Page 56 of A Dusk Of Stars

“What do you think?” I ask when I finish recapping my experiences. I don’t say it, of course, but I’m first and foremost thinking of the matter of my feelings for Bane. “It’s not supposed to be this hard anddefinitelynot this weird, right?”

Raven blinks and Alaric leans back in his chair, thinking. “Itisstrange,” he says. “I mean, for you to complete a ritual before ever having shifted…” He scratches his beard, frowning.

I turn to Raven. “Raven?”

She shakes her head. “I am sorry, Anna. I just never had the need to do rituals. I am simply… connected with the constellations as is.”

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” I insist. “I mean, there has to be. Right?”

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” Alaric replies with a wave of dismissal. “These things, they’re so individual…”

Then it occurs to me. “There was this thing Bane made me drink before we started. Couldthatbe to blame for all the weirdness?”

“Did it have a metallic taste?” Raven asks.

“Yes,” I answer with hope in my voice.

She shakes her head. “That is what shifters routinely take to help them establish a connection with the stars.”

“What about him being an alpha?” I keep insisting. “Couldthathave messed with my brain somehow?”

“Why are you hung up on it being abouthim?” Alaric cuts in.

I just shake my head at him, eager to turn my focus back onto Raven.

She takes a moment to think before she says, “I suppose the possibility of him having influenced you into pushing too hard can’t be dismissed.”

My lips curl into a smile.

“I think you should get some more sleep, Anna,” I hear Alaric say, “and think about it tomorrow.”

I nod, but I’m busy being flooded with relief. It was his influence and not any actual feelings of mine after all. Everything’s okay with me.

And it’ll stay that way. I’ll make sure not to have any contact with Bane from now on, I’ll keep working at the Library and I’ll do everything in my power to pass the first-term exam.

Chapter 20

We all gather in the Main Hall. They’ve cleared it out for the exam, probably because no other hall in the castle can hold all first-year shifter students.

Everyone seems to be chatting as if this is yet another class we’ll be having. But there’s an obstacle course stretching from the entrance all the way to the back. We’re standing in two lines, one on each side of the course. On my side, the line is broken by the desk where Professor Ahearn will be sitting, observing us as we take the exam.

I keep waiting, barely registering the chatter all around me. What have I done with my time since completing the ritual? I’m more fit because I’ve been hitting the gym a lot. I feel much stronger, physically at least. My senses are now consistently slightly sharper. I can make little sparks start shooting out of my fingers.

But that’s about it. I still have no actual, usable powers. Being able to talk to my wolf has gotten me no closer to shifting, that’s for sure.

Laughter drifts up to me, and I don’t turn to look at the students making the noise, but I do listen to them cracking jokes about their professors.

So carefree, at least that’s what they seem from my perspective. To most of them, passing this exam will be a piece of cake.

But I can’t let myself get defeated before I’ve even tried.

I throw a glance at Raven, who’s all the way on the other side of the hall. My sight having gotten better, I can clearly see her giving me a smile.

I smile back, hyping myself up.

The hall goes silent and I turn to look in the direction of the archway, seeing none other than Bane saunter in.

I frown, my heart starting to race merely from looking at him. Where’s Professor Ahearn?

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