Page 100 of Class Studies

My mind spun.

Tanwyn rubbed my temples, and I focused on his light brown, almost ginger-colored eyes. “Eyes on me.” He said, smiling down. “I’m sorry. I forget how terrifying he looks to people not used to him.”

I did, filling my line of sight with Tanwyn’s dark features. After a few deep breaths, my heart stopped trying to escape my rib cage. “You told me not to laugh.”

“You told her what?” Yordle screeched.

Tanwyn winced. “I need your help, Yords.” He glazed over the little demon’s anger. “She’s got a socket in her hip, and I need to understand how it’s made. But, you can’t eat any part of it, and it must go back together exactly like it was.”

I shook like a leaf. It hadn’t even occurred to me my socket wouldn’t go back together correctly. Professor Garnet’s anger filled my memory. He realized it. Nurse Norah warned me my socket was grafted to my bone structure and twined with my magic. My recklessness punched me in the face.

“No,” I said out loud.

Both Tanwyn and Yordle gave me a confused look.

I started to sink into a mage-trance to stop my spiraling thoughts, but a haze of dark magic swirled around Yordle, which reminded me too much of the evil twin. Above me, Tanwyn’s magical circulatory system of white glowed brightly.

No matter the consequences, I needed to know what made me different.

“Well, yes.” I swallowed, my vision returning to normal. “Just do it. I need to know. Tanwyn, can you take pictures so I can see it?”

Tanwyn nodded, taking out his phone. “I can’t keep your head on my lap, though.”

I wanted to cling to him, but I needed information more. I lifted my head allowing him to move, and he crawled to my hips.

Small hairy hands untucked my shirt, exposing my socket.

“I need more light,” Yordle stated.

Tanwyn’s brilliant peacock feathered summons burst out of his back and lit the space. My rose-shaped copper and titanium socket gleamed.

A hairy leg brushed my skin, and I trembled, fighting not to scream and run. My rational mind couldn’t deal with this. I closed my eyes, fully sinking into my mage trance. Everything calmed, and the world vanished.

“That’s it, Yordle’s gone,” Tanwyn’s voice drifted into my floating consciousness.

I lost time, thinking of everything but Yordle’s dissection. Pulling myself back to reality, I prepared for Yordle to scare the crap out of me again, but Tanwyn and I were alone in the Sphérique.

I fingered my socket, and when it didn’t feel any different, I sat up and looked at it.

Nothing seemed out of place. At my will, my magic rushed to my fingertips. Tanwyn sat next to me, and I reached across the few inches separating us, pushing the tiniest bit of magic into him. He tensed and let out a slow hiss, but nothing felt different on my end, except now a slight pull heightened my awareness of the summoner.

“Sorry,” I snatched my hand back, guilt flooding my stomach. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Tanwyn darted forward, kissing me hard. “I didn’t expect it. It’s fine.” He brushed his thumb across my lips. “Maybe, it will be only us in class today, and we can have a repeat of last night.” He ducked his head. “I need a second chance.”

“You were great.” I squeezed his arm. “But you can have as many chances as you want. When I need to transfer again, maybe I can give you an extra boost.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Only when you need to transfer?”

I released his arm, nodding. “Transferring’s still illegal. The spell Vac ate was supposed to free me from needing to transfer at all. I’m destroying lives—”

Tanwyn pulled me into his embrace and kissed me deeply. “You’re not destroying anything. It’s who you are,” he whispered, holding me tight. “Like me and my summons. It’s unnatural for you to hold it back. I, probably we, want your magic. Don’t wait until you’re busting at the seams.” He cupped my cheek. “I know what I signed up for and can handle it, and so can the other guys.”

My heart raced. I gazed into Tanwyn’s open face.

Vac barked from his spot, blocking the door. His lion tail slithered along the ground in some parody of wagging. He growled as the solid wood connected with his side and stuck.

“It’s me, Aphy,” Professor Garnet called through the cracked doorway. “Officer Keres is with me.”

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