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Chapter One
Like everyone my age, I spent my eleventh birthday hoping for a welcome letter delivered by owl. Even as a witch, it was disappointing when it didn't come. Of course, that's because witches and warlocks don't go to magic school...they go to university instead. And we get accepted just like humans do: with an email.
Reading the line in front of me for what feels like the thousandth time, I sigh in frustration. It doesn't make sense. At all. Not for the first time, I find myself wondering why I'm here.
"Mona?"
"Hmm?" I respond, not looking up as Daphne walks into the room. I may only have known her since term started, but we'd bonded straight away. I've never clicked with a friend quite as quickly as I did with her.
"Dinner's nearly ready if you want to go."
I shrug but don't look away from my spellbook. "I need to work out this spell."
Daphne sighs. "If you haven't worked it out already, you're not going to in the next hour. Come get something to eat and look at it with fresh eyes after. You know it'll be better for it."
I know she's right, but something in me doesn't want to admit it out loud. Maybe because I doubt even food and a break will make this spell any easier for me. It doesn't make any sense. I've been able to do magic since I was four years old and my parents gave me my first child-wand. Yet here I am at an academy for magic and can't seem to make anything work for me.
"They have tacos."
Oh damn. She knows my weaknesses just as well as I do. And she's not afraid to use them.
"Fine. But if I find out you lied about the tasty Mexican food, I'll..."
She laughs off my threat before I can even finish it. "Put an enchantment on me?" she suggests, waggling her eyebrows.
"Are you mocking me?" I fake gasp, clutching my hand to my chest. How dare she fake-use my problems against me. It's like she knows the exact way my brain works.
"Only a little. But I'm not lying about the tacos. There are all the toppings you can dream of."
"I'll take you at your word. Let me grab my coat." I get up and slip on my shoes just as my stomach begins to rumble. Okay, I probably do need something to eat then. Going with her is going to be the right decision.
"Have you heard about the new guy?" she asks as we walk down the corridor and away from my dorm room.
"No." But then, how would I? She's the only friend I have and everyone else stays as far away from me as possible so they don't catch my magic-less state. I might as well have a sign on my forehead about it, considering how quickly everyone seems to have picked up on my status.
"He's supposed to be the hottest guy you've ever seen..."
"And that's all we know about him?" The amusement in my tone betrays my true feelings. If we don't like being objectified by men, then we shouldn't be doing the same to them.
"Apparently. I haven't seen him yet but he's joining class this month."
"Aren't three hot guys enough for you?" I tease her, forgetting for a moment that Heath still refuses to talk to her.
She laughs bitterly. "More like far too much."
I let the conversation drop. In the few weeks since Heath broke her heart, she's finally started to mend and I don't want to mess with that.
"Right, dinner?" I ask.
She nods. "Time to de-stress and stop thinking about magic for a couple of hours."
"Whoa… a couple of hours? How long does it take you to eat tacos?"
"I heard the new guy is having a party..."
"I don't think that's a good idea." My lack of magic hasn't exactly made me popular, and I don't want to push that by showing up to a party I don't have an invite to.
Our conversation is ended by the two of us entering the dining room. Sure to her promise, the smell of Mexican food fills the room.
"Seems you're avoiding being cursed," I say.
"I'm glad for it. You'd probably only end up cursing yourself instead."
I scowl. Even though I know she's right, I don't like being reminded of it. Something is wrong with my magic and I don't know what it is. I need to find out before exams start though.
We get in line, loading up our plates with the delicious looking food. It seems that everyone else is thinking the same, as the queue only seem to grow behind us.
Cade waves at us from a table at the other side of the room. At least we'll have somewhere to sit in the packed cafeteria. Normally, I go down to the shared kitchen and make myself some basic food. It's cheaper and quieter than this place. But tacos are special. They deserve a trip into the belly of student life.
Relief floods through me as I notice Ryan's absence. Knowing my luck, I'd manage to spill taco sauce on myself and he'll never look at me with anything less than disgust ever again.
"How's it going?" Cade asks as Daphne sits next to him. He looks like he wants to put an arm around her shoulder, but doesn't. They're still in an odd place after he told her he likes her.
Even so, a pang of jealousy goes through me at the sight. Not because I want Cade. I just want something like that.
"I persuaded Mona to come to the party..."
"She didn't," I respond instantly. "I'm going back to my room to study."
"You need to come have fun, Mona." Cade flashes me a smile. "It's good to let loose sometimes."
"No thanks."
"Please come to the party?" A pleading look fills her eyes.
"Fine. I'll go, but if I end up with a hangover tomorrow, it
's completely on you."
"I promise you won't end up hungover," Cade promises.
"I hope you're not making promises you can't keep," a new voice interrupts.
My heart skips a beat.
