I take a deep breath. If all the crazy visions I’ve experienced over the last few days have taught me anything, it’s that here at Arcana Academy, nothing is what it seems, everything is a fucking mystery, and I don’t know jack shit.
So until I know at least a littlemoreshit, I’m willing to give the mages the benefit of the doubt—for now.
Beaming up at him from my bed, I wave him in, grateful that Isla made me take a shower this morning and helped me braid my hair.
He sits down in the chair next to my bed and hands me a latte, which I greedily sip.
“This is the first time I’ve felt human in days,” I tell him, practically moaning into my cup.
“You look good,” he says. “I mean, not that you ever look bad, but… you know. Your color is back now.”
He sips his own coffee, dodging my gaze, his cheeks darkening. When he meets my eyes again, I feel a little jolt, straight to the heart.
Ridiculous.
“So I’m supposed to tell you that Baz sends his regards.”
“Um… okay? Send mine back?” I’m not sure if Baz was here during my three-day, snake-bite acid trip, but I haven’t had an actual conversation with the man since we made out at the rocks.
Since we almost…
I close my eyes, sigh through my nose. Whatever Baz said about things being continued? Pointless. I’m sure he’s come to the same conclusion I have: that was a bad idea, probably best left buried.
A new thought enters my mind, making my heart skip.
Did Baz tell Kirin what happened between us?
“Stevie? You okay?”
I open my eyes, force a smile. “Right as a rockslide.”
“I’m not sure what that means, but as long as you’re not slipping into a coma…”
“No, nothing like that.” I take another sip of latte, watching him over the top of the cup. When our eyes meet again, I feel the hot pinpricks of guilt racing up my spine.
Which is ridiculous, because it’s not like I betrayed him. He may be my oldest friend here, but we aren’t together—not like that. We still hardly know each other.
Why am I so tangled up about this? Am I crushing on him? On Baz?
Onbothof them?
All I know is that when Baz kissed me, my heart felt like it was going to explode. And now, when Kirin looks at me with the sunset-behind-the-saguaros eyes I’ve loved for so long, I feel that same rapid-fire burst in my chest.
Sipping the drink, I let the honey-cinnamon sweetness wash over my tongue. I’m being crazy. There’s no way I could be crushing on both of them—not seriously. It’s just this place. The stress of all the new experiences, the expectations with translating Mom’s prophecies, the insane shit that’s been happening.
Hell of a first week.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Kirin says, blowing out a breath. “We were all really worried. When Cass and I saw you on the ground like that, I just…” He closes his eyes for so long I start to worryhe’sfalling into a coma.
I reach out and grab his hand, give him a reassuring squeeze. “But you guys got there in time, and now I’m all good. Crazy trip, but I think the worst of it is over.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“I assume Dr. Devane filled you in?”
“On all the fire and brimstone?” Kirin tries to laugh, but it sputters out halfway. “Yeah, he did.”
“Any idea what the hell’s happening in this crazy mind of mine?”
