Chapter 12
Cethin
I glance at Anja to make sure she's okay, and she gives me a reassuring smile in response. I know that breaking into a classroom is reckless, even if it is for a good reason, but that's not going to stop me. If this potion can help her, then it'll be worth it.
I call on my magic, the purple smoke sneaking into the lock and making it click. I push open the door and gesture for her to head inside.
"You'd think they'd use locks that would stop magical interference," she murmurs.
"Maybe they think no one is foolish enough to break into a lab in the first place."
"Seems like they're wrong," she responds.
She brushes past me, reaching out to trail her hand across my chest as she does, while Thistle sways on her shoulder, completely unaffected by the situation.
I don't know enough about familiars to be certain, but it does seem normal from what I've witnessed around the academy and other people who have them.
I close the door and place another spell on it that should let me know if anyone tries to open it unexpectedly. Though I do believe what I said to Anja, I think for the most part, the staff just don't expect students to end up here randomly.
I turn around to find her standing in the moonlight, her lips parted and the silver-white of her hair shining, making her look more beautiful than ever.
Mate.
The urge to ignore everything and kiss her overtakes me. Though in reality, I want far more than that. But I can't. I have to fight with that part of myself and make it wait until she knows she's sure about me. About us. And the closer we get, the harder it's going to be if she chooses to deny me.
"Are you okay?" she asks, stepping forward and lifting a hand.
Thistle flaps her wings and flies over to the window to look outside.
I clear my throat. "I'm fine."
She moves into the gloom, and for one eerie moment, I get a sense that she's something dark and dangerous. No doubt it's the magic within her. A lot of what she's saying makes it seem like she's some kind of omen-driven being, but I'll probably know more after she's drunk the potion.
"Where do you want me?" she asks.
Anywhere. Everywhere.
I push the thought aside. It's not what she's asking.
"Can you set up a cauldron?" I turn away so she can't see the purple that's no doubt ringing my eyes right now.
She doesn't seem to have figured out that it shows up when I'm thinking of the mate bond as well as when I do magic.
Which I guess makes sense when the mate bond is so tightly tied to my magic.
I sort through the ingredient drawers, being careful not to take too much of anything that will make it too obvious we've been in here. I doubt Professor Fairburn will be able to figure out it's us, but it's always better to play it safe.
Once I've got everything, I head over to where the cauldron is sitting on the small flame and start prepping everything.
"Do you want me to do anything?" Anja asks.
"No, I've got it," I assure her. "But I'm going to need some of your hair."
"My hair?" She reaches up to touch it.
"Well, technically, it can be anything. Blood, a fingernail, skin. I just figured hair would hurt the least." I start chopping the ingredients.
"Ah, right, that makes sense. How much?"
"Just a few strands should do," I respond.
"Okay." She tugs and pulls out some strands, setting them down on the workbench beside me. "Where did you learn potions?"
"My dad," I respond. "He's really good at them. Mum not so much, even though she's great in the kitchen."
"Mmm, I remember the shortbread." She gets an almost dreamy expression on her face. I don't blame her, my mum's baking is excellent.
"I think she's sending gingerbread next week."
"Biscuits or cake?"
"Which would you prefer?" I push the chopped mugwort root into the cauldron, getting a hiss in response.
"You can't ask your mum for baked treats based on what I prefer," she responds.
"Can't I?" It doesn't matter much to me which Mum sends, and I know she'll like it if I tell her what I want rather than my normal response of getting her to make whatever she feels like making.
I'm not trying to be awkward towards her about it.
I just really don't mind. Anything she makes is always delicious.
"Okay, I prefer the cake version."
"I'll let her know," I respond, happy that I can do something to make her happy, especially when it will also make Mum happy.
"And how are you going to do that?" She leans forward on the desk.
I raise an eyebrow, trying not to be too satisfied that she seems to be angling after that. "Are you asking if I've told my mum about you?"
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess so? I know we've been on one date, but..." she trails off and sighs. "Nope, you don't want to hear it."
"Don't I get to decide that?" I stir the cauldron and sprinkle a pinch of dried lavender over the top of the potion.
She takes a deep breath, and for a moment, I don't think she's going to tell me what's on her mind. "It's just that sometimes when we're together, I get a weird feeling. Like this is something big. Does that make sense?"
Shock travels through me, and I freeze in place as I try to process exactly what she's saying.
Mate. The word races around my head, partly in disbelief that she seems to be feeling some of the bond herself.
"See, I'm sorry, you didn't want to hear it," she mutters, turning away.
I reach out and catch her wrist in mine to stop her, regretting that there's a desk in the way. She turns back and meets my gaze, hope shining in there.
I glance at the potion, satisfied that all it needs to do is boil for five minutes. I head around to the other side of the desk and draw her to me, pushing loose hair out of her face so I can look into her eyes.
"I know what you mean," I say softly. "You're more than just a girlfriend to me."
She raises an eyebrow. "I'm your girlfriend now? And here I was thinking you were the one getting freaked out about commitment."
"Well, I'd like you to be my girlfriend," I respond, trailing my hand up her arm. "I don't want to see anyone else." I know that I could reject the mate bond myself, but I don't want to.
"I'd like that too." She goes up on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck.
My gaze slips down to her lips, and all thoughts disappear. The only thing on my mind is how beautiful she is, and how close she is to me. The scent of her shampoo and the twinkle in her eye as she waits for me to close the gap between us.
I lean in and brush my lips against hers, giving in to the desire growing inside.
She presses herself against me and lets out a small moan as I deepen the kiss, making it more difficult than before for me to hold back.
My hand slips down and finds the smooth patch of skin where her shirt has risen up, I trail my fingers over it, wanting to go further. Wanting her more than I've ever wanted anything.
The timer I set goes off, cutting through the haze, and we both pull back.
"We have got to start making out when things can't interrupt us," she mutters.
"I'm sure that can be arranged," I respond.
"Maybe after you shut that thing off."
I laugh and pull away from her despite that being the last thing I want to do. I make my way back around to the cauldron and place the strands of hair at the top. "All right, another ten minutes and we're done."
She nods. "What should I expect?"
"I don't know, I think it's going to depend on what your dream has to say to you."
"Ominous," she mutters.
I don't disagree, but this is the only way I know of that might help her find the answers to what's happening in her dreams. Hopefully, it'll be what she wants, and it won't end up revealing things she'd rather not know.