by Emma Dean
This had taken a weird turn.
“Why don’t you just stick to Mika?” she snapped.
“Everything okay here?” Professor Bartholomew asked.
Suddenly the sounds of clashing swords came back and Mika blinked, taking another step away from Lucien, even though the memory of his touch was like a brand on her arm.
“Everything’s fine,” Mika said. “Lucien was just showing me how to evade a stronger attacker.”
“Seems like you’re right on track for this class,” Bartholomew agreed. “But you also could do with some extra practice. At this level you should know better than to lock with a stronger opponent.”
Clearly.
Lucien just grinned as the instructor walked away, yelling for everyone to start practicing defensive maneuvers. Looked like they were going to end up going through the basics again.
Was this what university was? A general repeat of everything they’d done in high school? When would they get to the new stuff?
Mika sighed and shook out her arm. Blocking and parrying against Lucien wasn’t going to be fun.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Lucien asked, getting into position.
“That’s really none of your business,” Mika told him, glancing over at Audrey.
Her dorm mate was grinning. That wasn’t a good sign.
“I was just making pleasant conversation.” Lucien attacked faster than her eyes could easily follow.
Mika just barely blocked him in time. Once again he was pressed up against her and they were breathing the same air. Why did she keep making mistakes with this guy?
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Lucien told her. Then he stepped back. “You’re distracted. I was very obvious about my attack. Do better next time.”
She gritted her teeth and gripped her sword hard enough it practically burned. “I’m not distracted.”
Smiling, he watched his sword whip through the air in a fancy little pattern, and then he crouched into position. “So I’m not distracting you with my charm?”
This time when he attacked, Mika was ready. She parried with a complex slither along his sword and managed to disarm him as well. The sword went up into the air and she kicked him—hard.
It wasn’t enough to really do damage since he was so much larger and stronger than her, but it did shove him out of the way. Mika caught his sword before he could and aimed both points at his throat.
“Why would you possibly be distracting me?” she asked.
Lucien grinned, hands up in submission.
Mika couldn’t help the way her lips twitched into a half smile. She tossed his sword back to him and Lucien deftly caught it. “Again.”
9
Audrey sat across from Mika in the library, doing their homework for Intermediate Sumerian. “So, are we going to talk about that hottie in your hunter class?”
“No.” Mika finished translating the spell they’d been given and started making a list of ingredients. If the spell went the way it was supposed to, she’d translated it correctly. If it didn’t…well, let’s just say her Sumerian professor was a ‘sink or swim’ kind of woman.
Thankfully the spell was simple and Audrey promised to help her with it – turn a seed into a fully mature plant. Helping nature along was natural for witches and didn’t take much energy. There was a possibility she might even be able to do it by herself.
Mika was mildly annoyed she had to do magic in a language class. She had been stupidly unprepared. Honestly, she thought she’d be able to get through this whole semester without having to do any actual magic so she would have the time to figure out how to get past her block.
She’d thought that being out of that house and on her own would help. Granted it had only been a few days, but Mika felt like she should have improved more already. Breathing all this fresh, clean, northern air was supposed to help them all focus in a place where the cold grounded them ten months out of twelve.
A five hundred acre island north of New York. It had been wiped from the memories of the humans and hidden for hundreds of years. Hundreds of witches had lived here during the witch hunts – it had been a sanctuary and still was.
Mika could feel it – a calming effect.
“Ignoring me isn’t going to keep me from talking about it. He was seriously into you.”
“I don’t think he was born a hunter,” Mika murmured, writing down the correct pronunciation of the incantation.
Audrey’s eyes widened and she leaned in closer. “What do you think he is? He definitely doesn’t move like a human.”
“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t really matter. I was just making an observation.” Mika looked up and put her pen down, running her finger along the inscription from her father. “Why are we talking about him? I mean the real reason.”
Audrey grinned and snatched Mika’s notes to look them over. “I think you need to loosen up and a cute boy – or girl – could really help you out. You need some serious serotonin, Mika.”
She sighed and tapped her nails on the table. “Maybe, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“Yeah, I know why you’re here – you’re the chick who’s taking eight fucking classes. But it can’t be all work and no play Mika. That’s how we lose our sanity.”
“I’m trying to graduate on time.”
Audrey set the paper down on the table and gave her a look. “I call bullshit. Your classes are too varied. Sure, it doesn’t matter with an undeclared specialty. But I think you’re trying to find something you’re good at. And the annoying thing is – you’re good at everything but actual magic.”
They both looked down at the spell, knowing she might not be able to do it even if she’d translated it perfectly.
“You need to get rid of that block and if screwing the brains out of a hot guy helps, then do it.” Audrey shrugged and pushed the paper back to Mika.
Mika snorted as she studied her spell one last time. “Everyone here is hot.”
“Seriously!” Audrey sat back and looked around at the other students studying. “I thought I was the only one who’d noticed.”
