Chapter 22
Aric
“NICE WORK, EVERYONE!” I CALL out, jogging toward the center of the field, where my teammates are catching their breath. The runes on the field are still glowing faintly from our last drill. “Let’s call it for today.”
Leo wipes sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “That last play was brutal, man. I thought Callum was going to flatten me.”
Callum, one of our defensive players, grins and claps Leo on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. “Almost did. You’re getting faster though.”
“Before you all head out,” I say, gesturing for the team to gather closer, “I want to talk strategy for a minute.” They all huddle up around me, and I project my voice a bit to make sure everyone can hear.
“We’ve been working on speed and agility, but we’re not using the rune zones to our advantage the way we could be. ”
The field is marked with glowing runes—areas where the arcane sphere’s magic changes when it passes through, making it move faster or become encased in fire or ice. Some teams try to avoid them because they make the arcane sphere harder to control, but that’s exactly why we should be using them.
“The runes can create chaos,” I continue, “but if we use them right, we’ll have an edge over teams that avoid them. Next practice, I want to run drills exclusively with the runes.”
A few of the players groan, but most—including Mona—nod in agreement.
“Trust me,” I say with a grin. “When we finally crush the Sigil Strikers by using the runes to our advantage, it’ll be worth it.”
“Hexrush!” Leo shouts, pumping a fist into the air.
“Hexrush!” the rest of the team echoes, and I can’t help but smile at their enthusiasm.
As everyone starts to disperse, heading toward the locker rooms or gathering their things from the sidelines, I bend to grab my water flask from where I left it near the edge of the field.
I take a long drink, the cool water a relief against my parched throat, then tip the rest over my head, letting it run down my face and neck.
The late-afternoon sun is still warm despite the autumn chill in the air, and I’m covered in sweat. My tunic is plastered to my chest and back, and I can feel my hair sticking to my forehead where it’s escaped from my topknot.
I’m just about to head to the locker room when something makes me pause—a prickling awareness at the back of my neck, like someone’s watching me.
I turn, scanning the area near the athletics building.
And there she is.
Poppy stands at the edge of the field, her cloak rustling in the breeze. The golden sunlight catches her lavender hair, making it shine, and she’s wearing that nervous expression I’ve come to recognize—and low-key adore.
Goddess, I really want to kiss her again.
A few of the other players watch me as I grab my bag and towel and jog over to her, unable to keep the smile off my face. “Hey, Brains. What are you doing all the way out here? Shouldn’t you be at dinner?”
Her cheeks flush pink, and she adjusts her glasses, looking anywhere but at me. “I was . . . looking for you.”
“Yeah?” I set my bag down and run a hand over my damp hair. I really need a bath. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. I mean, sort of. I just . . .” She takes a breath, twining her fingers together in front of her. “Can we talk for a minute?”
“Of course.” I gesture toward one of the benches near the field. “Wanna sit?”
She nods, and we walk over together. I try not to notice how small she feels next to me or how the autumn breeze plays with the hem of her skirt, teasing me as the fabric brushes along her legs, which are clad in dark tights.
Focus, Vandermere.
We sit, and I turn to face her, giving her my full attention. “What’s up?”
Poppy fidgets with a strand of her hair, wrapping it around her finger. “Professor Silvermoon asked me to do something for her. She needs me to go to Faunwood this weekend—it’s a village about a day’s travel from here—to pick something up from her sister for the ball.”
“Faunwood,” I repeat, trying to place it. I know it sounds familiar.
Then I remember.
Ma and Pa took me there for Yule once when I was a boy. I’m not sure how old I was—ten, maybe? We went to the little shops and ate way too much food and stayed at the inn, and it was a perfect holiday. One of the last before Ma got sick.
I try to push the wave of sadness away, focusing on Poppy again. “Yeah, I know of it. Pretty rural, right?”
“Yes.” She nods quickly. “I’m supposed to leave Friday evening and come back Sunday afternoon, and I . . .” She pauses, nibbling her bottom lip between her teeth.
I’d bite her lip if she’d let me.
“I’m nervous about going alone,” Poppy continues, pulling my attention back. “I asked the girls if any of them could come with me, but they all have plans.”
“That’s rough,” I say sympathetically, though I’m still not sure what she’s getting at. I’m exhausted from classes and practice, and my brain definitely isn’t keeping up—plus I’m fighting not to keep looking at her thigh where it’s almost touching mine on the bench.
“It is,” she agrees, her voice small. She’s looking down at her hands now, not meeting my eyes. “Which is why I wanted to ask you something, and please just say no if you can’t or don’t want to, but I thought . . . maybe . . .”
Silence falls between us, and even though she’s not looking at me, I can see color creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. It’s too damn adorable.
“Poppy,” I say gently, reaching out to take one of her hands so she’ll stop picking at her thumbnail. “It’s okay. Just ask me.”
She takes a deep breath and finally looks up at me, her glasses winking in the sunlight. “Would you want to come with me? To Faunwood?”
