Chapter 28 Monroe
MONROE
Iexpect to be groggy waking from rejuvenation, but the buzzing of magic beneath my fingertips is a live wire surging through my veins.
Now I understand why they take these respites.
This is the strongest I’ve felt since my death, as if all the magical energy I’ve been gifted has been bottled up inside my body, fizzy with purpose and ready to explode.
I yawn and reach for my glasses.
“Come on, Sleeping Beauty, we better get to City Hall,” Cherri calls through the door.
Today, all the Blooms will be processed for our assignments.
“One minute. I need to get dressed!”
With a wiggle of my nose, I’m donned in a black pleated skirt with matching suspenders and a long-sleeved sheer white blouse over a tank top.
I twist in the mirror, admiring the black heeled boots climbing up my thigh, and then glance at the clock in my room.
The third hand has moved for the first time. It’s officially spring.
Though I can’t remember everything I dreamed these past three months, there were times I was almost lucid, if it were even possible.
In those moments, the self-doubt crept in, thorny thoughts piercing my consciousness.
Then, out of nowhere, a soothing voice would clip them at the root, reminding me of all the things I’d overcome.
The all-nighters I spent studying for exams, the months by Charlotte’s bedside, the grueling course load for my doctorate.
The days I moved from sunrise to sunset, meeting clients, volunteering, fostering bunnies, and checking on Beth and Richard.
“You’ve done hard things. You’ll do hard things. And you’re not alone.”
It’s become my mantra, a sharpened weapon clipping those thorny vines from creeping in.
When my dreams weren’t plagued with doubts, they revolved around a tall, tatted professor with soft-sage skin and vivid lavender eyes.
It was easy fighting my attraction in the daylight.
The sun illuminated all the reasons why I couldn’t act on it.
But as I slipped into rejuvenation, protected in the shade, my subconscious unfurled one imaginative desire at a time.
I’d expended so much energy keeping my secret during my time at the Conservatory, all the fight had left me those three-and-a-half months.
So I let myself imagine, let myself want—and have—over and over.
With every step toward City Center, the dreams skim the surface of my mind.
If my secret fantasies keep my magic from being stifled, then I suppose I’ll have to harness my horny energy. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with the thoughts, so long as they remain rooted in my imagination.
“Someone’s excited about their assignment,” Cherri says, her attention trailing behind us. I peer over my shoulder and watch purple petals flutter down the grassy path. Furrowing my brows, I scan for the cause, until I land on it.
My fingertips.
“I’m excited for us both.” I feign nonchalance and catch a few petals in my palms. While I’m sure Lisse will be stunning, I’m more interested in finding out how everyone is doing from Cherri when we slip back here in a few weeks once we get transportation privileges.
Dani stands at the top of the stairs leading into City Hall, looking as unhappy as I’d expect.
Whatever they did to earn the punishment of retraining with the Conservatory and now having to go back out to do spring must have been pretty bad in the eyes of Fate and the other Radixes.
Even so, they didn’t seem remorseful or ashamed about their actions.
We’re ushered into the auditorium where Blooms step one by one onto the center of the flower-shaped dais.
They shrink down into their shifted bunny form, and I press onto my toes, trying to get a better look.
Springing off their hindlegs, there’s a flash of blinding light, and they’re gone.
Does it hurt at all? How long will it take?
The questions hurl themselves at me, the line becoming shorter and shorter until it’s our turn.
“Do you want to go first?” I ask Cherri.
“Sure.” She lifts her chin. Guess I’m not the only nervous one.
The harbingers wave her up to the dais and her eyes dart to me. “Meet back here in two weeks?”
“See you in two weeks,” I reply with a nod.
Striding onto the dais, Cherri becomes a black puffball with peeks of auburn.
She gives me a final glance before jumping into the small, dark hole surrounded by dirt.
Light flashes when her bunny form reaches the end of the visible tunnel, and I shield my eyes with my forearm, blinking away the spots in my vision.
“Next.”
It takes me a moment to stop staring at the blank space where my friend was standing and register that they are calling on me.
“Sorry,” I say, bumbling up the last step onto the dais. Nerves flutter along the magic buzzing in my veins. Even with a whole line going before me, it feels as though everyone’s watching me.
