Page 22 of The Black Witch

“My uncle wants me to wait until I’m older,” I tell her, increasingly put off by Echo’s judgmental approach. And besides, Fallon looks to be about the same age as me, and she isn’t fasted, either.

“Oh, what fun you’ll have,” Paige enthuses with a dreamy look of longing. “All the parties and dances and yourfirst kiss!”

“Have you metanyoneyou’re interested in?” Fallon probes, sizing me up to see if I’m competition for Lukas, no doubt.

“No.” I shake my head. “I haven’t really had a chance to, being from Halfix. It’s so isolated there. And this is only my first full day in Valgard.”

Fallon regards me with renewed interest. She narrows her eyes. “Have you ever been aroundanymen...other than Gardnerian men?”

My brow knits tight and I feel myself growing defensive over my sheltered upbringing. “What do you mean?” I ask guardedly.

Fallon spits out a short laugh. “I mean,have you ever been around Keltic boys? Or Elves? Or...Lupine?”

I eye her with astonishment. “There aren’t Lupines at the University, are there?” That strikes me as incredibly dangerous. Lupines are vicious wolf-shifters. Stronger than the strongest Gardnerian, and completely immune to our magic.

“I’m afraid there are,” Echo replies, a grave expression on her face.

“That’s rather shocking,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m really surprised.” But then I think back to Aunt Vyvian’s conversation with Uncle Edwin, and her outrage over the University’s misguided racial integration—even Icaral demons are allowed to attend.

Paige is worriedly chewing at her bottom lip, her eyes round as two saucers.

Fallon leans in toward me with obvious relish, her voice a scratchy whisper. “Lupines don’t ever marry, did you know that? They simply grab whomever they like and mate with them in thewoods.”

“Likeanimals,” Echo chimes in, with great indignation.

“Really?” It’s all so scandalous. And troubling.

“I’veheard,” continues Fallon, “that sometimes they grab young women, pull them into the woods and mate with them...aswolves!”

Paige gasps, one hand flying up to cover her mouth.

“Is that even possible?” I question, aghast.

Fallon laughs and settles back into her seat. “Stay away from the Lupine boys.”

“They don’t always mate in the woods,” Echo informs me darkly as she fingers her sphere pendant.

Paige shrinks down, clearly apprehensive to hear what Echo is about to say, as Fallon eyes me with gleeful anticipation, everyone waiting for me to ask the obvious question.

I blink at them. This is the most outrageous conversation I’ve ever had and, despite myself, I’m overcome by lurid fascination. “Where...um...where do they...” I motioned with my hands to finish.

Echo seems to approve of my reluctance to just come out with it. She leans closer. “My father used to be the Council’s ambassador to the Lupines, and he’s actuallyvisitedthe Lupine Territory. I overheard him talking to my mother about them, andhesaid that when Lupines are about our age they get their whole pack together—that’s what they call their societies, like a pack of wolves—and they stand up in front of everyone, pick out someone to mate with and mate with themright there, in front ofeveryone. Even thechildren.”

My face is growing very hot. This is the most sordid thing I have ever heard in my entire life. “Won’t it be sort of...dangerous? To go to University with them?” I wonder.

“There’s only two of them.” Fallon flicks her hand dismissively. “Brother and sister. Twins.”

Well, that’s a relief. Only two Lupines. How dangerous could only two Lupines be?

“What about the Elves?” I ask. My brothers have told me they make up about a quarter of the scholars at the University. “What are they like?”

“Complete opposite,” Fallon says with a shake of her head. “Veryprissy.” She snorts in derision. “It’s amazing they ever get around to ever having children. They’reextremelyprotective of their women, though. If a boy of another race so much astouchesone of their women...”

“Like anyone wouldwantto,” scoffs Echo.

“I think the girl Elves are pretty,” Paige confesses sheepishly. Fallon throws her a quick, withering glance. “Theyare!” Paige insists. “They have those dainty pointed ears. And white hair, and white clothes...kind of the opposite of us...”

“Verymuchthe opposite of us,” Echo cuts in. She looks to me. “They’re idol worshippers.”

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