“Where is Professor Bellview’s office?”
“Take the stairs up ahead.”
I do as he directs and end up on the second level. Up here, the floors are wood that’s been polished to shine, and there are large vases of cut roses. The flowers are charmed to be everlasting. I can’t decide how I feel about that, though it’s a little unsettling.
Death is a part of life. Flowers should eventually wilt, not stay frozen in time. Yes, someone would have to change them every few days, but then they’d match the season. These roses are going to look out of place come fall.
“Down the hall,” Rowan instructs. “Second door on the left.”
“How do you know that’s still his office?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Choosing not to answer, I make my way to the door. And sure enough, it says “Professor Bellview” on the brass plaque.
Just how old is this man?
All fae live a little longer than humans, on average, but Rowan must have attended the college sixty years ago. It’s amazing the professor hasn’t retired.
I’m about to knock when the door swings open. I take a step back, startled.
The man on the other side appears just as surprised. He’s easily 6’2”, with short white hair and a gangly sort of look about him.
With his long nose, dark eyes, red waistcoat, and gray jacket, he reminds me of a sandhill crane.
“You’re a pixie,” he says, dumbfounded.
“I am. My name is Kit.”
He squints, fumbling for the reading glasses nestled in his hair. “A summer?”
“Correct.”
Once his glasses are in place, he turns his eyes on my owl companion. “Who’s your friend?”
I nod my head toward the bird on my shoulder. “This is Rowan. He used to be one of your students.”
Chapter 13
Class Five Metamorphosis
Professor Bellview blinks at me…and then he blinks at Rowan. “A student? My dear, there are no shifters at Mablemyer.”
“He’s not a shifter—he’s a mage. One of his experiments backfired.”
“Hello, Professor,” my companion says, making the bird-like man jump. “I’m Rowan Neilfellow.”
The name startles me, and I jerk my head toward him. “Neilfellow? Like the mayor’s family?”
Rowan doesn’t answer me because Professor Bellview takes a step closer and peers at him. “Rowan?”
“I was attempting a class five metamorphosis,” Rowan explains. “Unfortunately, I had a faulty anchor.”
The professor looks dumbfounded. He frowns, swallowing as he contemplates Rowan. “A class five metamorphosis is only possible in theory.”
“Apparently not,” Rowan says dryly.
“You actually turned yourself into a bird?”
