Page 27 of Witchful Thinking

Diana nodded, grateful for both his assistance and the reprieve from emotional vulnerability.Because the truth she wasn't ready to admit was that she was falling for him.Falling hard, despite all her practical concerns and logical objections.And that realization was more terrifying than any magical explosion she'd ever faced.

Chapter 7

"Are the affected studentscontained?"Diana asked as she hurried into the girls' dormitory, Alarick close behind.Golden threads spun between them like magical spiderwebs, brightening whenever they moved in sync.

Ceries stood outside a room cordoned off with shimmering barriers."More or less.Five students showing signs of void contamination.Nothing life-threatening, but they're exhibiting some...unusual effects."

"Define unusual," Alarick said, eyeing the barrier.

As if on cue, a burst of maniacal giggling erupted from the room, followed by what sounded distinctly like someone mooing.

"That would be Irideane Kallus," Ceries explained with remarkable calm."She's convinced she's a dairy cow.The others are either hysterical from the contamination or from watching Irideane try to graze on her bedsheets."

Diana bit her lip to keep from laughing."Void contamination affecting the perception centers.Classic symptom."

"I'll strengthen the containment while you work," Alarick said, his magic immediately weaving into Ceries's barrier.The golden threads between him and Diana pulsed brighter, creating a bridge between their powers.

Inside, they found exactly the scene Ceries had described.Irideane Kallus, normally the most serious student in her year, was on all fours, chewing a corner of her bedspread while making impressive bovine sounds.Her roommates were in varying states of magical distress—one floating above her bed, another speaking backwards, and two collapsed in giggles with hair cycling through rainbow hues.

"Oh thank gods you're here," said the floating student, slowly rotating like a human mobile."We were practicing those shield variants when things got...weird."

"Residual void energy," Diana confirmed, meeting Alarick's eyes."Delayed reaction from this morning's disaster."

"Magical indigestion," Alarick nodded sagely."Always hits hours after consuming questionable spellwork."

For the next hour, they worked in perfect tandem to treat each student.Diana extracted the foreign magic while Alarick contained it, their connection creating a golden-hued bubble around each patient.The girls gradually returned to normal—though Irideane would definitely be hearing cow jokes until graduation.

"Remarkable teamwork," Ceries said when they emerged, the students safely resting."Almost as if you two share some kind of...intimate connection."

Diana felt heat rise to her face."Professional synchronicity," she said firmly.

"Very professional," Ceries replied with a knowing smirk."Which explains why the garden gnomes have formed a 'Diana and Alarick Appreciation Society' that meets nightly under your window."

"The gnomes need hobbies," Diana said, refusing to meet Alarick's eyes despite feeling his amused gaze."I need to check on the infirmary patients before turning in."

She walked away with dignity, knowing Alarick would follow.His footsteps caught up moments later.

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