didn’t say anything about being important. I’m supposed to blend in. Clara purses her lips, waiting for me to respond. Why hadn’t I stayed in my room like Seth said? “I, uh—”
“Clara! Hey!” a male voice calls.
She lifts a few inches off the ground, looking over my shoulder, and smiles. Like, a real, actual, full-faced smile. “Keiran!”
I turn. There’s a group of creatures passing through the trees, some winged, a few hoofed, and one who looks as human as I do. His eyes are on us, and he says something to the others as he changes direction and heads our way.
I could use this time to exit. Maybe she wouldn’t notice if I slipped away. I glance around, not sure which direction to go in.
Clara lights up when the guy reaches us, floating around me to be closer to him. “Hi there,” she coos, shattering my assumption that she’s a hateful hater who hates everyone.
“Hey, you,” he replies with a grin, then looks at me. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Keiran.”
He’s taller than me, with broad shoulders and the kind of bronzed tan I’ll never have. His eyes are the most unusual shade of gray, with a shadow of pale blue flames around his pupils.
The thing is, he’s gorgeous. Ridiculously gorgeous. From his dimples to his flawless skin to the hint of muscle definition beneath his shirt, he’s the kind of pretty that doesn’t actually exist in real life. Airbrushed pretty.
“I’m…” I have a name. I can’t think of it at this exact moment, but I’m certain I have one.
Keiran laughs. “No pressure. I’ll just call you Freckles.”
My hand immediately flies to my nose, the only place on my body with a scattering of freckles on it.
Clara rolls her eyes. “It’s George, or something.”
Her voice makes my teeth clench. I close my eyes and give myself a shake. “My name is Charlie Page. I got here yesterday.”
“Nice to meet you, Charlie Page.” Keiran’s messy hair matches his outfit—carefully wrinkled khaki shorts and a red T-shirt that looks like he picked it up off the floor. There’s a blue ribbon pinned in a loop to the front of his shirt. He grins, and a few strands of blond hair fall across his forehead.
Of course his teeth are perfect. Of course they are.
“She’s a first-year,” Clara says, like she’s announcing my leprosy. She places a dainty hand on Keiran’s shoulder. “We’re about to head over to the library to let PC know there’s a harpy in the area.”
We are? I didn’t realize I actually had to go with her.
Fantastic. My first morning in Ellauria and I’m about to go in front of PC without Seth. He is going to kill me.
Keiran’s brow lowers. “A harpy? Those were banished ages ago. How’d it get in?”
It’s the same question Clara asked earlier, and without the sharp tone, I realize the significance of what he’s saying. Seth had said Bigfoot couldn’t return after she was banished. I’d assumed that this was basically a suggestion or a rule put in place, but now I’m guessing banishment is supposed to be much more permanent.
Is another spell slipping?
“Well, she says she didn’t summon it, but you know how stupid first-years can be.” Clara looks down her nose at me. “If I find out you’re lying, PC will strip your powers for a month.”
I huff and speak slowly so she can understand. “I didn’t summon anything. I don’t even know how.”
“We’ll see. Regardless, it flew off toward the mountains, so at least it was heading out of Ellauria. PC will need to alert the rest of the territories in the mystical realm.” She flips her hair and runs her finger down Keiran’s arm. “Want to come with us? You and I could go to the lake after.”
“Sure.” Keiran shrugs. “I’ll walk with you.”
Clara plants herself beside him, linking her arm through his. I take a spot on his other side, doing my best to ignore her and focus on how I’m going to explain any of this to Seth. I guess there’s no choice other
“Clara! Hey!” a male voice calls.
She lifts a few inches off the ground, looking over my shoulder, and smiles. Like, a real, actual, full-faced smile. “Keiran!”
I turn. There’s a group of creatures passing through the trees, some winged, a few hoofed, and one who looks as human as I do. His eyes are on us, and he says something to the others as he changes direction and heads our way.
I could use this time to exit. Maybe she wouldn’t notice if I slipped away. I glance around, not sure which direction to go in.
Clara lights up when the guy reaches us, floating around me to be closer to him. “Hi there,” she coos, shattering my assumption that she’s a hateful hater who hates everyone.
“Hey, you,” he replies with a grin, then looks at me. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Keiran.”
He’s taller than me, with broad shoulders and the kind of bronzed tan I’ll never have. His eyes are the most unusual shade of gray, with a shadow of pale blue flames around his pupils.
The thing is, he’s gorgeous. Ridiculously gorgeous. From his dimples to his flawless skin to the hint of muscle definition beneath his shirt, he’s the kind of pretty that doesn’t actually exist in real life. Airbrushed pretty.
“I’m…” I have a name. I can’t think of it at this exact moment, but I’m certain I have one.
Keiran laughs. “No pressure. I’ll just call you Freckles.”
My hand immediately flies to my nose, the only place on my body with a scattering of freckles on it.
Clara rolls her eyes. “It’s George, or something.”
Her voice makes my teeth clench. I close my eyes and give myself a shake. “My name is Charlie Page. I got here yesterday.”
“Nice to meet you, Charlie Page.” Keiran’s messy hair matches his outfit—carefully wrinkled khaki shorts and a red T-shirt that looks like he picked it up off the floor. There’s a blue ribbon pinned in a loop to the front of his shirt. He grins, and a few strands of blond hair fall across his forehead.
Of course his teeth are perfect. Of course they are.
“She’s a first-year,” Clara says, like she’s announcing my leprosy. She places a dainty hand on Keiran’s shoulder. “We’re about to head over to the library to let PC know there’s a harpy in the area.”
We are? I didn’t realize I actually had to go with her.
Fantastic. My first morning in Ellauria and I’m about to go in front of PC without Seth. He is going to kill me.
Keiran’s brow lowers. “A harpy? Those were banished ages ago. How’d it get in?”
It’s the same question Clara asked earlier, and without the sharp tone, I realize the significance of what he’s saying. Seth had said Bigfoot couldn’t return after she was banished. I’d assumed that this was basically a suggestion or a rule put in place, but now I’m guessing banishment is supposed to be much more permanent.
Is another spell slipping?
“Well, she says she didn’t summon it, but you know how stupid first-years can be.” Clara looks down her nose at me. “If I find out you’re lying, PC will strip your powers for a month.”
I huff and speak slowly so she can understand. “I didn’t summon anything. I don’t even know how.”
“We’ll see. Regardless, it flew off toward the mountains, so at least it was heading out of Ellauria. PC will need to alert the rest of the territories in the mystical realm.” She flips her hair and runs her finger down Keiran’s arm. “Want to come with us? You and I could go to the lake after.”
“Sure.” Keiran shrugs. “I’ll walk with you.”
Clara plants herself beside him, linking her arm through his. I take a spot on his other side, doing my best to ignore her and focus on how I’m going to explain any of this to Seth. I guess there’s no choice other
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