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He laughs. “Why don’t you grab a table, and I’ll bring these over.”
“All right.” I’m just glad to be able to move again. Anything to get rid of pent-up anxious energy.
On the way to a free table at the back of the café, I consider turning and running out the door. But it seems as though this Aura Academy is pretty resilient. Like, wherever I go, smiling Cooper will be there to chase me down with his super speed. Maybe auras have superpowers. I don’t know much about them except that they’re some sort of human–demon hybrid—what the world would call supernatural or paranormal.
Which meansI’msupernatural.I might have powers.
I’m a little woozy as I take my seat.
Well, at least I’m getting a free mocha.Swings and roundabouts,as my mum would say.
And I suppose Cooper is pretty easy on the eye.
He returns a few moments later with the drinks. His is an Americano, which makes me feel like a sugar addict.
“I know today has been pretty overwhelming,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “That’s the understatement of the year.”
“It’s not going to get any better or easier, either.”
A shiver runs down my spine. “What do you mean?”
“Okay, so there’s a lot to learn about our kind, and I get the impression you don’t know anything. So I’ll start with the structure.” He sips his coffee and winces. “Wow, that’s hot. And I’m a fire elemental.” He laughs.
“What’s a fire elemental?”
He lifts a finger, excited. “Exactly! So,aurais the broad term for anyone with a magical ability.”
“Human–demon hybrids.” At least I’m not totally clueless.
He nods. “Exactly. And as you probably know, most auras go on to train as Guardians to protect the human world from pure demons. We call them Reavers.”
I’d forgotten, actually, but this does sound familiar. “Yeah, I think we learned that bit in primary school.”
“Great!” Cooper says, his eyes brightening with enthusiasm. “So there are five aura circles and five royal families. One from each circle. They make up the aura council that votes on issues for us as a whole. The academy is the place where called auras train to become a Guardian.”
I place a finger next to my right temple and massage it. “Whoa, hold on. What’s a circle?”
“Basically, a faction. Like the circle of elementals contains all the elemental witches. I’m a fire elemental, which means I’m part of that circle.” He pauses. “You’re probably a necromancer, so you’re part ofthatcircle.”
“What are the others?” I tap my fingernail against the mug, wishing none of this was true. Anecromancer. The word makes my stomach roil.
He ticks them off. “Witches, werewolves, and empaths.”
I lean against my chair, trying to take it all in.
Cooper sips his coffee again. “The most important part of all this? You need to be around other auras. One of the reasons you woke up puking everywhere is because you need to build a connection with us. That’s one of the reasons the academy exists. It helps you bond with other auras.”
“But I don’t want to be an aura.” I shake my head. “And I definitely don’t want to be a Guardian.”
He smiles, and it looks sad. “It’s your destiny, Kira.”
My eyes fill with tears that I angrily blink away. “Last night was the most fun night out I’ve ever had with my bestie, and I woke up this morning to be told I can’t live in her world anymore.” But that’s not all, I realise. “So, I can’t go to university and study what I want? I can’t be a writer?” My voice is rising. “I’ve never thrown a punch in my life, and now I’m supposed to huntdemons?”
“I know it isn’t fair. But the sooner you come to terms with it, the easier it is for you.”
“What happens if I reject it? What if I stay here and go to my regular school?”