Someone sat down right next to Mika – as if there weren’t a thousand other seats available in a library so large it had five stories, three aboveground and two below. The library took up almost the entire east wing. No doubt there was at least one seat available that wasn’t right next to her.
Mika looked up, eyebrow raised.
Ethan was leaning against the table with his head propped up on his hand, staring at her.
“Really?” she asked.
“You never said anything about my drawing. I was wondering if you’d even gotten it.” Ethan didn’t smile but his eyes twinkled. “And I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to know what you thought.”
Mika gritted her teeth and tried not to think of the paper tucked into her coat pocket. “Your still life is excellent, though I do have a critique.” She grabbed her notes and books, shoving them into her bag.
“Really, what is it?” he was almost smiling now.
“Maybe next time stick to the plants. Practice your human anatomy before drawing a portrait.” Mika stood and jerked her head at Audrey.
Her dorm mate was too busy watching with wide eyes and grinning like an idiot. But she scrambled to get her stuff together when Mika got up and started walking toward the closest exit.
Why were all these fucking boys practically begging for her attention? Did she have to wear a damn sign that said ‘unavailable?’
“Excellent constructive criticism,” Ethan called after her, earning a few glares from the other students. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow!”
Mika didn’t dare speed up, but she didn’t dawdle either. “Let’s go see if that spell works,” she muttered to Audrey. “I have enough homework to drown a horse and I can’t seem to get a moment’s peace.”
They practically burst out of the library. The second they were in the spacious hall with floor to ceiling windows looking out over the win
try landscape, Audrey was laughing so hard the sound echoed.
“It’s not funny.” Mika crossed her arms over her chest.
“You should make a game out of this,” Audrey said between giggles. “Seriously, make them compete against each other or something. Because sweet thing, you’re on everyone’s radar.”
“Why?” Mika demanded. “I have done everything I can to make it clear I’m not interested.”
Audrey stopped laughing as they walked through the halls to the dormitories. The silence wasn’t heavy or difficult to bear, but Mika was curious what the other witch was thinking. Ever since she’d gotten here Audrey had pushed her and pushed her to leave her comfort bubble.
Part of her was grateful, and part of her just wanted to ask Audrey to let it go. She didn’t want to be anyone’s project.
“So I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve come to two conclusions,” Audrey said, holding the door open for her. Freezing cold air blasted them and Mika buttoned up her coat as they headed across the quad to the dorms.
“What have you come up with?” Mika asked, slipping on her gloves and shoving her hands into her pockets. This was bound to be an interesting theory.
“Either you don’t realize how gorgeous you are – how enigmatic you can be to the point that everyone just gravitates toward you. Or you’re doing all this on purpose to fuck with people.”
She glanced sideways at Audrey and glared. “Really? I’m either stupid or bitchy?”
Audrey laughed and linked her arm through Mika’s as they slushed through the snow. “I mean when you boil it down to the basics, I guess. But honestly if I thought I could sway you to my team, I’d be trying just as hard as these boys.”
That made Mika blush but she slogged on, eyeing their dorm near the tree line. “I don’t have the time or energy to be in a relationship and care about someone the way they deserve to be cared about. If you could tell me what exactly I’m doing to encourage people, then I’ll stop.”
Snow started falling from the sky and they picked up their pace. The sun was going to set soon and it was already freezing.
“It’s not anything you’re doing,” Audrey told her. “You’re just…fascinating. Most people are easy to read, and two seconds after talking to them you see they’re not really that deep. But you—it’s like we’re all sucked in by the layers in your eyes and then you open your mouth and it’s over. Just seeing you take the classes you do piques everyone’s curiosity. Do you know how many people I’ve had asking me about you and if you’re really this broody all the time?”
Audrey laughed again like this was all hilarious and started running as the snow fell faster. Mika kept up as best she could, but the snow on the ground was deep.
“I’m not broody,” Mika protested, pushing open the heavy wooden door to their dorms.
It was gloriously warm and the common room had three fires going. Other students looked up briefly and then went back to studying when they’d satisfied their curiosity.
She still had so much homework to do, but Mika needed a hot chocolate and a scone if she was going to be able to concentrate on the interdimensional physics equations that were due the next day.
“You’re extremely broody, but that’s just part of your charm.” Audrey set down her bag on one of the empty tables near a fire and started taking off her coat, scarf, and gloves. “Do you want snacks?”
Mika did the same and hung up her stuff on the coat tree. “Definitely. I was just thinking I needed hot chocolate.”
Audrey grinned. “With brandy. That’s my favorite drink.”
“No brandy.” Mika pulled out her books and sighed. Maybe eight classes were too many.
“Yes, brandy.” Audrey disappeared through the door in the back of the common room to the massive kitchen decorated in silver and black that was available to their entire building. Mika could hear her in there clanging pots and pans.
She wouldn’t ask. Mika would just drink whatever Audrey put in front of her.
Sitting down at the desk she pulled out the seed her Sumerian professor had given each of them. It was a moonflower seed if she was right – related to the morning glory, but extremely common in a witch’s moon garden.
