Page 29 of Faerie Gift

I wished I could tell him the truth—about my second innate power, about the special box, about the witch who expected me to steal the special box for her… Everything inside of me ached to tell him all, to the point where I opened my mouth to blurt out the real reason for our trip to the library. Then I came to my senses and snapped my jaw shut, shoving the tome on ancient artifacts closer to Melia. She picked up on my drift immediately, grabbing it and adding it to the pile in front of her, spine turned away from Mike so we didn’t chance him reading what it said.

“Melia was helping me look up books on cognitive manipulation.” The lie flowed out smoothly, helped along by Melia’s eager nod. “We thought maybe I could get ahead with more research.”

“We found a few things, but you’re right, Mike, we’re almost out of time.” Melia flashed a glance at me before shifting the books into her arms. “I’ll just go check these out and we can get back to it later. Too bad about breakfast. It’s going to be hard to make it through until lunch.”

I shared the sentiment. And I’d owe her for this, for her kindness and her willingness to join me along on this crazy information-seeking quest.

“Hey, why don’t you walk with me to my dorm?” I asked Mike, taking him by the arm. Stifling a sigh when he turned those green, green eyes on me again. “I have enough time to change before divination class. I can’t believe you came looking for me.”

The three of us made it to the door before splitting off in different directions. I could tell he didn’t quite believe our story, and I hated lying to him.

“What did you find out? About your power?” he wanted to know. “Anything to help you with your mastery?”

He didn’t shrug my hand away and it made me happier than I deserved. “Not much.” This time it was the truth. “It all comes down to a matter of belief, I guess. If I have enough conviction, then I can make people see what I want them to see. Apparently I have the power to reach out to people’s minds and influence them. Their memories, too.”

“I’m scared,” he teased.

“Aw, why?”

“Because I wonder what you would make me see.”

“Nothing,” I answered quickly to reassure him. “I would never manipulate you.”

And I couldn’t tell if he was relieved or disappointed. Why? What would he want me to make him see?

The corridor began filling with students making their way out of the cafeteria toward their first class. We had divination next with my favorite professor, Marsh. Mike waited outside of Tamerlain Hall while I changed into my uniform and together we power walked toward Marsh’s tower classroom.

Mike and I made our way to our normal table, both trying not to think about the empty space to his right that used to belong to Roman. No, those weren’t good thoughts to indulge in today. I sat down next to Mike and placed my books on the table in front of us.

Marsh strode into the room wearing a thin black skirt and a matching blouse instead of normal professor robes. She snapped her fingers for attention, not needing to say anything as the rest of the students settled in.

Once again, I was struck by the sensation of her. She felt like pack. Feltfamiliar, like a part of me responded to a part of her, but something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I was ninety percent sure she was half shifter just like Nurse Julie and I. Unfortunately, there was no way for me to prove it. Especially since Professor Marsh didn’t have any trouble touching quartz crystal, which said to me she didn’t have a glamour or any kind of potion or spell hiding her shifter nature.

I must be going out of my mind.

“I wonder what kind of techniques she has up her sleeve this semester,” Mike said with a lopsided grin. “The first couple of classes were reviews of what we’ve already learned. Today I have a feeling she’s going to turn things on their head.”

“I know, I’m excited. Ready to see those skills of yours,” I tossed back.

He pointed to his chest. “Skills? Me? Someone has been lying to you, clearly.”

But I could tell he was eager to start, to show me what he could do. There was a strange confidence about him I hadn’t seen before. I cast one last long look in his direction before Marsh began her lecture.

Last semester she’d delved into topics like tarot cards and crystal balls as ways of divining the future. Today Marsh had equipped each student setup with a bag of old bones with Norse runes carved on them, letting us get a feel for them and impart our energy on the bones. I wasn’t afraid of what I’d see, but I was too distracted to use them with any kind of accuracy.

After class I sent Mike on his way on a whim, deciding on the spot to talk to Professor Marsh about what had happened with Hoarfrost. If anyone could give me a little insight on his reaction, it would be her, and I needed to tell someone.

Once the room emptied out, I approached her. Sending her a smile to make it seem less like I wascorneringher and more like I wanted a friendly chat. “Do you have time to talk?” I asked.

“For you? Sure, let’s go into my office.” She showed me into her small office just off the classroom. “Take a seat. Something is bothering you.” Marsh waited for me to sit, then she sat behind her desk and stared at me. Unblinking. Unmoving. Looking like a predator with those cat-like eyes. Yet I didn’t get the feeling I was the mouse.

I dropped my bag at my feet and tried to relax. I knew whatever we said in this room would stay between the two of us. Marsh would offer blunt advice without sugarcoating anything.

“Yeah, you could say so.” I’d been stewing on this for too long. “I’m having issues with another teacher,” I told her. Then I explained what had happened with Hoarfrost and how I was worried he would find a way to expel me.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I insisted again. “He gave out incorrect information. I’d read the right date in the textbook. If anything, he should congratulate me for actually remembering something for once.”

Marsh listened to the story, her lips pursed in thought. “In my opinion,” she said the moment I finally shut my mouth, “he’s a self-righteous prick. He has always delighted in choosing one student each year and focusing the brunt of his ire on him or her without rhyme or reason. Still, I highly doubt he’ll make good on his threat. You cut him down in front of your peers and he saw that as an insult, Tavi. He more than likely spoke out of fear and anger rather than any real intention. Rest assured your grades are good enough he can’t follow through on his threat.”

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