“I think we got off on the wrong foot, eh?” I smiled at the line and winked. “I’m not getting in line because I’m not a student here. My job was to get the school set up, so I apologize for not being clearer. I’m just a little shocked by how many of you are here.”
The short girl who’d snapped was still shivering so I moved closer with my fire.
She blushed. “Thank you. We’ve all been out here for hours.”
“Hours?” I groaned. “Okay, this is not good. Y’all have got to be freezing. And there’s children out in this?”
They all nodded. I cursed and pulled my cell phone out then dialed Deacon’s number.
He answered on the first ring. “It’s madness here already.”
“I know. I’m out front.” I sighed and walked to the edge of the sidewalk then looked up and down the street. “Deacon, there’s fifteen blocks of people out here in line to register. It’s too cold out here.” I bit my lip as an idea started to brew. “Where’s Claudia? Where are you?”
“I’m inside by Student Services. Claudia was on the second floor in the infirmary with the school’s Lead Healer.” He said something to someone beside him, then came back to me. “But her phone is next to me, so don’t bother calling her.”
I turned to the first guy who’d talked to me, the nice one. “Hey, what’s your name?”
He eyed me suspiciously. “Sawyer Brown.”
“Deacon, I’m sending a guy named Sawyer Brown up to find Claudia. Let him through, okay?” I waved for Sawyer to step out of line. “When he comes back, let him skip the line to register, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Send him up.”
I ended the call and looked to Sawyer. “Can you do me a huge favor?”
“Of course, Empress.”
“Go on up to the second floor to the infirmary and find the Lead Page named Claudia. Do you know who she is?”
He nodded. “I’ve seen her face, yeah.”
“Perfect. Tell her I sent you, and that we’ve got people lined up outside freezing their asses off.” I summoned three more flame balls then flicked for them to spread out across the stairs. “Tell her I left some fire out here, but she needs to come work her magic for everyone in line. Okay? Then Deacon is waiting for you in Student Services to register.”
He grinned. “Yeah, definitely. Thanks.” He sprinted up the steps and out of sight without hesitation.
I turned back to the rest of the crowd and cringed. “Y’all, I’m sorry you’re cold. I did not expect this kind of turnout. But we’re gonna get some heat down here, and I’m gonna go in and see if I can help speed this line up.”
“Thanks!” they all yelled and gave me thumbs-up.
Right. Next step.
I hurried up the steps and was a few feet from the doors when a huge shadow passed over me. The crowd behind me gasped and screamed. Fire filled my palms, but when I glanced up, I found a massive stone-colored dragon swooping over my head. I sighed and shook my head as Silas landed right on the front stoop of a New York City school. There was a swirl of gray fog, and then a handsome teenage boy stood before me. He wore dark jeans and a white shirt that was just transparent enough to see tattoos etched into his tan skin.
The line of teens looked absolutely terrified. Though I couldn’t blame them.
Silas arched one black eyebrow and inclined his head. “Emersyn.”
I smiled. “Hello, Silas. It’s nice to see you. Is everything okay?”
He narrowed his yellow eyes on the surrounding people then whistled. I opened my mouth to ask what he was doing when a flash of black shot across the sky…and landed right beside Silas.
I shook my head. “Y’all know these kids haven’t even registered for school yet? I don’t need y’all scaring them off.”
In the blink of an eye, the towering black dragon shifted into a human-looking teenager. Granted, one with huge muscles and a scruffy face. I knew everyone was watching me, and that this moment—this interaction—was important to handle correctly. Silas was just a shifter in their royal army. But Koth was their ruler. He was their Tennessee. I wanted to make sure everyone in my species understood and respected that.
I bowed my head, and held it for a second. When I stood straight, I met his violet stare and smiled. “King Kothari, it’s an honor to have you here.”
I heard the teens in line whisper king over and over, and I knew I’d done the right thing.
Koth smiled and bowed his head. “Empress, I hope we are not intruding. We did not realize this was opening day.”
“Oh, it’s no worries. This is just registration day.” I gestured toward the line. “School doesn’t start until tomorrow—which is crazy since we just built it this weekend. But that’s not why you’re here—”
“Actually, it is.” Koth chuckled. “May we have a word with you…in private?”
I nodded and led them around the far corner of the building. Once there, I threw up a circle of fire around us. “Okay, privacy.”
Koth shook his head. “I like the way your mind works.”
Silas nodded, but said nothing. He didn’t say much ever.
Koth took a deep breath. “Your youngest brother, Bentley, and your parents came to see us the other day. While they were in Issale, they told us about your plans for this School of Magical Arts…and well, I was wondering if the school is strictly arcana only?”
I opened my mouth then shut it. “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. I hadn’t even asked myself that question yet.”
Silas chuckled, which I took as a serious accomplishment.
“All right,” Koth said with a laugh. “Well, I was wondering if my people could attend your school.”
“And leave Issale?” I frowned. “Is something wrong there? Do you need help?”
But he was already shaking his head. “Like your kind, we have countless numbers of our species spread throughout the world. There’s too many of them to all live in Issale. Not to mention most don’t want to.”
