Page 56 of Gift from the Tree

“I dried myself and my hair with my air element this morning,” I tell Gaster with a huge grin once I focus back on him.

“That’s wonderful, Willow. Your control is growing exponentially. I’m so proud of you. Now you won’t have to ask Corentin for help with your hair.”

I snicker as Gaster throws me a wink. He’s obviously in a teasing mood today as well.

“You were going to ask for my help with your hair?” Corentin asks suspiciously.

“Gaster suggested I do so. I was pretty upset about not having a blow-dryer,” I tell him, hiding my smile at his confused look behind my coffee cup.

“A blow-dryer is a nonmagical contraption that dries the water out of her hair after she showers. She was quite upset the week she stayed with me and couldn’t do anything with her hair,” Gaster informs Corentin and the rest of the table. Both me and Draken laugh, while Corentin and Tillman look utterly muddled.

“Do you need one of those?” Corentin asks seriously.

“No, I believe I’ve figured it out and if not, I’ll come find you,” I say with a small smile as I take a bite of food, while Draken laughs even harder at Corentin’s shocked expression.

“So, Willow, I figured you’d transport in with me since you’re coming with me to the archives this morning anyway,” Gaster says, looking at me hopefully. As if I’d ever reject spending time with him.

“Absolutely. Did you bring any healing vials?” I ask, not wanting to ruin my hair or outfit today.

“Yes, and extras just in case.” He pats the side of his cloak where I hear the vials jingle.

“I’ll come get you from Gaster and walk you to your Enchantments class, then we break for a while, have lunch, hang out, and then we’ll go to combat,” Draken chimes in with a step-by-step rundown of how the day will go. He knows my schedule just as well, if not better than me.

“Sounds great. Will I see either of you today?” Why I’m worried about seeing Tillman and Corentin, I don’t know, but thinking about going my whole first day without them doesn’t sit right. I don’t want to think about the other asshole, but he still crosses my mind.

“Draken can bring you to my office on your break and Tillman will be by at some point to observe combat class, scouting for potential E.F. members,” Corentin answers.

“Should I expect Caspian to pop out of any walls at the academy today?” I keep my sarcasm light, but I’d like a heads-up if I’m going to have a run-in with him.

“No,” all three of them answer at once.

Okay then.

“We should head out, kids. Everyone ready?” Gaster asks the table as he pushes his chair back and stands.

All the guys respond with a yes, standing from the table. I, on the other hand, was starting to get nervous. Standing slowly and moving around the table, expecting Draken to come grab my hand, I’m surprised to see Corentin waiting on me to follow. He hovers his hand on my lower back, not touching me, but I still feel the heat coming off him.

Taking a deep breath, I can smell his fresh, airy scent. It’s light, sweet but holds a hint of a spicy, masculine undertone. I find myself drifting closer to him and have to hold myself back from tucking in under his arm.

What the fuck was that?

Shaking my head to clear it a little, I check out the corner of my eye to make sure he didn’t catch me smelling him like some weirdo and luckily, he’s facing forward, steering us where we need to go.

As we head out the back door and make it a few feet into the lawn, he turns toward me. “I’ll see you in a little while, but if you need me before then, have Gaster or Draken bring you to my office.” He stares into my eyes so intently, I can barely breathe. I feel trapped in his orbit.

“Okay. Have a good first day,” I whisper, barely managing to get the words out. I’m stunned frozen when he graces me with a small smile. It’s a beautiful sight and again I lean toward him and have to force myself to stop. He lingers a second, then takes a couple steps back, poofing right out of thin air. It’s only then I feel like I can fill my lungs with air.

I only have a second’s reprieve before I’m lifted off my feet and spun around. Laughing, I hug Draken back and lay my head on his shoulder, pressing my nose to his neck.

Why the fuck am I smelling everyone?

“Be good, little wanderer, and I’ll see you soon.” He leans down, lays a comforting kiss on my forehead, and then poofs away as well.

I turn to see Tillman, standing with his arms crossed a few feet away from Gaster. I meet his eyes, seeing if he’ll give me some sort of goodbye as well. I don’t know why I’m getting emotional suddenly and needing all of them to reassure me, but this is cringeworthy on my part.

Please don’t leave me hanging. I’m so nervous.

Something shifts in his face and his scowl softens a little as he looks at me. Taking a few steps forward to reach me, he stands in front of me and just stares. I squirm, lowering my head, and go to take a step back, but he stops me with a gentle grip on my chin and tilts my head back up to look at him.

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