—No! Why?—
—Because he’s gone all ‘magical purist’—
Scott Samson had been another Defectivum who had been promoted to Communis. —So he can’t handle that Teresa is still in Defectivum?—
—Exactamundo—
—Wanker—
I lean my elbows on the desk, and try to look like I’m thinking deeply about Article Two.
Article Two is the Absolute Sovereignty of a Spark, meaning magical ability is no longer a personal gift, it’s a state-owned resource.
Yikes.
A shadow falls over me and I look up, expecting Jordan or Kayla and their latest drama, but instead, it’s Naomi Watson.
She doesn't say a word, just slides into the seat next to me, looking as stylish and unruffled as usual.
—Hey, Wills…your girl just sat next to me …what’s going on with you two?—
Willow’s response takes a moment. —I think I’ve hurt her feelings…I’ve been pulling back since the ball—
Pulling back?
—I thought you were into her?—
—I am! But with everything that’s going on…I don’t know. It doesn’t seem safe to have another Elite in our posse—
Shit, my heart aches for Willow. She’s giving up on a chance for happiness to keep the rest of us safe.
—I understand where you’re coming from…and I hate this is something we have to consider—
Willow sighs deeply inside my brain. —No kidding—
My eyes slide over to Naomi as she takes notes in an elegant script. Yes, her parents are Conclave, but she doesn’t act like someone invested in hierarchy.
Is it time to expand our circle? Find more students we can trust?
Our current ‘battalion’ is small.
Too small.
Alexis would have an aneurism if he knew what I was contemplating, but sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut…not facts and figures.
—Are you OK if I get inside her head, Wills? It’s a quick way to know if she’s trustworthy…—
There’s a beat of silence before Willow replies. —It’s a gross invasion of privacy, but extraordinary times calls for…—
—...extraordinary measures. Agreed. I’m going to do it, then we'll know. And if she’s anti Conclave…—
—Can we bring her into the fold?—Willow’s voice changes tone. —You don’t have to do this, Theo. I’ll survive without her—
—I’m doing it for all of us…strength in numbers and all that….my intuition is telling me to do this, and Amirene told me to follow my instincts—
—Heck! Well in that case, go for it. Just don’t tell me anything you learn from her mind. If it’s meant to be between us, I want to discover the inner Naomi naturally—
—That’s what she said—
