He lowers his head and claims my mouth with a heated passion that floods my entire body. All I can do is cling to him and kiss him back.
The light he talked about inside me flickers brighter again.
Maybe I didn’t handle Cole’s glim perfectly. I did the best I knew how with the understanding I had, with the dynamic he’d set up between us and the dangers we’re facing.
I’m allowed to stumble here and there. It’s not as if my matches never have.
How could I not, when there are no guidelines for this crazy situation I’ve found myself in?
I’ve survived, and carved a path, and uncovered so much about my enemies. I can’t cower away just because Cole pitched a fit at me.
When Salvatore breaks the kiss, I hug him hard, pressing my face against his chest. “Thank you. I needed that.”
“Any time, a shíorghrá. Keep your head high.”
I dash through the halls back to the Defensive Magic classroom, grateful that the mirror compact I imbued for our project in hidden defenses was in my satchel the whole time. I slide into my seat between Cadance and Madison just as Professor Jovak ambles in.
“Quite a detour,” Cadance says with a teasing arch of her eyebrows, but all my attention narrows onto our professor.
Who apparently hates my guts.
The gnome-like man beams at all of us in his usual cheerful way. I can’t see any of the hostility Cole sensed, even when his gaze passes over me.
But clearly Jovak is good at hiding his true feelings. Anunsurprising skill, given the subject he teaches. He lets his innocent appearance lull everyone into a false sense of security.
If Cole could provoke a reaction with just a mention of me, how much might I be able to find out by putting myself right in front of him? He’ll have his defenses up, but if I come up with an excuse for an extended conversation, I’m sure I can poke a few holes in them…
While a few of my classmates give their presentations, my mind spins through the possibilities. When the class-ending chime sounds, I walk up to the professor’s desk rather than heading out with my friends.
I push my mouth into an ingratiating smile. “Professor Jovak. I’ve been appreciating the extra help in the intensive combat program so much, but after everything… I feel like I could use some extra advice for everyday situations. Do you have office hours today?”
The ephemera I can read around the man is nothing but placid—the flat, glossy impression I recognize from when the other Cole and I practiced shielding.
“I’m sorry, Miss Devine,” Jovak says in a kindly tone that grates at my nerves with what I now know. “I have an appointment immediately after school. Perhaps we can arrange something later this week?”
A faint wobble slips through his energy when he mentions the appointment. A trace of… agitation? He’s nervous about it?
That’s more useful than a tutoring session.
“I’ll check what would be the best day,” I reply, holding my smile in place. “Thanks so much!”
As I walk out of the room, I take a slow breath. I’m not going to rush in or throw caution to the wind.
I probably shouldn’t do anything risky alone right now. Going in without backup would be stupid, not strong.
And lucky me, I have four matches—well, maybe justthree at the moment—who are determined to solve this mystery too.
My thoughts turn to Salvatore first, but his skills aren’t really suited for subtlety. I don’t want to barge in on whatever we’re going to discover and blow our cover.
Cole’s obviously out of the question. Byron might balk at helping me head into potential danger, and I don’t want to waste time convincing him.
But there is one of my matches I’ve unfairly shut out before. Whose skills are perfectly suited to keeping us safe if the situation goes sideways.
Who I’d like to get to know better as he is here, with all the life I didn’t steal from him this time.
Asher sits across the room from me in our next class, but the distance doesn’t matter. When he takes out his notebook, I will a little ephemera into a temporary scrawl across the page.
Meet me by Defensive Magic after last class. Stay concealed.