I close my eyes, recalling my mantra.
You’ve done hard things. You’ll do hard things. And you’re not alone.
With my bones cracking, body contorting, fur and whiskers sprouting, the auditorium grows around me and the Blooms become giants. I stare at the hole in front of me, perfectly bunny-sized.
Here we go.
I leap forward and dive into the dark tunnel. Light splashes me with warmth as I’m whisked through the veil, whipping on a breeze until I’m dropped in a field of hyacinth buds.
My chest heaves and I sputter out a few coughs, the lungfuls of floral and dirt aromas potent.
Jolting upright, I scramble to my paws, shuffling out of the flower bed.
I made it.
People wander paved pathways, weaving between grass and sprouting bunches of blue flowers.
I scamper toward the path nearest to me, drinking in the vibrant colors, the murmurs of onlookers, and the rustling of nature along the breeze.
I’m both awestruck and overwhelmed, shivering against the slight chill in the air.
“Can’t believe you were hoping to go to the Midwest US,” Skylar scoffs, kneeling to primp a lopsided tulip at her feet. Realistically I know how idiotic it sounds. No one would pick the Midwest over this floral wonderland.
I twitch my whiskers and shift back into my harbinger form, quickly snapping on an olive-green wrap dress.
“What do you think of Lisse? Though more specifically, this is Keukenhof.” Skylar stands up and tosses a hand like we aren’t in the most spectacular botanical garden I’ve ever seen.
Not that I’ve seen many. I can’t remember the last time I left the city and traveled.
Regardless, this location is breathtaking, but we aren’t the ones meant to enjoy it.
“I can’t believe this is where we will spend the next few months.”
Skylar sighs. “Technically, this is only one small portion of our territory. We have all of the Netherlands.”
Our job is a seemingly lovely task, but I’m a bit concerned how much upkeep it’s going to take.
I turn my face as a family stands up ahead, posing for a picture. They don’t notice me, though, despite falling out of the sky. I’m completely invisible to this world. Skylar runs right in front of them.
“Skylar!”
She drops into a dramatic pose, switching between blowing a kiss, sticking her tongue out, and giving the little girl beside her a pair of bunny ears. “Come on, live a little.”
Live a little?
I ball my fists at my sides. There is no more living for us. And now I’m practically on the other side of the world from everyone I care about with no update until I can see Cherri.
Skylar gets up and twirls down the ribbon of blue grape hyacinths, nudging me with her elbow.
Dancing within the flower bed, she shakes her hips and plays the air guitar, reminding me of the night we spotted her boogying at the Looking Glass.
“No more dean. No more books. No more professors’ dirty looks. ”
“I don’t think that’s how the song goes.” It’s hard to be annoyed with her when she’s so thrilled to be here. Besides, she’s not wrong, this place is stunning. I sound like an ungrateful ass.
“Suit yourself.” She shrugs and continues rocking out in her black tank and frayed jean shorts. “All I know is I’m going to enjoy my time earthside. Haven’t been back in over five years.”
“Five years?” Cherri had mentioned it taking Blooms a while or multiple courses to be ready, but I’d assumed Skylar had been a natural—not that she’d been through classes already.
If she’s been dead five years, she must have been pretty young. “How old were you when you became a Bloom?”
“Seventeen.” She says it like it doesn’t sting, but I know it’s got to. I had another twenty-plus years that I’m a whole lot more grateful for now.
“That must have been difficult for you.”
“It was.” She reaches down and tends to the soil, nudging a few sad sprouting tulips to perk up. “I struggled a lot after I died. Then I went through the regular course twice. I almost gave up because I felt like such a failure.”
“Can Blooms even do that?”
“No. You basically take the course until you pass, but there was a lot going on the second time around, and I had no desire to go back… Just wasn’t my time, I suppose… Anyway, when they offered the expedited session this year, I jumped at the chance to finally graduate the Conservatory.”
“Congrats,” I say, realizing how much I’ve taken it for granted that I’m earthside less than a year after the accident.
Skylar points to another spot where the soil’s been kicked up, exposing the flowers’ roots.
