“I guess so,” I said, not feeling comfortable with any of the suggestions.
“We should go to my classroom, we’ll be more comfortable there.” She turned and started walking away.
I looked over at the scene in front of me. One mage girl was up against the wall, her shoulders lifted up near her ears as she braced herself for impact. She looked terrified.
Three mage boys surrounded her, one had his hands on her and the other two had their arms extended. They were all laughing.
I moved next to the girl and carefully dragged her away from them, propping her against the wall nearby.
Then I shoved one of the mages so he fell against the wall and the other two were about to push him.
There were some good things about stopping time.
Quickly, I ran after Professor Halifax. She was already in her classroom. Walking out of her back storage area with a couple of cushions in her hand. Thankfully, it was empty of students.
“You were lucky that you were in the basement,” I said.
“Yes,” she agreed. “Had it not been my free period, I’d be just as frozen as the rest of you. Guess it was good that Dr. Green asked me for my inventory numbers today.”
“Where is he? Do you know? He’s usually there for my parole meetings.”
She set the cushions on the floor in the center of the room. “I’m not sure. It’s not often that he leaves his office. I always thought that was partially because of the magic seal in there. If he’s in there, there’s always someone who is safe if there’s a spell that backfires or an attack on the school.”
“Why don’t they just put that on the whole school to prevent that?” I asked.
She smiled. “How would you practice magic then? You can’t cast spells in those rooms, either.”
“That makes sense,” I said.
Professor Halifax settled into one of the cushions on the ground, then patted the empty one. “Sit. We have time to unfreeze.”
“Got it,” I said, taking the seat next to her. “How do we do this? I’ve never used the time magic on purpose.”
“That’s not true. We practiced, remember?”
“That was containing it,” I said.
“What do you think closing off a time bubble is?” She lifted an eyebrow. “You have to reverse the spell. It’s exactly what we did before but on a much larger scale.”
“I lit candles,” I said. “I never re-started time. Even when I stopped time, it never held this long.”
“You nearly opened a portal. That’s far more powerful than whatever caused this. I’d wager that you’re stronger than the caster who put us in this bubble. This will be an interesting test of what you’re capable of.”
Those seemed like impossibly big shoes to fill.
“Set your hands, palm up on your knees,” she said. “Close your eyes.”
I followed her instructions, opening my palms and closing my eyes.
“Now, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth,” she said.
“Like yoga class?” I asked.
“Exactly,” she said. “It’s calming. Centering. A way to clear your mind. You have to find the magic.”
“Okay.” I took a deep breath in through my nose and blew it out through my mouth. I felt ridiculous. This was never going to work. My friends were going to be frozen forever and I was going to spend the rest of my life in a creepy castle with Professor Halifax and Officer M.
A shudder ran down my spine.
I could not let that happen. No way was I going to be stuck here with him. Ugh. I tried again, focusing on breathing. Trying to empty my mind.
“Feel for the source of the magic, just like you did when you connected with Matt,” Professor Halifax said. “It might be a little more difficult because you don’t know the caster. And you’re not bonded. But the practice is the same.”
I nodded, not sure if she could see me. Either way, she didn’t say anything else while I sat there, breathing and emptying my mind. Finally, feeling centered, I started to reach out for any signs of magic that wasn’t mine.
It felt like I’d been there for hours and I could feel frustration creeping in around the edges of my calm. My fingers twitched and my ass was starting to hurt despite the cushion under me.
I blew out another breath, hoping for any signs of magic. In desperation, I reached out toward Professor Halifax. Her magic pulsed like a beating heart. It was pure and clean and vibrant. Not the hot spark mine was.
Then, I noticed something else. Something a little unstable, like a live electric wire. I let go of the feeling of Professor Halifax’s magic and shifted my senses to the new feeling.
That was it. It had to be.
Whatever I was feeling was charged and alive. It felt similar to my magic but it wasn’t quite the same. There was a vibration to it that seemed to hum like the wings of an insect. And like an insect, it felt both fragile and powerful at the same time.
I reached out, tugging on it. My own magic flared to life, sending a rush of shockwaves across my skin. I winced, but the discomfort passed quickly.
Grabbing hold of my magic, I sent it toward the foreign magic. I needed to squash it like a bug.
Sending my magic out, I surrounded the fluttering unfamiliar magic, squeezing it with mine until I could feel it shudder in violent bursts as it struggled to stay alive. I was smothering it, extinguishing it.
The magic fought me, pushing back against mine. I felt sweat drip down my back and my pulse raced. My hands balled into fists as I fought back, containing the offending magic.
Finally, with a gasp, the other magic dissipated like smoke. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding then my shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
I ran a hand through my hair, pushing it away from my face. It was damp with sweat. Something dripped down my face and I wiped under my nose. When I pulled my hand away, it was covered in blood.
I touched my nose with my fingertips and then looked at them. They were soaked in crimson blood.
Professor Halifax handed me a box of tissues. I hadn’t even noticed her get up to grab them.
