The room was set up like Hogwarts, with long running tables that went from one side of the room to the other – except we had at least a dozen of them, compared to the four. We wanted students to have space while remaining together. But unlike Hogwarts, the side walls of the lunch hall were made entirely of glass so that the outside was completely visible. A small layer of snow covered the ground and clung to tree branches. There were tables, though they were also covered in snow.
As we walked, I hated that I noticed every female gaze lingering on my soulmate. It wasn’t the looking that bothered me, it was how they looked…like they were lionesses on the hunt and he was their next meal. Green jealousy surged inside of me like I was about to become the Hulk. Part of me wanted to mark my territory right then and there, but I had to be better than that. Besides, I wasn’t worried that Deacon would stray. He’d had many chances when we first met to bail on me, but he stayed.
However, that didn’t stop me from unbuttoning my wool coat and pulling it open so that my soulmate glyph was on full display in my V-neck cashmere sweater.
The girls closest to us deflated and it made my smile widen.
That’s right. He’s MINE.
“Here they are,” Headmaster Muller said, breaking through the monster inside me. She stopped and gestured to the end of the table. “Meet your two SOMA Majors…”
A big, fluffy blue cat leapt off the bench and into the walkway. I frowned and then spotted a familiar pair of gold and black Chanel boots. I took a deep breath, then looked up.
Caroline Davenport stood in front of us in her thigh-high Chanel boots – the same pair I had, but fortunately had decided not to wear today – and a skin-tight black velvet jumpsuit. She looked like Catwoman’s sexier, richer sister. Her red hair was pinned up on top of her head in a ballerina-style-bun – not a strand astray. Her lips were painted a bright apple red, and her eyes had the perfect smokey-style makeup.
My chest tightened.
Except…not because I was nervous. Or threatened. But because she looked flawless and I had no idea how to manage that on my own.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye, and then a teeny, tiny blue fuzzy cat landed on Caroline’s shoulder. She didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she grinned at us. “Hi! You’re back!”
Deacon chuckled. “We are—”
“Oh, of course. You know each other already.” Headmaster Muller shook her head. “Sorry, I forgot. Caroline is the female SOMA Major and —”
“And I’M the best one.” Noah Kincaid jumped up behind her and wagged his eyebrows. His green eyes were wild. “Welcome back, D. Miss Em.”
I laughed. “Hey y’all. So you’re our Majors?”
Noah draped his arm around Caroline’s shoulders and the little blue cat hopped onto his arm. He grinned. “YUP. Complete with mascots even.”
Caroline held her arms out in front of her and the bigger, fluffier blue cat leapt into them. She snuggled it close to her chest. “Noah, I said to let me broach that subject tactfully.”
His cheeks flushed. “Oh. Right. Sorry, babe. It just slipped out.”
She rolled her eyes but there was a definite smirk on her pretty face. “I’ve heard that before.”
“Wait. Hold on.” Deacon gestured back and forth between them. “Are you two…a couple?”
They both beamed. Their eyes lit up and their smiles widened.
Deacon whistled under his breath. “Very nice.”
It was nice. Not because I thought Caroline still wanted Deacon. She’d explained that to me, and to my surprise I understood. There was once a time that I’d gotten so caught up in my plan that I didn’t realize I didn’t want it until it was too late – like suddenly Captain of the cheerleading squad and dating the quarterback of the football team. I shuddered at the life I used to live.
And then their words registered. Mascots.
I frowned. “Wait, did you say you want the blue cats to be the school mascot?”
“Well…yeah?” Caroline bit her lip and shrugged, then looked down at the blue cat in her arms. “I mean…this is their home, right? They were here first and they welcomed us. It would be fitting, wouldn’t it?”
“Besides, have you seen the pile-up by the front fireplace?” Noah laughed and scratched the cat’s head. “Plus, they’re super cute and it just makes sense.”
I grinned. “It really does, doesn’t it? I love it. Absolutely, yes. Deacon?”
“SOMA’s mascot will be a blue fluffy cat with gold wings.” Deacon nodded. “It’s like our own inside joke.”
“YES.” Noah threw his arms up and fist-pumped the air. “Boom.”
“You know what?” I pursed my lips and glanced around to the students listening in. “As Majors, why don’t you two start a contest for all students and staff. Have them submit concept art for our logo and the actual mascot, ya know?”
Deacon gasped. “That’s brilliant. We can even put it to a vote. Let the school decide.”
I nodded. “Right! It’ll be a special thing for everyone who trusted us enough to come here for the first school year.”
“I love it!” Caroline did a little happy dance. “This is so cool. I’ll start on it today.”
“Good, because most of the students are listening right now anyway.” Deacon grinned.
I opened my mouth to speak when the side door of the hall flew open. A kid, who looked to be Bentley’s age, came walking inside – but his toe caught on something and he went flying forward. The whole crowd gasped and spun toward him.
The poor kid made a little squeak and then light flashed around him. Mid-air, mid-fall, he shifted into a small snow leopard. He landed on all four paws, yet still slid ten feet across the slick hardwood floors. When he stopped moving, he looked at the crowd with his big silver-blue cat eyes. His beautifully spotted fur stood up at all ends. He glanced back and forth, then shook his head. Little lights flashed, but nothing happened.