The words rush out of her so quickly that for a brief moment, I’m not sure I heard her right. “You want me to come with you?”
She nods, her brow furrowing as she bites her lip again. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and it’s an entire weekend, and we’d be staying at an inn, and maybe it’s too much too soon, but I just thought—”
“Yes.”
She blinks, and her lips pucker into a beautiful surprised O. “What?”
“Yes,” I repeat, grinning at her. “I’ll go with you.”
“Really?” Her eyes widen behind her glasses. “You don’t have to think about it or check your schedule or—”
I laugh and squeeze her hand. It’s small in mine, cool against my warm skin. “I want to go. A weekend trip with you? There’s no way I’d turn that down.”
It’ll mean skipping practice, but I can miss one, especially for this.
Relief floods her face. She lets out a big breath, her entire posture softening. “Oh, thank the goddess. I was so nervous you’d say no.”
I furrow my brow and tip my head. “Why would I say no?”
“Because it’s a whole weekend, and I didn’t want you to feel pressured or uncomfortable or—”
“Hey.” I reach up to tuck a wispy strand of lavender hair behind her cute little ear, which is just as red as her cheeks. “I want to spend time with you. More time with you. As much time as you’ll let me.”
She ducks her head, but a smile pulls at her lips.
“Besides,” I add, trying to lighten the mood, “it could be an adventure.”
“An adventure,” she repeats softly, like she’s testing out the word.
“Yeah. We’ll pick up whatever Professor Silvermoon needs, explore the village a bit, maybe find some good food.” I bump her shoulder gently with mine, being careful not to send her toppling from the bench. “It’ll be fun. And you won’t have to be nervous because I’ll be there.”
She looks up at me then, her perfect lips curving into a smile. “Thank you, Aric. Really. This means a lot to me.”
“Of course.” I give her hand one more squeeze before letting go. “So, Friday evening? What time?”
“The carriage is picking us up around four, I think. After classes let out.”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you in the entrance hall after cooking class.” I pause, then add with a grin, “Should I pack anything special? Do I need to bring my dancing shoes?”
She laughs, and the sound makes warmth curl through my veins.
“I don’t think there will be any dancing. Just . . . regular traveling clothes.”
“Got it. Regular clothes, no dancing shoes.” I stand and offer her my hand to help her up. “Anything else I should know?”
She takes my hand and lets me pull her to her feet.
“Just that . . . we’re staying at an inn called the Golden Lantern.
Professor Silvermoon is arranging everything.
I think we’ll be able to get separate rooms, and .
. .” Her voice seems to get stuck in her throat, and she’s back to not looking at me again.
“Ah,” I say, seeing where her mind is going. “I’m not expecting anything. We’re going on a trip together, that’s all. Whatever you’re comfortable with is what we’ll do.”
The very thought of being alone in a room with Poppy makes my athletics shorts feel tight, and I banish the image as quickly as I can.
She nods, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Okay. That sounds good.”
We stand there for a moment, and I’m acutely aware of how close she is, how the setting sun makes her hair glow, how her hand is still in mine.
“I should probably go take a bath,” I say reluctantly, gesturing to my sweat-soaked tunic. “I’m kind of disgusting right now.”
“You’re not disgusting,” she says quickly, then seems to realize what she said and flushes. “I mean, you’re fine. You’re . . . You look fine.”
I can’t help but grin. Everything she does makes my heart want to implode. “Thanks, Brains.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “I should get back to the dorm anyway. The girls are probably dying to know what you said.”
“Tell them I said yes because I’m considerate and adventurous and—”
She laughs, the sound light and airy, and I decide right then that making Poppy laugh is one of my new favorite things.
“I’ll see you Friday,” she says, starting to back away slowly, though I’ve not yet released her hand.
Before she can pull away, I take one step forward, closing the distance between us. Then I bend to press a kiss to Poppy’s cool cheek. She freezes, and I almost imagine I can hear the rapid beating of her heart. As I straighten up, I say, “I’ll be there.”
She gives me one last shy smile, her cheeks truly flaming now, then turns and starts walking back toward the castle. I watch her go, and she glances back once to wave at me before disappearing around the corner of the athletics building.
A weekend in Faunwood. With Poppy.
Holy shit.
Leo appears at my side, making me jump. “Dude, was that Poppy?”
“Yeah,” I say, still staring at the spot where she disappeared.
“And you’re just standing here grinning like an idiot?”
I turn to glare at him, but I can’t quite wipe the smile off my face. “Shut up.”
“You’ve got it bad, man,” Leo says, shaking his head. “Really bad.”
For once, I think he’s right. But it’d physically pain me to tell him that, so I just keep my mouth shut.
I grab my bag and head toward the locker room, already mentally planning what to pack for the trip while Leo trails along, his usual running commentary going into one of my ears and out the other.
A whole weekend with Poppy. Just the two of us.
I can’t remember the last time I was so excited for something.
As long as I can keep it in my pants—which I absolutely must do—this should go great.