“Like Eden.”
“Precisely.” He rubbed his palms together. “I like what you’re all doing here, and it made me realize that our kind doesn’t have anything like this to offer. Yet, our youth need to be trained and taught. The name you’ve chosen does not say arcana—or witch—so I thought perhaps you’d be open to a joint force program?”
I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Let me just call— Oh wait. Tennessee is in the Old Lands. Right. Duh.”
Technically, Constance and Uncle Kessler were in charge and the ones to make decisions. But I was the Empress. I wasn’t blind to the fact that most Empresses were Coven Leaders throughout our history. It wasn’t a task I ever wanted, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t worthy of it. Besides, Tennessee told Deacon and me to handle the school. He told us to make decisions as we saw fit upon need. This fell into that category.
“So…and I apologize if this is a dumb question, but are y’all all dragons?”
Koth shook his head. “No, you’ve met all the dragons in existence. And any more that are born would not be involved. They’d stay in Issale with me. Our species consists of every animal imaginable.”
I sighed. “Ohhh. Okay, cool. No offense, but I’m not sure these kids can handle dragons.”
He grinned. “None taken. I am one, and even I was frightened as a child.”
Now that was something I’d have to see to believe.
Koth ducked his head to meet my eyes. “So what do you say?”
“I like it.” I nodded. “Tennessee wanted our two species to form a tight alliance, so this will only help. I would like to provide a special building specifically for shifters designed to fit your needs. And we’d have to decide if the two should dorm together or not. Also, none of us are trained to teach shifters, so I would require you to send your own instructors. But otherwise, it’s a hell yeah.”
“Thank you.” Koth held his hand out for me to shake. “I agree to those terms happily.”
Chapter Nine
I frowned and looked around at the chaos. There were people everywhere. Some had luggage, some were running at full speed, and some were stuffing food in their mouth as they walked. Shoulders and briefcases bumped into me, and if it wasn’t for Deacon’s tight grip on my hand, I might’ve been knocked over. My heart was pounding. But my magic was panicking, ready to strike out at the next thing that touched me.
This was how I always pictured New York.
And to my surprise…I was suddenly happy that Deacon lived the unusual version.
“Um, Deacon?” I said as yet another person rammed into me. I hissed and rolled my now bruised shoulder. “Where are we?”
“Penn Station.” He tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me closer. With his free hand, he pointed to the left. “Over there is the New Jersey Transit train. To our right is the Long Island Railroad. Up ahead is Amtrak, and down a level are two different subway lines.”
I frowned. “I thought we were going to lunch? Are we leaving Manhattan for that?”
He chuckled. “No, we’re—”
“Deacon?”
We both froze at the sound of a man’s voice yelling out his name.
A second later, the man stepped around a group of tourists reading a map and walked up to us. I recognized him in an instant, even though he looked different than the last time I saw him. His dark brown hair now had streaks of gray in it and his blue eyes were a little sadder. Henry Westwood. Liam’s father. My heart sank. I didn’t deserve to feel any happiness in front of the man whose son I’d failed to save.
“Ah, Henry,” Deacon said softly and embraced the man. “I’m glad I ran into you. I’m sorry I didn’t make it for Liam’s funeral.”
Henry smiled softly and patted Deacon’s arm. “Your parents told me of the conflicts The Coven is dealing with right now, and why you were absent. Please, don’t beat yourself up over it. You were meant to do important things, Deacon. Liam was proud to call you a friend.”
Jesus. I can’t. I licked my lips and squeezed Deacon’s hand tighter.
“Still, I wanted to be there,” Deacon whispered.
“Then you were.” Henry tapped his own chest. Then he looked to me and smiled. “Taking Miss Bishop to our favorite spot, are we?”
At that, Deacon grinned. “How could I not?”
“Henry?” a woman yelled from a few feet away. “One or two?”
“Make it two, love.” Henry turned back to us. “We just ate there, actually. It really is one of the best in town.”
“Is that…is that Patricia?” Deacon gestured between Henry and the woman standing just inside a store. “Are you two…?”
Henry chuckled. “Yes. Patricia and I are together. Turns out the only people who can understand what it’s like to lose a child are other people who’ve lost a child. Liam and Scarlet are gone, but we’re searching for peace on that together. Taking a train tour around the country.”
“Wow.”
I groaned. “I am so sorry, for both of you.”
The woman—Patricia as they called her—came hurrying out of the store carrying a bag of what looked like junk food. Once she was up close, I recognized her from the gala. She and her daughter Scarlet had the same red-wine hair color. My heart hurt a little more. But then she smiled up at Henry, and it gave me hope that all was not lost for them.
“Oh, Deacon! Miss Bishop!” Patricia said with a smile. She kissed Deacon’s cheek then squeezed my shoulder. “Sorry, we have to run. But it was nice to see you. Take care of each other.”
Then just as fast as they’d appeared, they were gone. They took off at a light jog down toward where Deacon said Amtrak was. I couldn’t help but wonder where they were going first. A train tour around the country actually sounded like a wonderful trip. I made a mental note to do that with Deacon one day.