Oh no. He’s trying to shift back and can’t. I didn’t know what to do, so I took a step forward – and then he leapt into the air. His cat-form crossed the length of the hall in the blink of an eye, and then he slammed his body into the doors at the other side and barreled back outside.
At least half of the students in the lunch hall were now on their feet and looking toward the door the boy – snow leopard – had just escaped through. I heard of bunch of whispering and hushed voices, and my heart went out to the kid.
“Do we not have enough seating inside here?”
Caroline frowned. “We do. There’s also a balcony level upstairs.”
Deacon glared out the glass walls to our right. “Then who are all those people sitting outside right now?”
Noah grimaced. “The shifters.”
Chapter Two
Deacon
“What?!” Emersyn and I both yelled at the same time.
I blinked and shook my head. “What do you mean…the shifters? Why are they sitting outside?”
“Because they’re animals,” some guy sitting at the table to my left mumbled.
Emersyn growled. “AND YOUR POINT IS?” Smoke billowed from her body.
The guy blanched. “Uh – I – uh – just – uh – you know —”
“No, I most certainly do NOT know,” Emersyn snapped. She narrowed her now glowing golden eyes at the crowd. “So help me Goddess, are they outside because someone made them?”
“Whoa, whoa. NO. Definitely not.” Noah waved his arms across body. “No one told them to sit out there…they just…won’t come in.”
I put my hand on Em’s shoulder and squeezed. “Are we sure? No one here suggested they stayed outdoors like the animals that they are? Because—”
“No.” Caroline shook her head. “At least, not that Noah or I are aware of. And to be sure, we will talk to everyone.”
I glared at my old friends. Something wasn’t adding up here. I felt it.
Caroline sighed and glanced out the glass doors to where all the shifters were sit
ting at tables. “They just got here last Monday…nothing has happened…but…they won’t really come near any of us. They just go to their classes, hide in their dorm building, and sit out there for lunch. I don’t know what to do.”
“Yeah, and the classes they do share with arcana they all sit in the back and don’t speak.” Noah scowled. “Not gonna lie, it’s kinda creepy. But I can’t blame them.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why not?”
Noah shrugged. “Listen, man, I got nothing against the shifters. I think it’s great they’re here…but like…I’d never even seen a shifter until I started school here. I’m sure it’s the same for pretty much everyone else.”
Caroline’s eyes turned sad. “Some of the young kids thought shifters were a myth.”
“A myth?” Emersyn growled again. “Well, these myths saved our lives too many times to count, so every single arcana is going to make sure the shifters feel welcome here or there will be consequences.”
I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. I didn’t know what it said about me that I loved to watch Emersyn this…fierce.
“All right, c’mon, Em.” I slid my hand down to the small of her back. “Let’s go out there and talk to them.”
“I think, perhaps, it might be best if I don’t accompany you outside. They may feel more comfortable speaking to you without me there.” Headmaster Muller exhaled. “I’m going to check on what the boy tripped on.”
I nodded, then led Emersyn over to the side door. The glass panels flew open without me touching them, which was a cool touch. The second we stepped outside I felt the overwhelming desire to flee.
And it wasn’t coming from me.
Shit.
Then I felt a wave of warmth rush out of Emersyn, and with it, her fierce desire to hug them all.
That’s my girl.
“Oh no.”
I frowned and followed the sound until my gaze landed on that same young boy who’d tripped inside. He was hiding behind an older girl and shaking.
“I’m sorry, am I in trouble?” He said with a shaky voice. “It was an accident—”
“Of course it was. You’re not in trouble.” I shook my head and glanced at the rest of them. “None of you are. We just want to talk to you.”
Silence.
None of them spoke. Or moved. They all just stared with nervous eyes that had that reflection that animal eyes did under bright lights.
There had to be several dozen of them out here, all huddled together under a terrace.
Now that we were out here, I wasn’t quite sure how to start.
But fortunately, Emersyn made the first move. She cleared her throat then lifted the sleeve of her left arm up until her Empress Mark was visible. Then she held it out for all of them to see…and smiled. “Hello, my name is Emersyn Bishop. I am the Empress in The Coven.”
Their eyes all widened and they sat up straighter. Then they looked to me.
I followed her suit and pulled my sleeve up. “Deacon English, Devil in The Coven. Also, my mother is a Major of New York and my father is a Minor.”
The girl standing in front of the young boy stood up and flicked her pale blond hair over her shoulder. Her light brown eyes were sharp and fierce. She glanced back and forth between Em and me. “King Kothari told us we could trust The Coven…”
“And you can.” I made sure to look them in the eye.
Emersyn flicked her wrists and two balls of fire filled her palms. She threw them down into the snow, then waved her hands to make the flames stand three feet tall. The shifters gasped – then dove toward it with their hands out. A second later, they all turned to stare at her with smiles.
“King Kothari and his dragon warriors saved our lives at a very crucial time. We are allies in this world, but more importantly, we are friends.” Emersyn stepped closer to them and their eyes soaked her in. “That’s why we opened up this school for you.”
