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13
Harper
I’m relieved when I see Corbin standing in the group of students in the garden. I wave when I see him and he returns the gesture.
Flutters fill my chest and they’re quickly replaced by tightening tension as I recall my conversation with Damon. I feel even guiltier after what I did with Liam.
Corbin has been the closest thing I’ve had to a boyfriend at this school, though we’d never discussed our relationship. Now, I’m worried that he thought we were exclusive. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I adore Corbin. I might even be in love with him. I do know I don’t want to hurt him.
I look at the rest of the students gathered around and recognize most of them. I’m instantly grateful that none of the usual suspects are here. No Tasha. No Em. No Damon. No Liam.
I guess there wasn’t a lot of interest in magical herbs.
“I was hoping I’d see you here,” Corbin says as I reach him.
“I’m so glad you’re taking this class,” I say. “We didn’t get much time to talk yesterday.”
“You left so quickly with the princess. I was worried.” His brow furrows. “Everything alright?”
Guilt squeezes in tighter. Of course he was worried about me. Why can’t I be normal and just fall for a guy like him? Granted, I’m totally falling for him, but it’s notjusthim.
How do you explain to your maybe-boyfriend that you have two males claiming that they’re your mates?
“I’m okay.” I smile at Corbin and give his hand a quick squeeze.
“Gather round, class,” the teacher calls.
I’m grateful there’s not time to talk right now. I want to talk to him. I want to tell him everything, but this isn’t exactly the place for that.
“Welcome to Magical Herbs. I’m professor Maxim and it’s my job to teach you all about the benefits of plants. I’m sure most of you already have experience using plants in your potions and spells, but have you thought about where those plants come from?” Professor Maxim squints against the bright sun as he looks at all of us.
He’s an older man with white hair and huge ears. His kind face is lined from years of being outdoors and he’s got quite a few spots that tell me he’s not using sun screen.
“Not really, no,” someone says after a long silence.
Professor Maxim smiles. “I thought not. Well, it’s time you learn.” He starts walking and we fall into step behind him.
“Don’t worry, though,” the professor calls as we walk. “It’s not all playing in the dirt. I’ll show you some things you can do with the plants too.”
We walk beyond the gardens that I’ve walked so many times with Corbin and turn toward a huge greenhouse on the side of the school. I’ve noticed it in the distance but never really considered what was in it or why it was there. I suppose it makes sense that the school would grow its own herbs for all the potions we make.
Professor Maxim stops outside the greenhouse. “Whatever you do, don’t touch the thorns on the bleeding thistle. It’s a full moon tonight and you all know what that means.”
He opens the door and steps into the greenhouse, leaving me wondering what the hell a bleeding thistle is and why it matters that it’s a full moon tonight. I turn to Corbin. “What does that mean?”
Corbin shrugs. “No idea.”
I cross through the door and breathe in the sticky, warm air. The scent of flowers and bitter herbs fill my nose. A butterfly flitters past me and I turn to watch its path.
The creature is hot pink, not a color I’ve seen on a butterfly before. It flies near a huge green plant with a giant pod the size of my head. The pod opens, revealing a row of razor sharp points and my eyes widen as I watch the plant snap up the butterfly.
“Come along, class,” Professor Maxim calls.
I shake myself away from the carnivorous plant and notice the rest of the class moved down the path without me. Green leaves and pink flowers line the path and I sidestep them, afraid to touch anything in here.
The professor is explaining something when I reach the rest of the class and I lean in to Corbin. “What did I miss?”
“Basically, all the plants in here can kill you,” he says with a grin.
