Page 94 of Trivium

Serena shot Ren a death glare. Her hand flew to her throat; she realized she was under the influence of a potion. “The game is over.”

“We didn’t even get a turn,” Rory said, frowning. “And who is Park?”

Serena stood and placed both hands on the table. “Park was Lennox’s roommate, until he disappeared.”

Loveleena’s heart sank. Lennox’s roommate? She immediately looked to Lennox, who casually leaned back in his chair, tossing his dagger. “Wow, we really spilled all the lore tonight, didn’t we? Great job, Sis,” he said sarcastically.

“Come on, Ren,” Serena said, fuming. “I need someone to beat the shit out of.”

Ren leaned in close to her ear as he stood. “Next time you try to poison me with a truth potion, make sure I actually drink it.” He turned to follow Serena. “Oh, and Alva, Ori, you’re to report to the headmaster tomorrow at midday sharp.”

Loveleena felt Ahmina's concerned glance, but she could only think about one thing: the truth potion had failed.

63

AHMINA

Ahmina watched Loveleena for the entire hour of Combat, debating whether or not to tell her she had magic.

She was itching to tell someone, and opening up to Lennox felt too risky. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him—she did. It’s that she was trying to keep him at a distance. They were walking a very thin line after what happened at the Slayer party, and she knew if she told him about her suspicions, the vulnerability and trust of it all would push them into each other’s arms. She couldn’t let it happen. There was one last opportunity to show she belonged here at the Academy, and she couldn’t ruin it.

Lennox was on track to become one of the best Defenders the Academy had seen, and that meant his allegiance was to the Academy.

No matter how they felt about each other, magic threatened that.

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Rory either; it would put both of their futures at risk. Rory worked just as hard as Ahmina did to be there. She couldn’t stand the thought of Rory losing it all because of her. But Loveleena…

Loveleena was the only person that seemed to be loyal to no one but herself. And the only one who seemed to be immune to failure. No one at the Academy treated her like a noble. It’s not like she got special treatment or anything. But somehow, Loveleena seemed to come out of every challenge and conflict on top.

Ahmina was sure she would be expelled today. That was the only reason she could imagine for being called to the headmaster’s office. If there was a way she could use her magic to change that, she had to take the chance. If there was anyone who she could trust to help her, it was the only person she’d ever heard discuss creature-human telepathy.

The only person who even dared bring up the topic of human magic.

It wasn’t until they wrapped class and Loveleena put away her sparring stick that Ahmina had the guts to approach her.

“Do you want to walk to Adeyemi’s office together?”

“Sure,” Loveleena muttered, using a towel to wipe the sweat off her brow. “What do you think it’s about?”

Ahmina waited until they were out of ear shot to answer. “I think I’m getting expelled. But I don’t know why you’d be called in as well.”

“They won’t expel me.”

“Must be nice to be so confident.”

Loveleena glanced at her as they entered the main castle. “Actually, there is one thing they could expel me for, so maybe they are tossing both of us out.”

Ahmina’s heart rate picked up. Without a doubt, they were about to get expelled. If Loveleena had a reason too…

“The other day when you asked me about the Soul Snatcher,” Ahmina started, hoping Loveleena would open up. “Did you ever figure it out?”

“Not really,” she grumbled. “Hey, listen—since we’re about to be thrown out of this hellscape together, can I come clean about something?”

“Of course.”

“That truth potion you gave me—you drank it during coins. I tried to warn you but… Lennox did too. Everyone did, except for me and Ren.”

Ahmina opened her mouth to argue that she hadn’t given Loveleena a truth potion. She was just now getting her basic potions down; it would be impossible for her to create one of that calibre. Thankfully she realized quickly enough that Zeina must have made the potion. How many times had Zeina pretended to be her? She pushed the thought aside. Their position at the Academy was hanging by a thread, she reminded herself, and her stomach did a flip.