Page 40 of First Ritual

I blew out a breath. “Not gonna lie, hearing that is a massive relief.”

The other three magus at the table grinned.

I lifted a shoulder. “If people can be honest about attraction, then they should be able to be honest about the lack of it.”

Sven outright snorted. “Are you the first straight woman to turn Wild down?”

“I do once and uncomplicated, as I’ve said to Tempest,” Wild answered. “Something with her wouldn’t be uncomplicated, therefore there’s no offer for her to turn down in the first place.”

“You calling me high maintenance?” I grabbed a roll off his plate. He stilled as I took a small bite and set it back. That’s what he and Sven had reduced me to. Petty tactics. His nostrils flared as he stared at the roll, so overall I was happy with the result.

“You seem remarkably low maintenance,” Mr. Glasses said.

I considered that. “You’re insulting me.”

No answer.

I closed my eyes and turned to Sven. “If you went to Barrow and changed the date, then you’re a high-handed ass. I thought you should know that.”

“Don’t care” was the reply.

“Well, you do care, or you wouldn’t have gone to considerable trouble to get the council to alter their decision. Why exactly do you want information on my magic, Sven?”

A stillness seized the occupants of the table.

My eyes widened. “All of you want information on my magic?” My brow cleared. “On Wild’s behalf. I see.”

“I told you,” Wild said. “You sparked my curiosity.”

“So you started a group project with your besties? Totally cute, Astar.”

Sven whistled low.

Wild’s hand curled atop the table. “I told you not to call me that.”

“I told you not to call me Tempest.” I stood, smiling. “I’ll leave you to your little project then. Have fun, team!”

I managed to take three steps before Wild called out, “I’ll try to take it easy on you.”

Don’t ask. Don’t ask. “Take it easy on me when?”

He picked up the roll I’d nibbled on and took a large bite. “When I oversee your affinity test.”

11

Show me something and I’d remember forever. Smoosh words together on a dead tree shaving that people termed a page, and I would remember not one thing. Bleary-eyed, I peered around the library that I’d spent most of the morning in. Not for the first time in my life I wished the mother had gifted me with a tiny speckle of grimoire affinity to help me enjoy reading. Sure would’ve helped with human high school.

A few esteemed occupied private cubicles in the library, but I’d been alone in the dusty rows of titles for hours, so I picked up the person’s arrival without trouble.

“The Complexities of Magical Bonds.”

Unfazed, I replied, “Want to summarize the book for me?”

I glanced up at Mr. Glasses and took a moment to appreciate his appearance. Last night’s encounter with the quad had given me some doubts about his character. Pretty packaging though.

He crowded me to lean over and flip a few pages of the book. “Can’t say I’ve studied this particular text, but we all know magical bonds have everything to do with the heart.”

I was the sudden focus of piercing green eyes that were all the more piercing with the way his black glasses framed them.

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