by Evie Wilde
“Agreed,” Dash said. The others nodded. “However.”
We all looked at Dash.
“Now what?” Oliver asked. He and Kyler were apparently used to Dash pushing the envelope.
“I propose a friendly wager,” he said. “Winner gets everyone’s elements for an entire day.”
“What determines the winner?” I asked, dreading the answer, knowing Dash would always be a spear in my side.
“Simple,” Dash replied. “The first guy to get Cassandra to admit she likes him, wins.”
“What if she likes more than one of us?” Kyler asked. “It’s possible.”
“The probability is great,” Oliver interjected.
“Then you get bonus points,” Dash said. “And then it comes down to whoever scores first.”
I chuckled and sighed. The winner was obvious. We’d been together for so long, there would be no other choice. I’d seen the way she looked at me and the way she hadn’t looked at them. “I’m in.”
We shook on the deal and Dash left, a smirk on his face. His body language suggested he thought he’d already won.
“That wasn’t a good idea,” Kyler said. “I’ve known Dash long enough to know he thinks he has to win at everything. He’ll do whatever’s necessary.
“I’m not worried,” I said. “I know things about Cassandra he doesn’t.”
CHAPTER SIX
Cassandra
“Only a few more weeks,” Ruby said as she danced along the sidewalk. She’d talked about all the dance lessons she had as a child and apparently, they had paid off. It was one of the few things she ever revealed about her past.
She was excited about winter break. She and her boyfriend were flying out west to celebrate one year of dating. He was to meet her at the airport. She said long distant dating kept them together because they weren’t always together or always stumbling over each other, trying to get more attention than they needed. When she said that we stared at each other and then laughed. She added their sex was to die for because of the extended absence.
Ruby made the semester so much easier than it might have been otherwise. As much as I loved having all the guys around, she was a welcome departure from all the testosterone. We talked girl talk, a lot of which centered on the guys surrounding us. She connected with a guy a few years older who lived in one of the other dorms. She had a History of Magic class with him that I would be taking next year. They were only friends, she said. She was dedicated to one guy, the guy she was meeting at the airport. If life could only be that simple.
Though Ruby was only a year older than me, she really was a big sister. I told her all about my parents and the great earthquake that devasted our city, but again she never offered much about her past. I never pressed her for information, figuring when she was ready then she would tell me more. I knew what it was like to have your life out there for everyone to judge. I didn’t blame her for keeping quiet.
“So, you really did that with him?” I asked, referring back to the conversation we were having after we left class.
“Yup, and more than once.”
Ruby was also my source for all things pertaining to the birds and the bees. She wasn’t totally surprised I’d never made it with a guy. She said it was good to wait until you found the right one. The long-distance guy, according to her, was the right one.
“I’d never made the semester without you,” I said, and we entered the dorm. “You made everything so much easier. It also helped me deal with my hormones and the guys.”
“I’m glad we became friends,” she said and then laughed. “I’ll never forget the first time we met and how those three guys acted around you. I could tell even then they were smitten with you.”
“They haven’t stopped since,” I said. “It’s a little strange. I couldn’t get a guy to so much as talk to me before I joined the academy. Braeden did, but it was always about something other than our attraction to one another. Now I can’t get guys to shut up for a second.” We laughed until we cried.
“You know you love it,” Ruby said and rushed toward the door, me following.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
As soon as the door closed one of the servants approached. “May I help you with your bags?” he asked. The man made my skin crawl. I averted my eyes and read something on the bulletin board. One of the instructors was going to be doing a free potion demonstration tomorrow night at one of the local elementary schools. Everyone was welcome to attend.
“Sure,” Ruby said and pulled her backpack off. She easily trusted people. I didn’t. Maybe it was because I had to take care of myself for so long. I knew most people had ulterior motives.
I waited, staring at the man. “Where’s your uniform?” I asked. I looked around for other servants, but there were none. “You’re not in academy uniform.”
He looked from me to Ruby and then backed to me. “I was late for work,” he said. “Will change on my break.” He reached for my pack, and I pulled away. His eyes. I’d seen those eyes before. I grasped my pack tighter.
“Sorry, it’s the end of the semester,” Ruby said and removed my pack. “We’ll head to the cafeteria for dinner.” She handed the man our packs and tried to lead me away.
“I know you,” I said, but he only stared, though he knew I was right.
Ruby tugged on my arm again. “Come on. He’s just a servant. I’m starving. I hear they have Death by Chocolate cake today.” She waited for a moment, but I didn’t move. “Come on.”
Reluctantly, I followed Ruby from the dorm, the man watching me through the glass door, and we entered the cafeteria, my mind still struggling with the servant who was not a servant at all. The servants were all over the place and creeped out most of the students. We were assured that, although they watched everything that went on at the academy, they were truly harmless.
“They’ve got the best fried ice cream also,” Ruby said, oblivious to the servant, the man who wore clothes no servant was allowed to wear while on campus. “Maybe we’ll try both!”