It was toxic if ingested, but otherwise it wasn’t harmful.
Getting this to bloom wouldn’t be easy, but it was nearly nightfall. That would make it easier. Forcing night-blooming plants to flower during the day was unnecessarily difficult when she could just wait a few hours.
So Mika set that aside to do last and pulled out her Advanced Latin. It would be relatively easy considering it was practically her first language. She’d agreed to tutor Audrey though. For someone who had started their witch studies late in life, the girl was extremely adept.
Audrey had learned languages on the internet while in the psych ward, and studied what she could. Some spells worked and some didn’t, but whatever she’d learned since turning eighteen – she’d absorbed it like it was all second nature.
It was really impressive for a witch born into a human family.
“Hot chocolate for my grumpy hottie,” Audrey said, setting down a cup with whipped cream on top. “Now, how much homework do you have?”
“Thank you.” Mika took a sip and decided not to say anything about the extra kick of alcohol. It did make it taste really good. “Poisons and Swordsmanship don’t have any homework. I finished Latin, Runes, and Shifter Studies. So growing this moonflower, interdimensional physics equations, and then a paper for History of Magic. But I’m ready to help you with Latin first.”
“Damn girl, you are way more on top of your homework than I am.” Audrey pulled out her Latin and Beginning of Magic books. “I appreciate all your help by the way – with the battle magic and these harder classes.”
Mika shrugged. “My high school was solely for paranormals. I have a bit of a head start. And I don’t mind helping you. You deserve it.”
They both sipped on the hot chocolate and Audrey grinned, pushing the plate of scones toward her. “You know it’s not all homework and classes here right?”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “We have to make this moonflower bloom once the sun completely sets.”
“Yes, I know. But I was invited to a party Friday night. You should come.”
Mika tapped her nails on the walnut table and tried not to feel annoyed. “Tryouts are on Saturday.”
Audrey’s grin widened. “We should go to this hunter party over at Wolfsbane House.”
“I thought you wanted to make the team,” Mika snapped, setting her mug down harder than necessary.
“Oh, I’m going to make the team,” Audrey said with a smirk. “But I think we should celebrate your first week. We’ll be home before the sun rises – I promise.”
Mika didn’t want to go. She thought this was a terrible idea and definitely not the way to stay off everyone’s radar. Not to mention there would probably be dancing and drinking and Fates knew what else – magic probably, knowing how witches liked to show off for the hunters.
“Please Mika?” Audrey asked. “I won’t bother you about boys again as long as you do fun things with me. You need to get out of your head.”
She sipped the spiked drink and considered Audrey’s request. Doing it her way certainly hadn’t helped remove her block. Maybe the other witch was right and just letting go would help. “Fine, I’ll go to this party, but if you don’t make the team I don’t have to go to another party the entire semester.”
“Oh, you drive a hard bargain.” But Audrey’s eyes were twinkling. “You’ve got a deal, babe.”
Audrey stuck her hand out so they could shake on it. Mika hesitated. But she took a deep breath and shook the other witch’s hand once. “Now, let’s translate this set of spells.”
10
“Now that we’ve covered most of the average poisonous plants and flowers, we’re going to move onto the ones that are a bit rarer,” Professor Hayes was saying.
But Mika wasn’t
paying attention. She’d learned all this before she was ten. There were other plants on the syllabus that she was more interested in – the deadliest human plants, witch plants that didn’t exist in the human world, and the hybrids.
Everything up to midterms she could do in her sleep.
“Why are you even taking this class?” Ethan asked under his breath.
Mika didn’t bother to reply. She just stared at the plants in the greenhouse with her chin propped up on her hand. Maybe she should have taken more herbology classes. The greenhouse was by far her favorite place and it calmed her in ways she didn’t understand.
She and Audrey had gotten up early to train some more in the battle magic, and then the rules of the dodgeball itself. It was both complex, and yet not. Mika sighed and wished she hadn’t had to drop out of the team back in high school – but after what had happened it was the best thing for her to do.
For everyone’s sake.
“You’re what, a freshman?” Ethan asked. “You must be some kind of genius. This is a notoriously hard class to get into.”
She ignored him. After the library incident the day before Mika had decided she needed to be more obvious with her lack of interest – maybe these university boys really were that dense and needed some help getting a clue.
“But from what I can tell you could test out of this class if you wanted to as well. A deadly witch is difficult to resist – something about a woman who could kill me is so sexy.”
Finally she looked away from the Nepenthes attenboroughii – the Attenborough's pitcher plant that was one of the rarest carnivorous plants on earth – and turned her gaze to Ethan.
Mika studied him like she would a particularly difficult interdimensional physics problem.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t attractive. Ethan had this whole tall as a tree, super muscular ‘I built my own tiny home’ hipster thing going on that made her knees weak – it was part of the reason she avoided looking at him whenever possible. But they had an entire semester of this class together as lab partners.
