Page 142 of A Dusk Of Stars

The Academy is buzzing. It’s on autopilot that we walk out of the first class of the year and keep strolling down the hallway leading to the Entrance Hall. Alaric and I are barely suppressing yawns, while Raven seems to be just as clear-eyed as she wasbeforeProfessor Byrne showed up.

“Well, that was anti-climactic,” Alaric drawls.

“Yeah, especially after yesterday,” I reply with a smile, referring to the most spectacular Opening Ceremony ever, but my mind is on Alaric’s arm wrapped around Raven’s waist.

Warmth is spreading through my chest at the very sight of my friends’ happiness, making me wonder what it is I did to deserve this absurd amount myself.

Then I see the puzzled look on Raven’s face. “What is it, Raven?” I ask just as we start crossing the Entrance Hall.

She blinks at me. “I don’t think it’s anti-climactic. I think it’s exciting.”

“Professor Byrne’s yapping?” Alaric asks with a frown. “Really?”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. She hesitates for a second before she explains. “I’ve never been a second-year student before and the thought is… appealing.”

Alaric and I slow to a stop at practically the same moment, making her follow suit, her eyebrows shooting up at us. He comes to press a delighted kiss against her cheek and I give them their moment, but as soon as we start walking again, I turn to squeeze my friend’s hand and beam at her. “You’ll be the very best second-year student, Raven,” I tell her with conviction, “I just know it.”

“Hey,” Alaric grumbles, “what aboutme?”

“Meh,” I reply with an unimpressed face.

The two of us burst out laughing, Raven’s eyes darting from one to another with this warmth in her eyes.

It’s in front of the Junkyard that I throw them a wave, saying, “See you later then.”

Alaric throws me one of those “What’sthisnow” looks as he comes to a stop, both Raven and I following suit. “Junkyard,” he says as he gestures at it, “hello.”

I laugh, but I shake my head. “I have training with Jericho.”

“Come on,” he says, “I know you’re eager to keep working on becoming thebest shifter ever, but be a sport and at least come assert your dominance in the Junkyard so we can get better spots this year.”

“Sorry, don’t want to be late.”

“Whipped much?” he teases.

I roll my eyes at him and throw Raven another wave. Then I turn on my heel and keep walking to the gym.

As if on cue, there’s the feeling that floods me only when it’shimI’m about to see — an infuriatingly delicious tugging between comforting warmth and sharp thrill.

This time, though, there’s the anxiousness as well. I told him I wanted to know as soon as he found out what Lorcan had decided — whether we’ll be getting the request for a shared room approved.

Frowning, I turn the last corner before the gym and keep walking down the hallway. I thought we’d be getting news well before we met for training.

It’s not like it doesn’t happen, I tell myself. Professors bunk with their spouses all the time and, well,thisparticular professor’s spouse does happen to be a student, but I’m thirty years old, I won’t be in any of his classes, and any training he’ll be doing with me will beourprivate business.

Besides, once I graduate, I’ll finally be taking on the role of Archivist, and our situation will be exactly the same as everyone else’s.

Still, it worries me that — as the Head of my House —Lorcanis the one we had to put in the request with.

Sure, it’s easy for Alaric to laugh, but it’s no laughing matter to either of us. I’d want to be here and work on truly mastering my shifting even if I weren’t forced to, but my man is here because ofme, and even this one night we had to spend apart wasnotpleasant.

When he called me last night, he told me it’s supposed to get easier with time, although he didn’t sound too convinced. It was proving hard to be apart even before the bond, but now…

I come to a stop in front of the gym we had our first actual training session in, hearing an excited murmur coming from behind the closed door.

To make things more complicated, it’s only been a couple of months since that whole shitstorm Serra stirred up. We’re all doing our best to move on, but the echoes are still there, most visible in the way Jericho can’t seem to relax when it comes to the matter of, well, anyone who ever tries to get in any kindof contact with me. Letting me just walk around the Academy unaccompanied… I know for a fact it’s showing a huge effort on his behalf at respecting my autonomy and doing everything he can to keep me truly happy.

And he is. This is the happiest I’ve ever been and the happiest I believe anyone can even be.

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