I followed Ruby to the food line and looked at my hands while she ordered. How did the man who visited me in my dreams think an untrained witch like me could help the other students? I knew my weaknesses. But I also knew my life changed when I walked onto campus. In some way I did become more powerful. I’d not screwed up anything the entire semester. And then there were the guys. Four of them. Me and four guys? The thought would have been preposterous six months ago when I thought Braeden was the only guy for me, eventually.
“She’ll have the same thing,” Ruby said to the servant. She then touched my arm. “Where do you go when you look off into space like that?”
I handed the servant my plate, and he matched what was on Ruby’s. We continued down the line with our plates on our trays, the servant continuing to watch us. I wasn’t too keen on the green, runny stuff, but the bread and variety of fruit looked delicious.
“This is where it’s really at,” Ruby said. She then turned to the servant behind the counter. “Double dose of fried ice cream.” She held up her hand to me. “We’re adults now, we can have ice cream whenever we want.”
“There’s no chocolate cake,” I said. Something didn’t feel right about the room. Several students watched me. The servants watched me. Did people really believe I'd come all this way to save the academy? I wanted nothing more than to do my four years at the academy, become the greatest witch ever, and then return to my guild and make up for all the things I’d done in my past. But the academy was beginning to make me feel like those things might not happen.
“Where’s the chocolate cake?” Ruby asked, disappointed.
The servant ignored her question and dished the ice cream into a bowl and placed it on her tray.
I ordered the same, and we sat at a table alone. A TV in the cafeteria happened to be showing Wayfair City. The reporter was saying how well the city had come back from the destruction of a few months ago. Ruby glanced at the TV.
�
�Don’t worry about that,” she said. “Those creatures would have devastated that city and killed every last person. You saved a lot of lives. I’ve seen those creatures destroy more experienced witches and warlocks.”
“Then why do I feel like such a shit?” I asked. I stuck my spoon in the ice cream and twirled. Ruby dipped into her ice cream, ignoring the other stuff on her plate. “Besides, you have some of the best warlocks on campus in your classes.”
“You mean Dash, Oliver, and Kyler?”
“Exactly.” She took another bite of ice cream and closed her eyes, moaning. “This right here is to die for.” She saw I was waiting for more about the guys and put her spoon down. “They came from a city called Asteria.”
“Old New York,” I said, and she nodded. I’d never been to Old New York, but it was definitely on my bucket list. That and a hundred other places. Graduating from the academy would offer all kinds of opportunities, open doors I never thought possible.
“They stayed behind when the Sarchi invaded the city. Legend has it that the three spent five days wiping out the Sarchi as the Sarchi tried wiping out the city. The Sarchi attacked the most experienced witches and warlocks first. Once they were defeated, they went after others. Then they met your boyfriends.”
“The place is like a ghost town now,” I said, ignoring Ruby’s smile.
Ruby ate another bite of ice cream. “There’s still a million or so people there, though it’s said almost five million lost their lives. Millions fled and never returned. Our three classmates are credited with saving millions, though. Oliver came up with the plan, Kyler and Dash helped execute Oliver’s plan, though I hear that Dash, at times, went rogue and fought by himself. I heard he went all in, daring the Sarchi to kill him. I think it kind of scared Kyler and Oliver. They worry about him sometimes.”
I ate a few bites of ice cream, thinking about the guys. Thinking about all four and then thinking about them individually, about their different qualities. They were very unique from each other. And whenever they were around, my body started to feel things and do things. An excitement that made me giddy. A euphoria that made me want to be more than friends.
My sexual feelings toward them was growing, though I never shared that with Ruby or them. And as blissful as it made me feel, it also scared me. What would the first time be like? And if it were really going to be one of them, which one? Oliver had a goofy charm many men lacked. He was a brainiac and shy, a shyness that made him adorable. Kyler was still a mystery. He kept his distance from me, often retreating into something artsy if he found he was getting too close with his emotions. There were times when I would spy him running off into the forest surrounding the academy, shapeshifting into a wolf as he ran. I wondered what he did out there alone. Braeden was always being Braeden. Concerned and mannerly. Like always, I wondered when the manners would fall by the wayside and he would take charge of our relationship. Then there was Dash. He was everything a girl could both hate and love. I found myself doing both.
“Why’re you smiling?” Ruby asked. “The ice cream isn’t that good.”
“Just thinking about everything,” I said. I debated telling her about the dream I had last night, the one involving all four guys. I was having trouble processing exactly what had happened. I doubted my ability to even do what I dreamed about.
“You never say much about you and Braeden,” Ruby said. She finished her ice cream and then put her spoon down and crossed her arms. “All these years you two have been together…”
“It never happened,” I said. She wanted to know if we’d done it yet.
“Why not?” she pressed. Her interest was that of a big sister and not of a nosey student who had nothing better to do. She laid it all out there when talking about her and her boyfriend, but she had much more to tell than I did. My sex life had been anything but exciting and satisfying.
I shrugged. “He sees his duty as one to protect me. To help me become a better witch.” I wanted to tell her he took the friendship thing too far. That it would have been nice for him to look at me like I was a woman rather than an object. I wanted to be told he found me sexy, that I had nice tits or a nice ass. I wanted to be told I was beautiful and had gorgeous emerald eyes. All those things a cherished woman is told.
