Page 36 of Overwhelmed By Magic

The spring air slowly turns into the experience of sitting by a crackling fire in a living room, Stellan’s essence wrapping me in a firm but full hug that I didn’t know I needed. It’s strange to see how his aura envelopes me, almost like little flames dancing across my clothes. Stellan tugs on my arm and I follow, not even caring when I somehow find myself curled up in his lap, the fire elemental wrapping his arms around me.

“Sweet Jesus, I can breathe.”

“Your aura is better,” I say before I realize the words that came out of my mouth. Any other combination of words would have been fine but I’ve just let slip one of my biggest secrets.

“You can see my essence, can’t you? I thought so. You get distracted when you talk. It’s not that obvious but your eyes follow it. Goddess, am I hurting you?”

“No. It feels warm. Soothing? Like a really nice bath which is a weird thing to say but fuck, I could fall asleep right now and how unprofessional would that be?” I reach up to caress his cheek, Stellan leaning into the touch. It’s then that I see the flamesque aura has tendrils of pink floating through it. Stellan notices as well, both of us watching as it swirls around us.

Neither of us has to say anything to know that the second essence is mine but it feels so natural, even if the pink essence is faint. We sit there for several moments until I realize a shift in the room and look over to the entrance to see our entire entourage sitting there.

Harlow looks worried but Ambrose looks like he wants to murder me. Jade seems confused and Rumi is just… I can’t read him.

I try to sit up and pull away but Stellan tightens his hold. “Just a little longer.”

The mage stalks closer, crouching in front of us. “He’s not hurting you?”

I shake my head, unable to soothe the mage’s anger. We’re not at a stage for me to physically touch him and I’m not sure anyone knows that my claim is on Ambrose’s arm. It worries me that Harlow might feel slighted that I haven’t claimed him the way he’s claimed me but that conversation can’t happen now.

Rumi pushes inside, slowly pulling me off Stellan’s lap. “As ecstatic as I am that Stellan has found another outlet for his essence, Skye is still very much human and I have no idea what the lasting effects of absorbing that much is. Jade is visibly in pain when he touches Stellan too long and-”

“I’m fine,” I mumble as I stagger to my feet. Goddess, I wish Stellan could hold me again. It feels a little cold and odd to be without his essence now. Ambrose and Harlow steady me, both of them sharing a glance before Harlow presses a kiss to my head. I lean into his chest, giving him the reassurance he needs. “We’re okay,” I mouth at him before he kisses me again, this time on my lips.

The moment is dashed when Leo stumbles in, knocking on the open door as he surveys the students scattered around my room. “Lovely little bonding session you’ve got going on. I’ve never thought about doing my Fridays in one big group. It would seriously cut down on my day.”

I think about protesting but it’s not worth the effort. Leo is looking for a response and I just won’t give him one. “Thought it might help to get everyone acquainted.” There’s two missing but I don’t think they’ll be included in this group of Magila I’ve somehow acquired as friends. Are we friends? Acquaintances? They should be my students but I really don’t feel like I’m their counselor.

“Interesting. Your other two have been passed off to Azriel. He’s thrilled about it. Meeting time.” He jerks his head toward Tamara’s office. There was no set meeting and no one knew that everyone was in here. Having those last two students removed from my list feels like more of the same setup I’ve been weathering since I got here.

Like everything has been manufactured rather than organically falling together.

I pull away from the two Magila holding me, doing well not to look back as I exit the office. Reminding myself that I shouldn’t be falling for the students is not working. Because I feel like a student myself.

A few other counselors and professors are spread around Tamara’s office, the ambiance bright and in every shade of green she could find. The chatter dies down as I step inside and I feel every eye on me, every Magila carefully watching me as I take a seat in the furthest corner yet closest to the door. I feel like prey in here.

“Ah, everyone’s here!”

Everyone isn’t here but it seems this meeting was called for a reason. I haven’t even met half of the people in here and it feels like that was on purpose. It’s disorienting.

Tamara stands from her seat and claps, going on about a successful week and that everyone’s reports are due by midnight. I frown because as far as I’m concerned, it’s barely 10 am and the counselors still have a full day ahead of them.

Looking around the room, however, it doesn’t seem that anyone has actually been awake for more than five or ten minutes. Hot cups of coffee and tired faces meet me the longer I stare, beneath the thick auras A mixture of vampires, elementals, Versipellis, and mages sit up a little straighter, their attention putting me at the center of a silent conversation I don’t understand. I fold my hands in my lap after tugging my sleeves down to cover any and all marks.

“Why do I feel like this meeting was called because of me?” I shouldn’t have asked that question, Tamara rounding the desk and making her way to me. The predatory sway of her hips makes me uncomfortable as I shrink in my chair.

“It wasn’t,” she purrs. “However, we are worried that you aren’t settling in well. The students have taken a liking to you. I’ve messaged the council a few times to see if we can’t get you a different appointment but your professor at Benson was very adamant that you belong here.”

Belong here.

Not that I would do great work here. Not that I would bring valuable insight.

No, Tamara said belong here.

“Those five that you’ve surrounded yourself with are dangerous. Be careful and yes, I know that one of them is your boyfriend. Oh, don’t worry about it. Leo, here, has slept through half the staff. It’s normal when we have nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.”

Leo puffs out his chest as if it’s an accomplishment but it’s really not. There’s a few chuckles throughout the room amidst someone obnoxiously sipping coffee.

It also doesn’t do shit to make me feel better.

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