Page 18 of Visions & Shadows

I glance at Ryan, wondering if he hears them.

He should, they aren’t being very discreet about their opinions.

But he doesn’t seem worried by them in the slightest.

If someone had told me yesterday that an attractive guy was going to walk up and demand to be my friend, I would’ve asked them whose socks they’ve been smoking.

Yet, here I am, walking a step behind him while everyone is talking wildly about us.

Ryan / Raighne

I have to constantly tell myself not to lose my temper with the other students.

Hearing the things they’re saying about Alchera makes anger bubble in my chest.

I’ve only been at this school for one and a half days, and I’m starting to understand why Alchera doesn’t have any friends.

None of them are worthy of her.

Jane. She’s called Jane here.

It’s hard thinking of her as Jane because she’s always been Alchera to me.

Just don’t slip up around her.

When we reach the doorway of the classroom, I move to the side and gesture for Alchera to enter first. Not thinking, I place my hand on her lower back as we walk inside.

Getting to touch her again, a comforting warmth spreads up my arm and engulfs my entire body. I can feel our bond pulsing in my chest and reaching out to her, desperate to connect.

I hate when I have to pull my hand away from her so she can take a seat, and as I sit down beside her, my eyes flick over the rest of the class.

Students keep shooting us curious and confused looks, and I almost let out an agitated growl.

Turning my head to Alchera, I ask, “What are your plans for after school?”

She shrugs as she takes the required textbook from her bag. “Nothing. Why?”

“Want to show me around town?”

Please say yes.

My eyes are glued to her face as I watch her contemplate my question, then she replies, “There’s not much to show you. At least, not in town.” She sucks in a deep breath, then adds, “But I can take you to a waterfall just outside of town. That’s if you’re okay with hiking a short distance.”

A smile spreads over my face. “I’m okay with hiking.”

The corner of her mouth starts to lift into a smile, but then the teacher comes in, and Alchera focuses on the lesson.

Seeing as we’ll leave Earth in the next three weeks, I don’t pay any attention to what’s being taught.

Glancing to the side, I watch as Alchera opens her sketchpad, and every now and then, she adds something to the picture.

When I first saw the sketch of the Virtutes Falls, I thought the spell Janak and Aster cast over her had worn off, and her memories had returned. But hearing she dreamed about it causes me to worry because it means her visions might’ve started already.

We’re not close enough for me to ask her if that’s the case, and if she hasn’t had any visions, she’ll think I’m insane.

My eyes lock on the man in the pool of the Virtutes Falls. She’s drawn me to a T without the elixir’s glamor that makes me look human.

It has to be from a vision. She’s seen me coming.

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