Chapter 56
Maeve
THE COURTYARD IS WHITE WITH snow, and frost crunches under my boots as I help Lyra lug a trunk down the castle stairs and toward the waiting carriage.
“This,” I say from between gritted teeth, “is ridiculous. Why do you need all of this for the break?”
Lyra and I drop the trunk beside the carriage, and the driver looks like he’s barely restraining the urge to frown.
“Because,” Lyra says after she catches her breath, “I’m going to visit Cairn, and I want all my outfits.” She blows a bouncy red curl out of her eyes and gives me a sideways smile. “Thanks for the help. You’re my favorite storm witch, you know.”
I roll my eyes and stretch out my back. “I’m the only storm witch you know.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not still my favorite.” She sidesteps the trunk and throws her arms around my neck, wrapping me in a warm hug tinged with the scent of cinnamon.
“Yeah, you’re my favorite fire witch too,” I say as I give her a squeeze.
Around us, carriages come and go, students bid one another goodbye, and the sun makes the snow twinkle.
Finals week is over, and the Yule holiday has officially begun.
Well, for everyone except me. I still have one last test before my work is done.
The demonstration before the fellowship board.
As Lyra pulls back, I spot Alina, Poppy, and Raelan making their way down the castle steps. Raelan has a satchel in each hand and one slung across his back, but it’s still less clothing than Lyra feels the need to bring on holiday.
Alina reaches us first, her light brown cheeks flushed pink from the cold and her blue hair pulled back with a silver clip. “Today’s the day,” she says. “Are you ready?”
The girls gather around me as Raelan goes to find their carriage.
Am I ready?
I’ve been working all semester toward this one moment. And though I probably should be nervous, I’m . . . not. Instead, I feel good. Like I’ve done everything I can to prepare, and all that’s left is to show the collective what I can do.
I give Alina a firm nod. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Poppy reaches out and takes my hand in her mittened one. Her glasses reflect the sunlight glittering off the snow. “Do you want us to stay?”
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. You and your mom have to get ready to go to Faunwood. And tell Aric I love him.”
Poppy gives me that little smile she always gets when someone mentions Aric. “I will.”
The girls are still huddled around me, wearing varying expressions of concern. It makes me laugh, and my breath steams around my mouth. “I’m serious. It’s going to be fine. You all need to go and start your holiday.”
Raelan returns from packing Alina’s and Poppy’s bags into their carriage. He’s dressed in black, as usual, with a long cloak that brushes the snow as he walks.
“We’re ready to go,” he says.
Alina turns her head to look up at him, and he presses a kiss to her forehead. Then she sighs and looks back to me.
“Okay,” she says, somewhat hesitantly. “I guess this is goodbye.”
“Nope. Stop that.” Lyra holds up a hand. “This is just Yule. We can get sappy at the end of next semester.”
My stomach squeezes at the reminder that we’ll all be graduating soon, just a handful of months from now.
Then, with one of her sideways smiles, Lyra pulls us all into a group hug.
“Get in here, dragon,” she says.
Raelan sighs, then wraps his arms around us, making me laugh and Poppy squeak as he gives us a huge tight hug.
After that, we break apart, and Lyra hops into her carriage, where the driver has finally got her trunk loaded.
She looks back at me after she’s climbed inside.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she says, crimson eyes shining.
Then she pulls the carriage door closed, and the horse sets off through the snowy courtyard.
I watch Raelan help Poppy and Alina into their carriage, and then that one sets off too. I wave as it rolls by. They lean out the window and wave back.
And then I’m left standing there alone.
Without my friends, the courtyard feels enormous and empty. Many of the other carriages have already departed, and campus feels quieter by the minute.
But deep in my chest, a thread still lingers, and I know that Severin is still on campus somewhere. Knowing he’s here settles me.
I draw in a slow breath, then let it out in a puff of fog.
Then I turn and head back toward the castle.
Because it’s time for my demonstration.
THE CORRIDORS ARE NEARLY SILENT as I make my way to the elemental magic wing.
Torches flicker in sconces along the stone walls, their flames dancing in the cool draft drifting through the castle.
And with every step, I remind myself that this is what I’ve been working toward, what I’ve dedicated so much of my time and energy to.
And, most of all, I remind myself that I’m ready.
I can do this.
When I get to the elemental magic practice chamber, the door is standing open, and light voices drift out from inside. One of them is Headmistress Moonhart, but I don’t recognize the other. Which means it’s probably someone from the collective.
I pause at the threshold and take a steadying breath, trying to ignore the strong tug just beneath my sternum. Then I step into the room.
The space is vast and circular. Frost twinkles on the windows lining one wall, muting the sunlight filtering through. At the far end of the chamber sit four figures: Headmistress Moonhart, Professor Azula, and two people dressed in the blue-gray cloaks of the Arcanum Collective.
They all look up at me.
I walk to the center of the room, my boots thudding softly across the stone floor. Headmistress Moonhart smiles.
“Allow me to introduce Miss Maeve Vandermere,” the headmistress says, holding out one hand to gesture to me.
“Miss Vandermere,” one of the board members says as I approach. “Thank you for your punctuality. We’ll be able to begin right on time.”
“Of course,” I say. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
The other board member—a witch with bronze skin and gold eyes—studies me thoughtfully. “Headmistress Moonhart speaks highly of your progress this term.”
A small smile tugs on my mouth, and I dip my head politely. “I’ve worked very hard this semester. I hope to make your journey here worth it.”
“We hope for the same,” the witch says. “We’ll begin shortly. You may take a moment to prepare.”
I nod once. Then I remove my academy robe and go to hang it on a hook beside the door. The air in the chamber is cold against my skin, but I use the chill to center myself. I take a moment to roll out my shoulders and steady my breathing, my fingers already tingling at my sides.
This space is familiar to me. I’ve practiced here innumerable times since starting my first year at the academy. And even the walls feel comforting now, after watching me try, fail, and flounder so many times. This academy has shaped me, and this is my moment to show them everything I’ve learned.
Everything I’ve become.
I’ll not shrink from it now.
My magic is ready.
I retake my place in the center of the room and reach up to tie my long hair back. And at that moment, footsteps sound behind me. And I know who it is without having to look.
The thread in my chest warms and pulses, stronger than it has all week, pleased with his proximity. I still don’t turn, trying to disguise my surprise.
“Professor D’Arques,” Headmistress Moonhart says. “So pleased you could join us. We’re about ready to begin.”
I finally glance over my shoulder. Severin closes the door to the practice chamber, then turns, and I meet his eyes. A subtle shiver goes down my spine.
They’re almost black, all hints of crimson gone from his gaze. He’s wearing his typical charcoal-gray button-up beneath a crisp black vest, and though his hair is swept back and he looks tidy and professional, I don’t miss the dark circles beneath his eyes or the weariness in his expression.
Our bond tugs, trying to pull me toward him. But I resist.
Severin peels his gaze away from me and inclines his head respectfully toward Headmistress Moonhart and the two visiting board members, then moves to take his place along the wall. It takes everything in me not to stare at him as he goes.
“Miss Vandermere,” the headmistress says. “If you’re prepared, we may begin.”
I draw a breath, trying to shake off the surprise of Severin’s arrival, and nod once. “I’m ready.”