Page 55 of A Touch of Darkness

The spell breaks when Isabel pushes her chair back. “I… I should go,” she says, standing abruptly. “I’ve said too much already. Thought too much. Listen, Sylvie—if you don’t want to side with Solstice, just be careful. They won’t wait around forever.”

She spares me one last, sorrowful glance before weaving through the tables and disappearing out the door. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My head’s spinning, my heart lodged in my throat. A moment later, Nicole and Rebecca sidle up to the table, concern etched on their faces.

“Well,” Nicole murmurs, chewing her lip. “That was… intense.”

Rebecca squeezes my shoulder gently. “You good, Sylv?”

I shake my head, trying to process it all. “I don’t know,” I say honestly, voice trembling. “At least now we know they might move sooner than we thought. We can figure out a way to be prepared.”

Nicole slides into the seat across from me, lowering her voice. “Were in the best spot right now. We just need to stay a step ahead. We know Lara isn’t dead, that’s the best news we’ve had in so long.”

I nod, tears brimming in my eyes as I finally allow myself a shred of hope. That my sister is still here, somewhere, and that I can continue fighting to get her back. She isn’t dead. She isn’t gone. And it’s possible. It’s really possible to save her.

“And, you’ve enrolled in classes to work on your abilities and powers. You’re getting stronger by the day. We’re going to knock Solstice on their asses,” Rebecca says with a grin.

I force myself to nod, refusing to crumble under the weight of this fresh revelation. Because now, we have a warning. Now, we know exactly how high the stakes are—and maybe, just maybe, that knowledge will help us fight back.

I linger in my empty classroom, the last of my students having filed out over half an hour ago. I’ve rearranged a few chairs under the pretense of tidying up, but really, I’m just trying to distract myself from the anticipation bustling through my veins. The fluorescent lights overhead cast long shadows across the polished floor, and the faint smell of chalk dust reminds me of how mundane this setting would be—if it weren’t for her.

Sylvie texted me a few moments ago to say she’s on her way. I lean against the large oak desk at the front of the room, trying to steady my thoughts. Ever since the day in the library—that day, when I let my guard down and kissed her, when I could no longer control the primal urge inside of me for her—it’s been an exercise in self-control not to seek her out every spare second. She’s been caught up in her new spellwork classes, and I’ve respected her space, telling myself it’s better she finds her own footing. But the distance has torn at me more than I care to admit. I finally have her back, but it’s not close enough.

Tonight, I decided I couldn’t wait any longer. I simply needed to see her… to speak with her. To touch her. The thought sends a soft ache through my chest, and I tighten my grip on the desk’s edge. I sent her a text message and asked her to meet me. I told her I wanted to see how her classes were going. It isn’t a lie. It just isn’t the full truth. I long to be near her in the worst possible way.

First, I feel her nearing. Then, I hear footsteps in the hallway before I see her shadow cross the threshold. Then the door opens, and she steps inside, cheeks flushed from the brisk walk—or maybe nerves. My heart lurches at the sight of her. The overhead light skims across her hair, and I realize in that moment just how much I’ve missed her presence.

“Hey,” she says, closing the door behind her. Her voice is quiet, small.

“Sylvie.” I nod and try for a calm smile. I’m not sure if I succeed. My pulse thrums in my ears, and I wonder if she can sense how thin my composure is. “Thanks for coming.”

She gives a small shrug, but there’s warmth in her eyes that wasn’t there before. “You asked me how my classes are going. I, um… appreciate you checking in.”

I gesture for her to join me near the desk. “I wanted to hear more about them—Spellcraft Fundamentals, Elemental Magic… it sounds like you’re learning a great deal.”And I want to know everything about you, always.

Sylvie nods, stepping closer, until there’s only a scant foot of space between us. “It’s been intense, but really exciting.” Her lips quirk into a hesitant, almost giddy smile. “In Spellcraft Fundamentals, we’ve been practicing protective wards nonstop. Professor Ambrose has us doing these exercises where we form a shield around ourselves or a partner. I’ve been teaming up with this girl, Marisol, and she told me she can actually feel my wardpushing back when she leans in. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting stronger every day.”

She lets out a soft laugh, the sound brimming with genuine enthusiasm. “Sometimes, I’ll catch these sparks of energy dancing on my fingertips—like static electricity. It’s such a rush. I never knew I could… I don’t know, generate that kind of power.”

Her eyes shine, and I feel her excitement in every word. She’s proud of herself—and she should be. “And in Elemental Magic,” she continues, “we just covered how to harness small bursts of energy from each element. So far, we’ve only done tiny stuff—like lighting a candle or stirring the air to create a gentle breeze—but the concept is the same. Focus on the element, channel it through intent and incantation, and let it resonate with your own energy.”

I notice her cheeks flush as she glances up. “I, uh, accidentally made the flame a little too big once,” she admits, laughing under her breath. “Had to snuff it out before it singed my sleeve. But Professor Roth was actually proud—she said it shows I have a lot of potential, just need to refine my control. I guess it’s normal.”

She tucks a stray hair behind her ear, eyes brightening further. “We’ve also started talking about the theory behind healing spells. Right now, it’s mostly reading and practice on, like, bruised fruit or wilting plants, but the idea that I might eventually be able to mend cuts or soothe fevers feels… incredible. I actually managed to revive a drooping fern in class the other day. It wasn’t, like, miraculous—the leaves stayed a bit brown—but it perked up enough that the professor was impressed.”

It's because you were a healer in your past life, I want to tell her, but I don’t. She healed me so many times back then. She was a natural. I expect her to be in this lifetime, too.

I can’t help but smile at the way she’s nearly glowing, her excitement as tangible as the faint hum of magic I sense in her aura. “You seem pleased,” I say quietly. “As you should be.”

Sylvie exhales, pressing her hand to her heart. “I really am. I guess I just never imagined I could do something like this—channel energy to protect people, possibly heal them. Even if it’s just a plant right now… it’s a start. And every time I manage a new skill, it’s like discovering this part of me I never knew existed.”

She gives a slightly self-conscious shrug, yet there’s no hiding the elation in her voice. “I guess that’s what you wanted for me all along, right? To realize my potential?”

My throat feels uncomfortably tight. “Yes.” I swallow. “And also, to see you safe.” It’s not the entire truth—my reasons for wanting her close run deeper than simple protection—but I don’t know how much I can say without scaring her away.

She shifts her weight, glancing around the classroom. “This place feels strange without anyone else here.” Then her gaze locks onto mine. I catch the faint tremor in her breath, and it sets my nerves aflame. “Intimate.”

The hint of a challenge in her voice stirs a thrill in me. “Yes,” I murmur. “It is.”

She wets her lips, and my eyes follow the movement, heat flaring low in my chest. Every second that passes, I feel our previous distance dissolving, replaced by the heady tension that’s always crackled between us—more potent since that kiss in the library.

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