Page 1 of Hybrid Hearts

Chapter One

amanda

Myfirstthreemonthsat Gemini Academy consisted of short, basic classes in subjects both familiar and unfamiliar. It was an obvious assessment of skills before we were separated into the classes where the real learning would begin. So the last thing I expected was to step into one of those new classes and immediately have my magic skills, or lack thereof, put under scrutiny by a warlock with an impatient disposition and a penchant for sudden, loud huffing noises.

I can feel the skin on my face burning hot with embarrassment as he watches my trembling fingers finally create fire after three desperate, pathetic attempts to do so. The tiny blue flame flickers and goes out within a few seconds, and I hold my breath, waiting for my next order.

“You were raised in a pack, yes?” he asks after a few painful moments of silence.

The witches around us whisper. I hear a few of them laughing.

I can’t stand this. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

I thought I’d gotten away from prejudice when I came to a place where hybrids are welcomed, exclusively, and with open arms.

I nod emphatically to answer his question without having to clear my throat.

He pulls a face. “Fine. I’ll give you extra assignments to get you up to speed. Next!”

He moves on to Rachel, and I try not to wilt too badly as I sink back down into my seat beside her.

The pretty blonde has dark blue streaks dyed through her hair courtesy of her blue-haired Omega true mate, and she’s wearing blue-black nail-polish today that matches her shirt. She smiles easily as she gets to her feet, but I can tell she’s almost as uncomfortable as I was about this little assessment session our new witchcraft professor sprung on the class before we could all get settled into our seats.

“What would you like to see?” she asks.

He frowns at her. “Show me the highest-level spell you’ve got.”

Her mouth tightens, and I watch a hint of doubt pass over her expression before she nods, and murmurs under her breath. She rises from the ground to levitate just above the desk, her head close to touching the ceiling. The shocked gasps that erupt around us make her wince lightly as she moves back to the ground.

“Bitten witch?” our professor asks, a hint of awe making his eyes shine.

I might not know much about magic, but I can tell Rachel is way more advanced than I am. She just doesn’t seem to like to show off. Other than an offer to help me learn some basics, which got me to flickering blue flames and small object levitations over the summer, she hasn’t talked much about the craft since I’ve known her.

“Yes, sir,” she mutters.

He nods, moving on after a second of hesitation.

Rachel sits back down with a sigh. She shrugs when I raise an eyebrow at her.

We’ll talk about it some other time, maybe. Right now, the rest of the students are underwhelming the warlock, causing him to huff and make cutting observations about their lives before they got to Gemini Academy. A lot of them are like me. Raised pack, so I’m guessing they were taught that their witch side had no place where they were, just like I was.

Some are more advanced, but none of them can do what Rachel just did.

She’s the most powerful witch in the class.

And she really doesn’t seem happy about that.

Chapter Two

rachel

WhydidIhaveto sit near the front of the class? I should have known an assessment would be one of the first things we’d have to sit through. This one might have been short, but it was a lot more revealing than it needed to be.

Goddess, why did I have to levitate?

I know that’s beyond average, and I don’t want to be pushed to achieve more just because I can.

That’s kind of why I picked it, I guess. Teleportation is higher up the chain, and it’s not common for witches my age, so I didn’t want to show it off as my biggest skill. I looked for something less impressive, and in my panic, I settled on levitation.

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