I took them from her and blotted the blood.
“You did it,” she said.
That was when I noticed that there was sound outside the room. The bustle of the halls filled with people moving from one class to another.
Relief flooded through me and I laughed, surprised that I’d pulled it off.
“You did good,” Professor Halifax said.
The door opened and a few students stepped inside. They all stopped as soon as they saw me.
“Are you okay?” A shifter girl, Carly, asked. “Do you need the nurse?”
“I’m fine,” I said, making myself stand on wobbly legs.
“You’re blocking the doorway,” Professor Halifax said.
The students moved quickly, throwing curious glances my way as they took their seats.
“You should probably finish your parole meeting,” she said.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m definitely looking forward to that.”
“And I suggest you don’t tell anyone about this,” she said. “You never know when word that you used your magic could get into the wrong hands.”
I nodded, not keen on the idea of hiding this, but it made sense. There was too much risk.
18
Ben
I frowned as Luka slid into the space next to Raven. He’d been at the lunch table, on the other side of her from me for the last couple of weeks. You’d think I’d be used to it by now but I wasn’t sure it was ever going to get easier.
Since our awkward conversation, he’d kept to his word and on the nights I spent with Raven, he didn’t come to her dreams. At least I didn’t think so.
I didn’t like thinking about what she might be doing on the nights we weren’t together.
The others at the table had accepted him and laughed and talked easily with him. I liked to pretend he was just a friend. Just part of the grou
p. Especially since our parents were now working together.
It seemed whichever aspect of my life I was thinking about, he was going to be part of it.
I never would have imagined that I’d be stuck thinking about how to deal with an incubus who won’t go away.
Raven laughed and I looked over at her. I’d been so caught up in my own head that I lost the thread of the conversation.
“What did he do when he found the squid?” She leaned over the table, eating up every bit of the conversation.
“He screamed like a girl,” Makayla said. “You would have died.”
She tossed her head back with laughter, the whole table joining in. Jamal slapped the table with his palm and Makayla wiped a tear.
“He’s never going to eat sushi again,” Jessica said.
“Mages are so squeamish,” Starla added.
“You got that right,” Raven said. “If my sushi plate came to life, I’d freak the fuck out too.”
“Hey, everyone,” a male voice called. I turned to see Matt Obscura. Great. Just what I needed to brighten my day.
Raven and I hadn’t ever talked about Matt but until today, he hadn’t been a part of our usual group. Was he going to join in on the lunch table? Because it was one thing to deal with one of your girlfriend’s other mates. Adding the second one was just going to push me over the edge.
“Matt, is everything okay?” Raven asked.
“Yeah, just finished my weekly parole meeting,” he said.
I growled involuntary, hating that he had done something so noble for her. I wished I could have taken the fall for Raven. But I didn’t share their magic. It was something that the two of them had in common that Raven and I would never share.
Sometimes I wondered if that was why she went to him some nights. Things were different for me around other shifters. They understood the call of the beast inside. They understood the need to run, the need to break free sometimes.
I never regretted what I had with Raven and I’ve never wished she was a shifter, but I wondered if she connected with him in a different way.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
“He said something weird,” Matt said. “Can we talk for a second?”
“Sure,” she said, already out of the seat.
I followed her with my eyes as they walked out of the cafeteria.
“What do you think that’s all about?” Luka asked.
I glanced over at him. Now that Raven was gone, he was basically sitting next to me. My life had gotten odd since Raven came into it. Eating lunch with a demon. What was going to happen next? “No idea.”
Though, I was pretty sure I had an idea. Raven had told me about the time stop. I suspected she told Luka, too. She said she was supposed to keep it a secret. But that’s too big of a secret to hold on your own. Now, I was wondering if she never told the mage.
The corners of my lips tugged up into a smile. If she kept that from him, maybe they didn’t share any extra special kind of bond.
Raven was back at the table before I could wonder any more.
“Everything okay?” Luka asked.
“Yeah. Just Officer M’s usual threats,” she said.
“I can’t wait till you get to stop seeing that guy,” Luka said.
“I agree, guy gives me the creeps,” I said.
“Tell me about it,” she said. “Hey, I gotta run, but I’ll see you tonight still, right?”
I grinned. “I’m not going easy on you tonight.”
“Well, I won’t be visiting any dreams tonight,” Luka said.
“He’s talking about our strip poker tournament in the dungeon tonight,” Raven said.
“I’m definitely not visiting your dreams,” he said. “Strip poker always leads to sex.”
Raven’s eyes widened a little but she didn’t say anything.
I laughed. “I sure hope it does.”
Raven gave me a playful punch in the arm and I grabbed her fist, using it to pull her closer to me. Leaning in, I moved my lips to her ears so I could whisper. “Just wait until you see all the things I have planned for you after I get you naked.”
I could feel her body heat rising from my words. She glanced at me, looked up at me through he lashes. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Grabbing her chin with my hand, I turned her face to me and then pressed my lips to hers. She kissed me back, quickly slipping her tongue into my mouth.
