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Ella practically glowed. “Fantastic. No complaints at all. How was yours?”

“We just talked all night and time got away from us. We’re just friends.” Lies Mira kept telling herself.

Her friend’s grin faltered. “Oh, I see.”

Mira felt terrible. Tell her the truth! But what was the truth when it came to her complicated relationship with the murderous Wielder?

She cleared her throat. “What is Oliver doing up so early?”

“Council duty. Apprentice always gets the early shifts. It’s only twice a week.”

They both stood there, in the cold morning breeze, not knowing what to say next.

“Are we okay?” Ella asked, and the question cut through Mira’s heart.

“Yes, of course.”

“It’s just…you’re one of the most important people in my life and I feel like I’m losing you and I can’t stop it. All I want is for you to be happy. I just don’t seem to understand what that is for you anymore.”

Mira fought tears. Talking about her strange relationship with Dawson felt unnatural. Not just to Ella. To anyone. But she tried. “What Oliver told you about Dawson, it’s not all true. He is not dangerous. At least not to me.”

“That’s very good to know. I knew I was right.” The twinkle in Ella’s eyes reappeared. “I’m always here for you.”

Mira fell into her arms.

“Sorry I am still a mess,” she whispered against her friend’s shoulder. Ella had always been an excellent hugger.

“You’re not. And please tell me when my ideas are shit because I know they often are.”

They both chuckled.

“I shouldn’t have set you up with Sebastian.”

“No, no. He is lovely. He’s just…not what I need right now.” That was the best way of putting it.

Ella looked at her like she was about to ask, And Aidric Dawson is? But she didn’t, and Mira was thankful because she truly wouldn’t even know what to say. He was just…the only person who understood the darkness within her, even when she didn’t.

—

Mira skipped classes for the rest of the day, nurturing her hangover in her room and avoiding Dawson. Preferably for a while. She wanted to pretend last night hadn’t happened. But moments from the library replayed in her mind on a loop. How his hot kisses had seared through her. What he had done to her in the dark. What she had let him do. Her heart hammered in her chest at the thought.

It was just a momentary lapse in judgment. Or maybe it was something they both had to get out of their systems. Regardless, it was a one-time occurrence and wouldn’t happen again.

She connected with her Caster magic, and white lights danced along her fingers. It felt so different from her Dark Magic. White Magic was calming. Gentle. A deep inhale. A soft breeze. With a few spells she eased her headache, but she couldn’t make the images in her mind go away. When she closed her eyes, she could still feel Dawson’s lips on her neck. As if he had claimed her. Made her his.

A scroll landed on her table.

Please come see me in my office.

—Highmage Obryn

Mira climbed out of bed, got dressed, and dragged herself to Obryn’s office. Luckily, Dawson wasn’t present.

“I looked into your results from your scar,” Obryn said while correcting papers.

She froze. People usually used this tone right before telling her there was nothing to be done.

“When you first came to me with this, I thought it was an ambitious task…” He trailed off and pursed his lips. “I’ve never seen magic residue attach itself like that to someone’s powers. At present, I don’t know of a way to separate it from your own magic.”