Page 81 of Bonds of Magic
I blinked. Since when did Cinda know anything about Cory? Part of me wanted to object, and tell her I could support Cory fine on my own. But that was childish. Maybe he could use some morepeople looking out for him. If I really cared about doing right by him, I shouldn’t stand in the way of that.
“That’s kind of you.” I was proud of how natural the words sounded.
She shrugged. “I know what it’s like to lose people.”
I tried to recall what I knew about Cinda. She’d come to Vesperwood a year ago. She hadn’t been at another university before, but Isaac had said she was highly recommended nonetheless.
Had he told me anything else? I had a nagging sense that he might have mentioned something about her family. Was there some kind of accident? I couldn’t remember, and it didn’t seem right to ask her point blank.
If Cinda noticed my pause, she didn’t seem bothered by it. She just said, “Would you mind calling him over here?”
“Cory,” I barked.
He looked up, confused, but as soon as he saw me, his eyes went hard.
“Over here.” I said. “Now.”
He sighed and walked over, his posture sullen. When he joined us, he didn’t even greet Cinda. He just stared down at his shoes. I was torn between the urge to tell him to act like an adult, and to beg for his forgiveness. I settled for silence instead.
“How are you feeling, Cory?” Cinda asked, when neither of us spoke.
“Fine.” He didn’t look up.
“Are you sure?
“Yeah. I’m good.” He flicked a glance at her, then resumed his study of the polished wood floor.
“Sweetheart, would you look at me? Please?” Her voice was so gentle.
He looked up, and she caught his chin in her fingertips. I wanted to scream. What right did she have to touch him? To stroke his cheek the way I wished I could?
She tilted his head this way and that, inspecting him for who knew what. His black eye and bruises had faded weeks ago. Maybe it was just an excuse to get him to look her in the eye.
“Any lingering pain?” she asked. “Any trouble breathing, or strain when you move?”
“No.” Cory held her gaze. “Really, I feel fine. Totally back to normal.”
“Well, alright.” She released his chin. “I’m glad to hear it. But you know you can come see me if you’re ever in pain, right?”
“Yeah.” He nodded emphatically.
I had the sense he wanted the conversation to end. I did too. Being this close to him made every nerve in my body light up, made them sing with pleasure.
It was torture.
“I guess that’s that.” Cinda clapped her hands together briskly and turned to me. “Thank you for letting me interrupt your class.”
“No problem.”
She cocked her head to the side. “How areyoufeeling these days? Any need for more—”
“I’m fine,” I said, as forcefully as I could. I didn’t need Cory thinking there was anything wrong with me. “But I really should get back to my students.”
“I’ll let you do that.”
She headed for the door, and I watched her leave. When she was gone, I turned, ready to tell everyone it was time to switch. But Cory was still standing in front of me.
“What did she mean?” he asked. “About how you were feeling?”
