Page 1 of Unbound Magic (Academy of the Elites 4)

1

Raven

The clock ticked ominouslyin the background. The black, dead branches of the tree showed no signs of life today. Even the yellow eyes of the carved owl were missing. It was as if the clock didn’t want to be here.

I knew I didn’t want to be here.

At least this time while sitting in Dr. Green’s office I wasn’t alone. Ben was leaning against a cabinet while Luka paced the office. Matt was in the chair next to me and Zach was looking at all the books on the shelf against the wall.

None of us said it, but we were nervous. We’d gone to bed after the trials, giddy with anticipation of what it could look like after graduation.

I was still terrified, but there was something amazing in knowing that I had their support. We’d discussed the possibility of me joining any of their family businesses, but none of the options had resulted in us staying together. I didn’t have an answer for that part of our problem.

The door opened and I stopped bouncing my knees as tension spiked through me. Dr. Green’s heavy footfalls sounded behind me and I caught myself holding my breath.

He cleared his throat and settled into the chair behind his desk. Luca, Zach, and Ben walked toward the seats and stood behind me. I could feel the heat of them there and it calmed me.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he said.

I stared at his pink face. His fangs hung over his lower lip and his jaw was set. He looked tense. That wasn’t a good sign.

“What is it?” Luka asked.

“I submitted the results of the trials to the board and they rejected my recommendation to allow you all to graduate,” he said.

“What?” Ben asked with a growl in his voice.

“What does that mean, exactly?” I asked.

“It means you’ll have to finish the semester,” he said. “They declared the trials a farce and won’t certify them as official. They say to consider it a practice.”

His upper lip is curled enough to show more of his fangs than usual. I can tell he’s annoyed by the decision, but it seems his hands are tied.

“So all we have to do is take the actual trials in the spring and we’re good to graduate?” I asked.

He nods.

I was surprised how relieved I felt. I had no idea what I’d do when I left here and this gave me a little more time to figure it out. It was actually comforting. I had more time with my mates and with my friends. I had more time to figure out this world and where I fit.

And I had more time to try to figure out how to keep all my mates together when we left this place.

“It’s not so bad,” Zach said. “We didn’t really get a chance to show what we have anyway, right?”

Matt blew out a breath. “I was looking forward to getting out of here, but I suppose it could be worse. What’s a few more months?”

“It’s more time for someone to find Raven in here and attack her,” Ben said.

My stomach knotted. He was right, so far, I really hadn’t been safe here.

“But also, more time for her to learn her magic so she can actually defend herself,” Luka said.

“That’s true,” I agreed. “I’m just tapping into what my magic means. When I got here, it was untamed, but I still don’t feel like I have a handle on it. Especially now that I know I’m half fae. I do need to learn how to control it.”

“She’s safe here,” Dr. Green said.

“That’s what you said before,” Ben said.

“Ben, the thief is gone,” I said.

---