Page 6 of Monster’s Magic

And the day I found out my parents were not who I thought they were at all.

I knew my parents were both necromancers and both came from families of necromancers, but I didn’t expect to come into my full power until my twenty-fifth birthday. I’m barely twenty-one as it is and being legal age to drink is what some consider life goals. To me, it’s just a number.

The accident report turned up nothing unusual. It was an accident. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I couldn’t help the gnawing suspicion something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on it; the feeling of knowing the word you want to say, and it’s on the tip of your tongue, but for the life of you, you cannot pull said word from your brain. That’s how I feel about the report. Something is missing from it.

How do I know?

I don’t. That’s just it. I don’t know. It’s just that feeling.

Finishing my tea, I take in one last inhale of air when I sense someone is watching me. Only one person knows I come out here, so I smile.

“Hi, Evie.”

My best friend in this new place I call home is Evangeline Woods. I only called her by her full name once before she corrected me to Evie.

Evie waves at me like the lunatic she is. I smile her way and a little giggle escapes me when she slips down the rocky slope that leads down to where I’m standing.

Like me, she’s thick with voluptuous curves, however, that’s the only aspect about us that’s similar. She’s blonde with the purest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re like, a morning-sky-blue, just at the peak of dawn. Her skin is flawless with an olive tone and she reminds of the actress who playedBlack Widowin the comic action movies.

“Hey,” she calls out next to me. “I thought I’d find you down here.”

“Yay, you found me.” My voice sounds deadpan.

She takes my wrist in hers and tugs my mug over. “Damn, I was hoping to drink some.”

“Get your own,” I scold and pull my arm back. “Besides, this is my own concoction.”

She lifts her brow. “Sure it is. What did you do, empty a few tea bags, and call it tea-a-la-Teagan?”

I feign a gasp. “You know me so well.”

She giggles, then slides her arm around my waist. Evie tilts her head onto my shoulder and sighs. “I wanted to make sure you were all right. I know what today is and—”

“I’m fine,” I say, cutting her off. “Truly. I’m good.” I don’t move because I enjoy having her next to me. She’s the closest thing to family I have and I’d give anything not to experience that loss again.

“We start the new extreme physical education class today,” she muses. “I wonder what is extreme about it?”

I shrug the shoulder she’s not leaning on. “I don’t know, maybe an obstacle course? Or maybe how to fly on a broom? Ooh, I know! Defensive magic!”

Evie lifts her head and steps back a few paces. She crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t imagine something named extreme sports or extreme physical ed or whatever it’s called is going to give two shits about defensive magic. This is all physical, not metaphysical.”

I stick my tongue out at her and she moves quickly to grab it. I laugh and bat her hand away. “We also start a new class with mirror transport. That’ll make things so much easier.” I never understood why first years could not use the mirrors to move from place to place but rules are rules.

* * *

Back inside the academy,orientation has begun for newbies and schedules are being handed out. Having mine in hand already, I look down and find my first class is in The Study of Ancient Runes. Reading the room numbers, I turn on my heel and slam into a wall of muscle and almost fall backward.

A set of strong hands grasps my arms and rights me. I look into the eyes ofthemost beautiful man I’ve ever seen. But he’s not man, he’s one of the reasons this academy exists.

This man… he’s a monster.

The beauty is suddenly squelched by the fear of the beast before me. He releases me and I take a few steps back.

“You should be more careful.” His voice is as menacing as his appearance. It’s dark, heavy, with a slight growl. His hair is white and long, flowing past his shoulders. I take in his thick, muscular form: he pairs his leather pants with an equally dark leather vest… with no shirt underneath. There are runes covering most of his body, at least the skin of his flesh I can see. His ears are pointed like an elf, and his eyes… the irises are a reddish orange and I could swear there’s a fire burning behind them. And I cannot stop staring. He’s a monster at this academy and one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen in my life.

He lifts a brow and I realize I’m gawking. I clear my throat. “M-Maybe you should pay more attention to where you’re walking and not stand so close to people.”

The titan before me steps toward me and once more, into my space. He touches my chin and tilts my head up until I’m looking into his eyes once more. I’m close enough to see his eyesareburning!

---