Then, she broke the kiss and gave me a playful grin. “You have to get me naked first. And in case you forgot, strip poker champion right here.”
I laughed. She beat the pants off of me last week. “We’ll see. I’ve been practicing.”
“Well, everyone, it’s been great, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to be late to gym,” Makayla said.
“Shit, you’re right,” Luka said. “Time for class.”
I stood and then leaned over Raven. “See you tonight.”
“I’ll see all of you tonight.” She lifted her eyebrows and gave a knowing nod.
My cock was hard already just thinking about getting her naked and on my bed. I was going to need to keep myself distracted for the next few hours.
“Come on, lover boy,” Makayla said. “I’ll walk you to class.”
Raven waved, then turned back to her tray. No doubt Luka was going to walk her to her next class. At least he wouldn’t be there tonight. He could have the two minute walk.
I got her all night tonight.
As soon as Makayla and I left the cafeteria someone cut us off, stopping right in front of us.
“You got a minute?” Matt Obscura asked.
I frowned. Until he started sleeping with Raven, I could never tell the two of them apart. Now, I knew which one was Matt because he always had a trace of Raven’s scent on him.
“What’s up?” Makayla asked.
I tensed, not happy that we were standing here with him. I tolerated Luka, but there was no way I was adding another boyfriend to our table at lunch.
“I’m worried about Raven,” he said.
That got my attention but also drew suspicion. I’d just been with her. She was fine. “Why?”
“She probably didn’t tell you since it’s kind of a mage thing,” he said.
“Spit it out,” I said.
He frowned. “Though, I am guessing she told you about the time stop?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, we know,” Makayla said. “I didn’t know you knew.”
“We talked about it in our independent study,” he said. “Anyway, our parole officer mentioned today that there could be another magic thief.”
“Raven didn’t say anything about that,” Makayla said.
“She didn’t say anything about that to me, either,” I agreed.
“I know,” he said.
“Do they know for sure?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “But Officer M sure seems to think there’s some external sinister source that caused the time bubble.”
“How does this connect to Raven?” I asked, getting impatient.
“It’s her magic,” he said. “Ever since she got rid of the time bubble, her magic has been weak. She’s barely keeping up with her spells and there’s no way she could do a spell like that again.”
“Doesn’t your magic recharge?” Makayla asked.
“Yeah, it’s supposed to at least,” he said.
“How?” I knew people like Luka needed sex. I had no idea what a mage needed.
“That’s the thing, it should just happen with rest and time,” he said. “But it’s been a few weeks and it’s still weak. I’m worried that if there is a thief and she needs to defend herself…”
“She has three boyfriends who swarm around her, I’m sure she’ll have help,” Makayla said.
“Like she’d let us fight for her,” Matt said. “You know her. She’d charge in and put herself in danger.”
“That’s true,” Makayla agreed.
“I don’t understand w
hat you’re asking,” I said, knowing this was going somewhere.
“Look, I don’t like it either, but Professor Halifax mentioned that Raven might get stronger with each mating bond she forms. And there’s a bond she hasn’t fulfilled yet.”
“You can’t be serious,” I said.
“Are you pimping out your brother?” Makayla asked.
“I’m just saying that maybe you two could encourage her to think about it,” Matt said.
“You want us to tell her to have sex with Zach?” I asked. “Cause that is never going to happen.”
“You think I want to share her with anyone else?” he asked.
I growled and he took as step back.
“Listen, Zach has no idea I’m here. He flirts with her, but he’d never make a move unless he thought she wanted him to. All I’m saying is that maybe we can encourage them to be alone together.”
“I still can’t believe you’re trying to get us to help your brother get laid,” Makayla said.
“If it recharges her magic enough, it’s worth it,” Matt said. “A mage with low magic isn’t going to be able to defend herself properly. She’s getting by okay and it’s possible it’ll return to full strength in a few days, but if she has the potential to be stronger, why wouldn’t she take it?”
“How come she hasn’t said anything to us?” I asked.
“I don’t think she even notices,” he said. “Magic is still pretty new to her. But I’m telling you, I can feel it. The vibration of her magic was unmatched by anyone’s I’ve ever felt before. Now, it’s a low buzz. Pretty normal for a mage, but Raven’s not normal. And if there’s someone after her again…”
“Tell you what,” I said. “You get them together, I won’t interfere, but I’m not going to help you set it up.”
Without waiting for an answer I walked away. There was no way this day could get any weirder.
19
Ben
I leaned in closer to Raven, placing my lips against her ears. “What if I just lose to you right now?”
She bit down on her lower lip and I could tell she was considering the offer. We were alone in the common room as everyone else was still at dinner. But I knew my window was short. If the others got here, she’d want to join in on the weekly poker game. And while I was getting used to losing to her, I was ready to skip to the good part.
Academy of the Elites: Fated Magic Page 9