Page 37 of Magic in My Bones

I chuckled softly, inclining my head in acknowledgment. “I confess, I do feel a certain kinship with the Phantom. Though I aspire to give my own story a happier ending.”

“Indeed,” Mina agreed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “And speaking of happy endings, I have some news that may interest you.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Well, don’t keep me waiting, Mina. You know how I adore a good tale.”

She leaned in with a smile. “I've been feeling much better as of late, Dorian. So much so that I believe I shall be returning to teaching after the Samhain break.”

My eyes widened at Mina's revelation, a surge of elation rising within me. “Why, that's positively marvelous news! The students will be overjoyed to have you back, as will I. Your presence has been sorely missed in the hallowed halls of Blackstone.”

Mina's smile turned sly, a knowing glint in her eyes. “And with my return, perhaps you might find yourself with a bit more... freedom, Dorian. Freedom to pursue certain matters of the heart, hmm?”

My thoughts turned to Ren. Sweet, brilliant Ren, with his quiet intensity and gentle soul. There was a connection between us, a spark that danced like the flickering flames of the jack-o'-lanterns. In stolen glances and lingering touches, in the way his eyes lit up when he grasped a complex concept, in the soft smiles he reserved just for me... I felt it growing stronger with each passing day.

And yet, I had held back, ever mindful of the boundaries that separated us. He was my student, entrusted to my care and guidance. To act on my feelings would be a betrayal of that trust, no matter what spark we felt between us.

But now, with Mina's return on the horizon, the landscape of possibility had shifted. If I was no longer Ren's professor, if we were simply two souls drawn together by fate and circumstance... could I dare to hope for more?

It was a fine line to walk, and the higher ups at Blackstone would almost certainly frown upon it, but perhaps… Well, I was due for a sabbatical. Perhaps I could take one until Ren finished his studies, removing the problem altogether.

“Dorian,” Mina said, laying a hand on my shoulder. “There's no shame in loving someone, regardless of the circumstances.” She gave me a light push out toward the dance floor. “Go. Find your man. Live, Dorian. Life’s too short not to.”

With Mina's words ringing in my ears, I took a deep breath and strode out onto the dance floor, my cape billowing behind me. My heart raced with anticipation as I scanned the crowd, searching for Ren’s familiar face.

And then I saw him.

Time seemed to stop, the world narrowing to a single point of brilliant green and gold. Ren stood across the ballroom, and the sight of him stole the breath from my lungs. I'd imagined how he might look tonight, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality. The emerald coat transformed him from my shy student into something out of a gothic romance, all elegant lines and quiet confidence.

But it wasn't just the costume. There was something different about the way he carried himself, a subtle shift in his bearing that made my heart stutter in my chest. When he laughed at something Luca said, his head thrown back in genuine mirth, the candlelight caught the line of his throat in a way that made me want to trace it with my fingers, to learn if his skin was as warm as it looked.

As I approached the group, my heart thrummed with a heady mix of anticipation and trepidation. Ren's radiant smile falteredfor the briefest of moments as he caught sight of me, his eyes widening behind his golden mask. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his gaze, the way his fingers tightened slightly around his cane.

But I was a man on a mission, emboldened by Mina's words and the magic of the Samhain masquerade. I would not let this moment slip through my fingers, not when the promise of something extraordinary hung in the air between us.

I stopped before Ren and his companions. “Forgive the intrusion, gentlemen,” I said, sweeping into a bow.

“Dorian!” Ren’s eyes widened.

I straightened, extending my gloved hand toward him with a warm, inviting smile. “Mr. Wickens,” I said, my voice soft but clear above the music, “might I have the pleasure of a dance?”

Ren's eyes darted to his friends, their expressions a mix of surprise and encouragement. Luca gave him a subtle nod, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Ren turned back to me, his posture still slightly guarded, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes, a tentative curiosity, perhaps even a flicker of hope. He hesitated for a moment, his fingers fidgeting with the handle of his cane, before handing the cane to Luca and slowly placing his hand in mine.

“I... I suppose one dance couldn't hurt,” he said softly, his voice barely audible above the swell of the music.

I closed my fingers around his, marveling at the way our hands fit together, as if they were always meant to be joined. With a gentle tug, I led Ren onto the dance floor.

As we took our positions, Ren's nervousness was palpable. His movements were stiff, his eyes darting around as if he expected Dean Blackwood herself to materialize from the shadows and put an end to our dance.

“Ren,” I said softly, drawing his attention back to me. “Relax. It's just a dance.”

Ren glanced up at me through his lashes, a faint blush coloring his cheeks beneath the golden mask. “I'm sorry, Dorian. It's just…I don’t want you to get in trouble for this.”

I chuckled softly, gently squeezing his hand in reassurance. “Ah, but that's the beauty of tonight, my dear Ren. The Samhain masquerade is a time when the veil between worlds grows thin, and the usual rules of propriety are bent, if only for a night.” I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “And besides, with classes out for the holiday, I am not currently your professor. Tonight, we are simply two souls, drawn together by the magic of the evening.”

Ren's eyes widened. “So... we're not breaking any rules?”

“Precisely,” I confirmed with a warm smile. “And once we return from the break, Professor Reedy will be taking over Necromancy 101 and I will be applying to go on a year-long sabbatical.”

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