Page 20 of A Dusk Of Stars

“It’s the goddamn truth,” I snap at him, fighting not to raise my voice. “And I’mnota shifter, I’mnotan Original, I’m Anna Novak, born in an all-human community to two human parents and into a family without a drop of magic in at least the last three generations.”

The very next second, I feel this breeze behind my back and see the Pied Piper materialize between me and the professors.

“You won’t mind if I settle the question once and for all?” she asks, her eyes boring into mine as she reaches for something inside her cloak.

The Flute. Finally someone making sense.

She slides the carved wooden object out of some hidden pocket. At first glance, you’d think nothing of the ordinary-looking instrument, but I’ve spent many nights reading about the Originals and their magic. The Flute is a tool to draw out Originals, originally intended for getting lost children to safe places, back before the Treaty was signed and when vampires, shifters and faes were still in hiding.

This will be quick, I think to myself.

I let out a pent-up breath. “Of course not. Please do, veneranda.”

She pauses for a second, everyone around me shifting in their places. Then she puts the tip of the flute to her lips and blows.

Beautiful ancient music starts emanating from the flute. Everyone waits with bated breath. The music is really unlike anything I’ve ever heard, but its magic only works on Originals.

I open my mouth to tell them all that I was right, but suddenly, I am stunned. The music is flooding my brain as my body starts dragging me to her.

A murmur rises in the room.

Even after the Pied Piper stops blowing into the flute and I’m back in control of my body, I’m too dumbfounded to do anything but stand there like a fool.

The Pied Piper keeps looking at me as she puts the Flute back. Then she turns to Serra and says, “I believe she really didn’t know. Go easy on her.”

With that, she disappears.

Serra doesn’t waste a second. She walks up to me. “Starting now, Miss Novak,” she says firmly, “you’re relieved of your Librarian duties—”

“You can’t do this to me,” I cut her off, anger in my voice.

“I can and I have to,” she says with determination. “First thing in the morning,” she keeps going, her voice drifting to me as if through water, “you’ll be reporting to your House’s Head Student for instructions and you’ll be starting class with the rest of first-year shifter students.”

There’s a moment of silence as the rest of the faculty starts dispersing, everyone throwing me funny looks as they do.

“Is that clear, Miss Novak?” Serra’s voice snaps me out of it.

“Yes, Professor Naehorn,” I reply, my own voice sounding unfamiliar all of a sudden.

Serra gives me a nod and walks away. Now there’s only Bane left standing in the room.

For a second, he stays motionless. Then he moves for the exit. “I guess I’ll be seeing you in class, Miss Novak,” he says in a low, serious voice, and walks out the door.

As soon as he disappears, running my hands down my face, I let out a frustrated groan. This is just what I needed.

Chapter 7

I’m used to not sleeping, but this is different. It’s with unseeing eyes and lips pressed tight that I keep sitting in the empty Library with piles of books on the table before me. It’s been quite a while since I got here — straight from the Lounge and determined to stay until I’ve gotten to the bottom of this — and I can sense Carrel throwing me looks from the Service Desk, but I still haven’t cracked a single book open. It makes my blood boil, that they’re intent on taking my job away from me.

Mostly though, I’m just stuck reliving the events of the day and wondering how the hell everything ended on the absurd conclusion that I’m a shifter.

First, there was the energy that drew me to the book

Then whatever it was that happened when I touched it.

Then I snapped at Bane, which Lorcan claims sounded like growling.

Then there was this voice in my head right before I broke the glass.

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