Page 49 of Lethal

“And the blood vomit was gross.”

“That only happens if you’re trying to repress the changes,” Laila explains. “It’s because you weren’t prepared.”

“Which sucks. I’m the worst in the school because my mum never showed me any of this stuff.”

“Only like one in five people from magical families actually become a Guardian,” she says. “Sometimes more, but those are the averages. She probably hoped you’d just live a normal life and never find out.”

“Cooper said something like that when he brought me here. So are the auras who don’t come to the academy still part of the community?”

“It really depends on them.” She shrugs. “My mum never trained to be a Guardian, but she always lived in a magical family, so that’s her community. Like, most of the regular auras can cast spells. They might even have some empathy and an affinity for an element. They might see glimpses of the future or of spirits from another realm. But they aren’t as strong as we are. Some can live completely normal lives in the human world if they want.”

“Lucky them.” After a moment, I sigh. “I know I should be grateful that I’ve been chosen, but so far, nothing feels right. I’m so out of place.”

“You’ve been here, like, two days, Kira.” Laila rolls her eyes. “Give it time. And stop complaining.”

Her prickly side emerging makes me smile. At least I’m taking her mind off of Jenny Valetta’s memorial.

After lunch, we walk around the island for a while, and Laila shows me the cute café that the students go to at the weekends. “It’s run by the school custodians. And it gives us somewhere to socialise. There’s no pub or anything fun like that, though.”

“No alcohol at all? We’re all over eighteen.”

“Yeah, but the teachers don’t like it.” She makes a face. “They want us to concentrate on our calling. But we students often find a way around it.”

“How?”

She waggles her eyebrows. “Aside from the vodka I smuggled in, there are some spells that mimic the effects of alcohol.Andyou don’t get a hangover.”

“Okay, I’ve changed my mind about not liking it here. That sounds pretty awesome.”

“See?” She grins. “There are some benefits toliving here. And don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of the magic. You did well with the blood-magic ritual in class.”

I did, but I also had an ancient vampire in my mind, helping me. Though I suppose resurrecting said vampire could be classed as an additional win in the blood-magic category.

Before I can dwell on that, Laila asks, “So what’s the deal with you and Cooper?”

I hesitate, allowing my mind to feel around the edges and search for signs of Cyrus. Only when I’m convinced he isn’t there do I answer. “Honestly, I don’t know. I like him but maybe more as a friend.”

“Did you have a boyfriend back home?”

“No. Not even a date for six months. I was starting to think I had scales.”

“Careful,” Laila says. “There are people in the academy who actually do have scales.”

I stand stock-still. “For real?”

Laila blinks at me with her usual deadpan expression. Considering she’d told the truth aboutThe Great Gatsbyhaving a magical alternative, I decide she isn’t lying about this either.

I shrug then ask, “What about you?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t do relationships.”

“Casual hookups?”

She shakes her head again. Something about the expression on her face warns me not to ask any further questions on the subject, so I drop it.

Then Laila smiles and raises her arms. A gust of wind slaps us in the face, bringing sea salt with it. I gasp, breathing in gulps of air. Laila laughs, spins her finger, and creates atiny tornado. Then she pushes her hands back down, and it disappears.

I grin at her. “That’s seriously cool.”

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