Deacon tugged on my hand. “All right, ready to eat?”
“Starving. Now, which one of these trains are we getting on? Jersey? Long Island?” I pursed my lips and looked around. “I’ve never been to either.”
“And you’re not going to today either.” He chuckled and pulled me into a walk. Then he made a sharp right turn and stopped. “We’re going right here.”
I opened my mouth then closed it again. I blinked and shook my head. He’d told me we were going to his favorite pizza place in all of New York. I had no idea what I’d expected, because he’d never struck me as a fancy dude—until I met his parents. But this? Total shocker. Turned out his favorite pizza place was a little hole in the wall inside the madness of Penn Station. I couldn’t read the sign, but it was called Don something or other. And it was just a pizza counter. Okay, sure, there was a counter across from it where about six people sat on barstools, and past the register were maybe five little tables.
But there was a line of about twenty people waiting to get this pizza.
I looked up to ask my soulmate if this was a joke when I spotted the biggest grin on his face. My whole body warmed at just the sight of his happiness.
I chuckled. “This really is your favorite, isn’t it?”
“Yep.” He was practically drooling as he stared at the pies on the counter. “I’m about to pig out. It’s so good. You’ll see.”
“That shouldn’t sound so much like a threat, Devil-boy.”
Chapter Ten
Caroline
I’m starting magic school today.
I am starting magic school today.
I’d been repeating this to myself since before sunrise when my brain refused to sleep any longer. I was too excited. When I was a kid, my parents had let me go to Edenburg, but I wasn’t ready for that. I thought I was special because of my parents’ jobs and got mad when no one treated me as such. It was ridiculous. I knew that. But it took me far too long to realize it, and by the time I did, I didn’t want to admit it to my parents. Because I’d told them I hated it and never wanted to go back. A big part of me still regretted that.
But it didn’t matter now. Because The Coven had opened up the School of Magical Arts right here in my hometown. I wouldn’t have to live in a dorm. I wouldn’t have to leave my home city and all my favorite places. It would be just like going to my regular Sapien private school. Except better, because it was for magic.
It was all starting today, and I was ready.
The Upper West Side had always been a secret favorite of mine, and today was no different. Everywhere I looked, there were all different types of people. Young children walking themselves to school with their backpacks on. Women in dress clothes and running shoes jogging by to catch their train. Parents with strollers and little children. And dogs. So many dogs. It was why I recommended this part of town to my parents when they were looking for a location.
As I climbed the front steps of the school, there was a new sort of crowd, and it made me grin. There were teenagers and middle-school-aged kids lining the sidewalks, coming from every direction…and they were all headed to SOMA.
This school was a really, really big deal. The first of its kind. Since the beginning of our species, the only place to go was Edenburg School, and that was only in Eden. Far from where most of us lived. And the thing was, I didn’t want to be Lead Page like my mother or city Major like my father. I didn’t want to be a healer or a Knight. I just wanted to live a somewhat normal, albeit magical life.
And that wasn’t the kind of thing Edenburg taught. There was a good chance SOMA would be just like that, but at least now I could still live at home. Besides, after what happened at the gala, I needed to learn more of what Edenburg taught. Memories of that night came rushing to the surface, but I shook myself and forced them away. This wasn’t the time for pain.
The front doors of school were wide open so I hurried in. My mother had told me how beautiful the school had come out, but she’d been playing it coy for sure. It was elegant and chic, classy but totally and completely welcoming. The massive fireplace at the base of the double grand staircase was tempting, but
I forced myself to follow the heavy stream of students practically running up the stairs.
It was a little bit chaotic up on the next level. I was thankful my parents had told me where to go, or otherwise I might’ve been swept away by the panic around me.
“CAROLINE!”
I froze and turned toward the sound of my name…and I spotted one of my father’s friend’s young daughter. I smiled. “Hello, Molly—”
“Where do we go? What do we do?”
Just like that, the entire crowd turned to me with wide, scared eyes.
I blinked. I’m not in charge here. But they were all looking at me like I was. Then I noticed belatedly that these kids couldn’t have been more than ten or eleven.
I sighed and pointed straight ahead of me. “Just past this hallway, go and drop your coats. Boys are on the left, girls on the right. After that, you follow this main hallway down until you get to the auditorium. Go in there and find a seat. I’m sure there will be teachers inside to guide you.”
“But what about our class schedules?” Molly cried. “We don’t have them.”
Did your parents not tell you anything? I clenched my teeth. My father had sent out an email to every student who’d registered yesterday telling them exactly what to do when they got here today. Evidently the parents of the young ones couldn’t be bothered to share that information. Wait until my father hears this.
I smiled at them. “We all have to get sorted into our Suits first, which is why we’re going to the assembly. They’ll tell us what to do after.”
None of them moved, so I pushed past them and led the way to coat check. Which was also my idea. I’d told my mother it always annoyed me that there wasn’t a coatroom at school like there was at restaurants—and she’d listened. I couldn’t lie—that part felt good as hell. I slipped inside the coatroom, and my jaw dropped. I’d expected a person inside, like at restaurants, but this…was so much cooler.
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