snap her eyes up at me, “but this might be the wrong time.”
?She glances past me to where Jullia and Asher had been and then blows out a breath. “Sorry.”
?I only shrug and roll my neck to crack. “That’s alright.” I turn towards the tree line and start walking back to the dorms. “Ms. Elaycia and Nana still tend to brace too. . . even after all these years. It’s just easier to hide for everyone.”
?Which is true. It’s easier to control too.
?I can feel them following. Their blood flowing in their veins like rivers I trace. Jullia skips up to walk beside me and bumps my shoulder.
?“You ready for classes today?”
?The sky is starting to lighten as we round our dorm building. Jullia shifts and waves to Asher and Hanna as they keep going. Hanna to her dorm building and Asher to Stone House. I can feel Callahan hesitating on the pathway, but I keep walking into the dorm. I’ll see him in a couple hours anyways.
?Ricka is sitting at the desk and doesn’t even look at us as she mockingly salutes. I shrug my shoulders to Jullia. “We’ll see how I keep up since I missed two months.”
?That’s what I’m mainly worried about. I don’t have the threat of dying if I fail, but that just means I have the threat of Nana now. I’m still pissed about all of that.
?Jullia opens the door for us and says, “You’ve been reading all the textbooks practically nonstop for the past three days, and you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for. I think you’ll be fine about all that.”
?I close the door behind me and go to my desk to check on Lasairorm. She’s coiled up within her cave and scenting me peaks her head out.
?“Why did you name her that, by the way?” Jullia asks. I touch the glass and Lasairorm flicks her tongue at me.
?“Lass – aye – uh – roar – um,” I pronounce. “It means spirit of my love, soul of my star. The name given to a crown of stars after a queen forged it with her own spirit.”
?Jullia hums. “Sounds like an interesting story.” I smile at my viper with her knowing eyes. “And how are you feeling about everything else?”
?Her tone is knowing and I stand straight and head to my wardrobe. My pile of boxes is still there and I continue to ignoreit as I pull out a long robe that drags on the floor and my uniform.
?“I am feeling that I will be treating this year as I have when I started. I simply need to graduate and nothing else.”
?She makes a light scoffing sound before stripping, wrapping herself up in her towel, and grabbing her caddy. I mimic her but wrap myself in my robe instead. It’s later than normal for taking a shower, but I’m not worried about anyone jumping me now.
?“I just think,” she says as we exit our room and head to the bathroom, “that maybe you want to explore a little with. . . you know. . .” She gives me a look that I roll my eyes at.
?“Oh by the way, Castiel is also. . . you know. . .” I hadn’t told her that and haven’t had a chance to tell her about everything that happened last night. Not that I will be mentioning Darian or Thorne, but Castiel and Darian I doubt will be quiet to the other celestials about my new fate tie and I’d rather Jullia find out about this from me than anyone else.
?She knocks into me with how fast she spins around and how close I was. “You’re fucking fated to the only full shifting demigod!”
?The bathroom, hallway – hell even the stairwell and I’m sure Ricka downstairs all freeze. Jullia had already opened the bathroom door and at this time there are several bodies within getting ready. Jullia was also the exact opposite of discreet.
?I push past her and head to the furthest shower stall. Purposefully ignore all the stares. If anybody knew before, they all certainly know now. Gossip at this school spreads faster than in a small town high school or Christian church.
?I snap the curtain shut behind me only for it to be immediately opened and I glare at Jullia. She glares right back. “When exactly did you know about this one?” she demands. Her lavender eyes wide behind her frames.
?“Well,” I start, and already I can see a few tablets out and ears pointed in my direction. Pulling Jullia into the shower with me, I snap the curtain shut behind us and create a sound barrier around us. It makes my aura visible and my scent stronger, but everyone already knows I have magic so that shouldn’t matter.
