“Suites? They have suites? Ooh, I want one of those instead.”
“Suites are designed to accommodate four to six students.”
“Perfect. I’ll have plenty of room to spread out.” I lean back against the sun-warmed sandstone again and offer a shrug. “Since you refused to let me go back to Tres Búhos, I’ll also need new rock-climbing gear. Shoes, harness, chalk bag, ropes—”
“Miss Milan, you can’t possibly expect—”
“Cams, carabiners, hexes, guidebooks to the local routes, a crash pad for bouldering—”
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit… ridiculous?”
“It’s an intense sport, Dr. Devane, and safety is a priority. The Academy has a duty to protect me. Isn’t that what you said?”
Devane opens his mouth, then closes it, sighing loudly through his nose. He’s caving, I can feel it. Supremely annoyed at me, but caving.
But just in case he needs a little more incentive to agree to my demands, I add, “That’sifI decide to enroll. It’s a lot of pressure, Doc. I’ve taken exactly three college classes, and none of them were magickal. I’m not sure I’m cut out for campus life.”
“Really? Which classes?”
“Physics, business accounting, and art history.”
“What was your major?”
“I… I didn’t get that far. I was supposed to go to school in California, but after my parents passed away, I had to reprioritize the finances. So I ended up taking a few classes at San Clarita Community, but I couldn’t make the payments. I had to stop after the first semester.”
He watches a moment longer, but it’s not pity I see in his eyes, thankfully. It’s understanding. Sometimes there’s a subtle difference, but right now, I’m glad Dr. Devane seems to know the difference.
“It’s going to take some string-pulling,” he says, exasperated, but I’ll arrange it with the headmistress. You’ll have your suite and your clothes and your rock-climbing equipment.” Then, with a brief smile I was beginning to fear I’d never see again, “Is there anything else you require, your highness?”
“Actually, yes.” I take a deep breath, trying to find the words to ask. I don’t know why this, after all my comparatively ridiculous demands, makes me shy and uncomfortable, but I just can’t bare the thought of him saying no. Tea was always my parents’ thing. With our shared connection to magick basically severed, our love of tea was the one thing that bonded us more than anything else.
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I say, “I’d appreciate a few supplies for making tea. A glass kettle, mesh strainers, a few herbs and spices, and just a couple of basic loose teas. Black, green… I can work with anything, really.”
“Of course,” he says without hesitation. “It’s important to us that you feel at home on campus.”
My sigh of relief quickly turns into a laugh. “See, you act all tough and rule-followy, but deep down, you’re a big softy, Doc.”
I stretch up on my toes, press a kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you,” I whisper, placing my hand against his chest.
He wraps a hand around my wrist, his thumb stroking my skin. Warmth emanates through his shirt and tie, his heart hammering against my palm, his eyes so sultry and inviting it’s all I can do not to stretch up and kiss him again. On the mouth...
“Miss Milan, about this…” He clears his throat, awkwardly taking a step back and breaking our connection. “Once we arrive on campus, well need to be more… appropriate.”
“Appropriate?”
“You’ll call me Dr. Devane, or professor if you’d like, but not Doc. And I’ll call you Miss Milan, or whichever name you prefer. We can’t…” He gestures between us, the space now feeling like a gulf. “We can’t touch. We can’t be overly friendly inanyway.”
“Okay, well,ouch.” I lower my eyes, my cheeks burning with shame. He should’ve kicked me in the ribs. It would’ve hurt less. “But if that’s the way you want it—”
“It’s not the way Iwantit, Miss Milan.” He slips a finger beneath my chin, tilting my face up toward his. “There’s something… quite compelling…” But then he blinks and shakes his head, as if I’ve cast some ridiculous spell on him, and steps back once again. “It’s the way it has to be. You’ll be the subject of enough fascination and idle gossip, and I’ll be one of your professors. I can’t give the impression of preferential treatment. I must maintain clear boundaries, and I expect you to do the same.”
I wave away his words as if it’s all just fine and dandy, as if I totally understand. And I do, logically. But I can’t say it doesn’t suck.
For a minute there, Dr. Devane was almost starting to feel like a friend. Like a super-hot, older man friend who might want a little something more…
“Okay,” I say, forcing a smile and shoring up my strength. “Well, no point standing around talking. Let’s get this prophecy party started.”