The same girl, the only one speaking besides the boy, frowned. “So, you really do want us here?”
“Of course we do,” Emersyn breathed. “I’m sorry we weren’t here when you all first arrived. Eden – our homeland – was under attack and we had to return. But before we left, Deacon and I spoke with Koth and Silas about y’all coming here.”
“Why would you think we don’t want you here?”
The girl shrugged. “We get a lot of…weird stares.”
Emersyn sighed and I felt her frustration. “What’s your name?”
“Marcy.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m a mountain lion – in case that was your next question.”
“It wasn’t, but that’s awesome.” Emersyn smiled. She pointed to the group. “Is this everyone?”
Marcy shook her head. “This isn’t even half of us.”
My eyes widened. Wow. That’s more than I expected to come. “Where is everyone else?”
“In the dorms,” Marcy said softly. “Most of us just grab our meals and go back to our space. But a few of us have been trying to…make an effort.”
“Do you want to be here?” I asked, in case that was the issue. “Like, was this a choice—”
“Oh, we’re all thrilled to be here.” Marcy smiled and glanced back at her group. “It’s nice to not have to hide and pretend we’re human. It’s just…we can’t help but think the arcana all hate us. That we’re unwanted.”
“They just stare,” the boy cried.
“More like gawk,” another guy grumbled.
“I’m sorry.” I cursed and scrubbed my face with my hands. “Most arcana have never seen a shifter before, and apparently some of our younger students thought you were a myth. Fault of our ancestors, I assure you.”
Emersyn smiled. “I mean, you did just turn into a snow leopard right in front of them. That’s badass.”
The shifters all chuckled. One of the guys ruffled the boy’s hair.
Marcy smirked. “This is wonderful to hear, because we all want to be here.”
One of the girls in the back stood and raised her hand. When I looked to her, she licked her lips. “Are we allowed to talk to the school Majors? Because everyone gives us weird looks if we go near them.”
“Caroline and Noah are both very, very nice. You can definitely talk to them.” I lifted my hand and pushed my magic out, focusing my thoughts on my two friends. Red smoke slithered out of my palm and into the lunch hall behind me.
A moment later, Caroline and Noah came rushing out the side door – followed by those two blue cats.
Caroline arched one eyebrow. “Did you call for us?”
I smiled and waved them forward. “Yes. Our shifter friends here are concerned because they feel like they aren’t allowed to talk to you two.”
Noah gasped. “What? Why would – no. You can definitely talk to us…I just…didn’t think you would want to.” He blushed.
Caroline walked over to stand beside me. “I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t. I promise you can talk to us. But maybe…” she looked up to me, then to Emersyn.
I frowned. “But maybe what?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want to overstep, but maybe they would like Majors of their own?”
Emersyn gasped then smacked her own forehead. “Oh my Goddess, I’m such an idiot! Would y’all like that?”
The shifters all exchanged glances then turned to us and nodded.
I let out a deep breath. “That settles it, then.”
“Right. Easy to fix. Thank you, Caroline, for suggesting it.” Em rubbed her palms together. “Okay, the Yule Ball is next Friday night, so I want y’all to think about who you’d like to have as Majors – one guy, one girl. We’ll have you vote at the Ball and announce it later that night. That work?”
Marcy grinned. “Thank you. Yes. That’ll be perfect.”
Yeah, I know which girl they’re all gonna pick.
Chapter Three
Emersyn
“Man, this is kind of a crash course, isn’t it?” Caroline laughed and flicked snow off
her shoulders as we re-entered the lunch hall.
I groaned. “This is why adults should be in charge of this and not two high school students.”
Caroline grimaced. “I know Heather would love to be more active here, she’s just worried about overstepping her boundaries.”
Deacon scoffed. “Seriously?”
Noah nodded. “Yeah, and not just because of The Coven.. The Headmaster, too.”
I looked to Deacon.
He nodded. “I’ll talk to her. And both of our fathers, Caroline. Let’s go through our checks and balances and make sure we haven’t missed anything else.”
Noah snapped his fingers. “What happened to Cheryl? The cute girl with the glasses?”
“Cute, eh?” Caroline arched one eyebrow at him.
His cheeks turned bright red. “Well – I mean – not like – you know —”
Caroline giggled and kissed his cheek. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“Please don’t fluster me. My nerves can’t take it.”
I threw my hand over my mouth and laughed.
“Cheryl is great, though. I’ll call her back to town.” Deacon shook his head and chuckled. “Noah, my man, do me a favor and go over to the shifter dorm? Just talk to them. Make sure they’re okay, ya know?”
Noah gave him a high-five. “On it.” Then he turned and skipped out of the lunch hall.
The empty lunch hall.
I spun in a circle yet found not a single soul in there with us. “Where is everyone?”
Caroline laughed. “Oh, they’re all in class. Turns out attendance isn’t a problem when you go to magic school.”
“Wow.” I turned back to Caroline just in time to watch the fat blue cat try – and fail - to sit on her shoulder, only to end up draping itself over her. “What’s the deal with these two?”
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