Page 49 of A Dusk Of Stars

I tell myself it’s because of these changes I’m experiencing that I have these feelings in the first place. The facts only seem to prove my point. I mean, I don’t even like the guy. Then I start making breakthroughs with my powers, he happens to be there and, all of a sudden, I’m sleeping curled up in his jacket, craving his scent even while still inhaling it?

Going from human to shifter — if that’s not something that’ll mess with your head, I don’t know whatis.

I just need to show up tonight, make sure I’m aware of how messed-up all this can be, and get the ritual over with. Ineedto. If I don’t, then I really don’t stand a chance of passing the first-term exam. With that, I’m guaranteeing an entire year of my life going down the drain.

Thank my lucky stars it’s advised that you do these rituals in silence. Maybe I won’t even have to look at the guy.

***

As soon as I start approaching the spot where he found me last time, I see there’s something off. It’s too bright considering it’s dusk out here. But even before I make my way through the trees and onto the little clearing in front of the river, I hear the crackling.

Fire. He’s lit a fire.

I spot him lying on the ground near the fire, propped on his elbow and typing away on his phone. He looks up at me without lifting his head and motions for me to get settled in.

I nod, my lips curling into a smile. Silence. We actuallywillbe doing this in silence. It’s so hot, the way he has one leg bent at the knee and the way his jacket is straining over his muscles, but at least I won’t have his voice to worry about.

I take a seat to his right, making sure to put some distance between us, and I start preparing the stuff for the ritual.

I stop hearing the typing. There’s a long moment of silence before this soft clicking sound makes me throw a glance at him only to see he’s playing with some silver lighter I’ve never seen him with before.

Focus, Anna.

I get the bowl out of my bag and fill it with water. It’s only when I reach for the candles that I realize I won’t be needing them.

He’s actually prepared for this. Not only do I have the stars reflecting off the water, I have the roaring fire casting its light.

Good, this should be good.

Just as I get myself comfortable and fix my eyes on the water, the soft clicking of the lighter stops and I feel something small hit my shoulder.

I frown, glancing up and down to realize he’s thrown a pebble at me.

Almost forgetting myself, I open my mouth to ask what he’s doing, but he just motions at a little bottle in front of the fire.

I quirk my eyebrow at him.

Letting out a sigh, he just motions at it again and sits straight, preparing for his watch over me.

I take the bottle and I down the liquid that tastes like metal. I did read about shifters using special concoctions to facilitate these kinds of rituals. I’m actually glad he’s brought some with him, even though I can’t feel the effect, at least not yet.

In complete silence, except for the crackling of the fire, I turn my focus back onto the surface of the water in the bowl in front of me, feeling his eyes on me.

I keep sitting there for what seems like an eternity, absolutely nothing happening.

He throws another pebble at me. When I glance up at him, the look he’s giving me makes me feel as if he can hear the wheels spinning in my head. He thinks I should just make them stop.

Easier said than done. Still, I nod and try to do as he says.

There’s another moment of silence before I hear another soft click of the lighter, the sound igniting something in me.

But I only hear the one, as if he’s forgotten himself just for a second.

I throw him a look, trying to communicate that I’d like for him to keep playing with it.

He does. Every time the lid clicks open and I hear the soft sound of the fire igniting, it seems to take me farther away to some strange yet familiar place.

My vision blurs and my head starts swimming.

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