“Yeah, but I've also seen the way he looks at you. The way he flirts with you in class. And don’t even get me started with the way he ‘accidentally’ touches you.” She let a smile slip across her face. “And I think if you wanted to, he would.”
“It’s not like that,” I said shyly, but wished she were right. I dabbed at my ice cream with my spoon.
“Oh yes, it is,” Ruby said. “And it’s not just him. I’ve seen the way the other three watch you. The way they get excited. They’re interested in more than just friends you know. They may not admit it, but I guarantee all of them want you.”
I laughed. “Have you heard the way Dash treats me? Always reminding me of my past mistakes.” I ate the last bit of ice cream and thought about the dream again. Could or would they really do the things in my dreams?
Ruby waved off the comment. “That’s his tough exterior talking.” She pointed at me. “You, girlfriend, will find a completely different man on the inside.” I nodded in agreement. I saw it as well.
“What about Oliver? I said. “Sometimes I don’t even know what he’s saying. And he always uses numbers to explain things.” I shook my head. “They guy has yet to screw up a hex or potion.”
Ruby placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “That’s all true but I've watched the way he interacts with you. He stumbles over his words because he feels awkward talking to girls. He's overthinking his relationship with you. And I think he’s absent-minded because he gets flustered around you. It throws up his introversions.”
“Is that even a word?” I joked. “Okay, I’m intrigued. Tell me more, though let’s stay away from the Dash topic.”
“I think Oliver will open up sooner than Kyler,” she said, and looked around the cafeteria. We were alone. “Kyler is a different story. He’s the mystery man in all of this.”
“I’ve noticed,” I said. “He doesn’t say much but I always catch him stealing a glance my way.”
“He has a darkness about him,” Ruby said. “One day he left his notebook in the cafeteria. I didn’t know who it belonged to.” She shrugged. “So, I opened it and started panning through it. The front was all class work. Then I got to the back.” She got up from her seat across from me and moved to the seat next to me. “The guy writes poetry. And none of that rhyming crap.” She looked around again. “It’s all dark stuff. Nihilistic even. He writes about being a wolf and racing through the forest, free of all the human shit we go through. He also writes about back home and the pack he is part of. He keeps his distance from anyone and everyone, no matter what form they are in.”
“Maybe a girlfriend did that to him,” I said. “Some guys have a hard time recovering after being hurt. They become withdrawn, sort of like he acts.”
“I don’t know, but I sense he’ll be the one to fall hardest for you or the one to totally withdraw if he thinks you’re not interested. You’ll need to be careful with him. You’ll need kid gloves when dealing with him.” She pulled her tray over and then snarled her nose. “So, what’s your secret? A special charming spell? A love potion you snuck into their drinks?”
I giggled. “I wish I knew, but I don’t think it’s as serious as you say.” I finished my ice cream and then pushed my tray away. “What do you know about Kyler’s shapeshifting? It’s kind of dark and mysterious.”
“Just that he comes from a long line of shapeshifters. His pack stays to themselves. When they learned of his magic skills, they sent him here. Occasionally, I’ve seen other wolves at the edge of the forest, but I've never seen Kyler run with them.”
I nodded, intrigued. Intrigued with the whole lot of them.
“You have your pick of the litter,” Ruby said, and laughed. “No pun intended. H
ell, you could probably have all four.”
I laughed and shook my head. “As if!”
Ruby pulled a sheet of paper from her pocket. “Enough about the boys. We need to talk next semester. We’re both in Field Missions. I’ve heard it’s a fantastic class but also one of the more challenging lessons. It says here the class will teach us how to control our powers.”
I gently slapped my palm against my forehead. “Great!”
Ruby made a tsk tsk sound. “You’ll be fine. We’re all here to help you, Cassandra.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Cassandra
I entered Magical Combat and Spell Casting class just as everyone was lining up to leave through the door leading to the combat arena. The final exam was completed in the arena, though today there was a surprise. A new girl in class. She looked at me, and nothing positive passed between us. If I knew there was a connection between me and the guys, I knew there was a disconnection between her and I.
“Who’s the new girl?” I whispered to Braeden while everyone else was talking to the new girl.
“No clue. She said she was from one of the other combat classes and needed to finish the final she missed because of a sick relative.” He frowned. “You okay?”
“Yeah, my dreams are all weird. I didn’t sleep well. To be honest, I haven’t slept well since we arrived.” I yawned and everyone looked at me, including the new girl.
We followed the professor outside and made our way into the bowl-shaped arena. The place sat nearly 5,000 people when there were actual tournaments in play. Luckily, for the exam, the arena was empty.
The seven of us spread out along the center line while the professor spoke. I took notice of each time one of the guys glanced my way, thinking maybe Ruby was right. There was more than a friendship interest. The next time Oliver looked, I caught him staring at my behind. He turned red and snapped his head toward the professor. He had a robotic way about him that made him attractive.