I bend down, drawing the soil over like it’s a blanket with my magic.
There’s a rush of breeze, and next to me, Skylar’s body goes deadly still.
I do too, unsure what the prickling is at the back of my neck.
A few dark-purple anemones flutter to the ground.
“Radix,” Skylar says, standing up and brushing the dirt off her palms. The vein along her neck jumps. “We didn’t expect to see you here. I thought Radix Daneel was meant to be our chaperone?”
If Dani isn’t the Radix who’s come, who is?
I stand up and turn as a smooth feminine voice cleaves the space. “They are, but since we have so many new Blooms this year and are still trying to find out what’s been going on with the Storms, I was asked to supervise as well.”
The ache in my chest is hard to ignore. Am I disappointed Briar isn’t the one here, or is this some strange instinctual desire to be around him?
“Is it just the two of you?” she asks, barely casting me a glance.
“As far as we know. But Monroe and I have it covered.”
Corrigan’s attention darts to my partner, and the air sapped away by her scrutiny finally replenishes. Being under her supervision is going to be just swell.
On the other hand, Professor Briar could have been the one to supervise us. Suddenly, her glares feel much more welcome. Maybe once some time passes and I’m far away, the bond with Briar will finally wither, unreplenished, until I don’t feel it—him—anymore.
I can only hope.
“Will you be our point of contact for the entirety of spring?” Skylar asks, shoulders pulled back, chin held high.
“Yes.” The corner of Corrigan’s lip peels up, and it’s like being carved up the middle. “Why? Were you hoping for someone else?”
Her gaze drags over to me and lingers.
Maybe…
“No,” Skylar replies. “Just curious.”
Does Corrigan sense the bond? I train my face, not wanting to give anything away.
It’s not like she has anything to worry about.
She can have him. My gaze drops to the anemone, recalling the ones climbing Briar’s spine.
Maybe they are mates, but I can’t help noting her flourish marks don’t have the telltale rose-gold embellishments that come with a claimed bond.
The Radix’s brows furrow, her hot-pink stare burning into me.
“There’ll be about a one week overlap for this location, so don’t be surprised if you see a few Frosts around while you get started.
You’ll want to use your magic to draw the sunlight and thaw any plants coated in snow or ice in the mornings. ”
“When will the Frosts be done doing their work?” I ask. We haven’t been told much about the other seasonal harbingers, and I have no clue what to expect when we come across them.
“Any day now. It’s a gradual shift while they make final preparations for the transfer of seasons.
” Radix Corrigan watches Skylar as she speaks, the young Bloom kneels down, paying more attention to primping the petals in the flower bed at our feet than the information being given to us.
The Radix frowns then clears her throat.
“They are usually very easygoing about working together. It’ll be the Storms you’ll have to be vigilant about come May.
Watch out for each other and, whatever you do, stay out of their way. ”
There’s a hint of warning, some unspoken threat chiseled into her words.
“Of course we will.” I draw my best smile to my lips, hoping it sells all the confidence I’m lacking since her unexpected visit.
“Yeah, sure thing, boss.” Skylar stands, slipping her hands into her back pockets.
“Good.” The Radix retreats a step, and the tension melts with each moment closer to her departure. “I will be back in a few days. If you need anything before then, do not hesitate to call on me.”
We both nod.
Before I can clarify how we can reach her, she vanishes on the breeze.
“Up for exploring?” Skylar grins, already moving on.
I wish I had that attention span, but my thoughts spin and spin over how having Radix Corrigan monitoring us versus Dani, who seems unbothered by basically anything, will fare for us this season.
“We’ve more than earned a little fun after breaking out of Conservatory hell. ”
“Sure, why not.”
My partner puts her hands out in front of her, and a pair of floracycles appear with helmets hanging off their handlebars. I’ve only seen a handful of folks riding around on them in Florezca.
“I’ve never ridden on one before.” My voice cracks, filled with nerves and excitement.
“Well then, it’s the perfect time to learn,” Skylar says, straddling the lavender one and patting the robin’s-egg blue floracycle beside her.
“How far do you think they can go?”
“I’m not sure.” She winks and revs her engine. “But I think it’s time we find out.”