Chapter Thirty-Three

“Are you sure you’re up for a day at the academy?” Milo asked, his mind pulling me to his office from all the way across town. “Because they’d understand. It’s not a requirement and—”

“I’m fine.” Lena glowered, biting back something snippier, no doubt. In the month since losing her brother, attempting to stop Peter Graham, and nearly dying at the hands of a devil, she found the most grueling part of it was how her coven mates coddled her during the recovery.

Milo could see it on her face every day, and occasionally, I could hear it in her thoughts even though my mind usually clung close to Milo’s alone.

Ellie hadn’t given Lena nearly as much shit, Hayden actually showed up on time, and Enchanter Evergreen didn’t hand out stacks of pointless paperwork for his acolytes to fill out on his behalf. Lena grew tired of all these acts of consideration, wanting the world to go back to something familiar. I related, which was possibly why her mind called out.

“Alrighty, then.” Milo smirked. “You lot head on over to Gemini.”

“You’re not going?” Ellie asked.

“I’ve got a meeting.” Milo waggled his eyebrows. “A super major awesome meeting with some Global Guild reps.”

As his acolytes took their leave, Milo sat back in his chair and propped his legs onto his desk. “ I know you need space, time to decompress, working through the motions, and I hope it’s going well. ”

Milo gave me the time to recover, to get my head screwed on right. No pressure, no rush, just a chance to focus on the end of the semester before winter break.

I did just that, working with students and preparing for midterms along with the second-year Spring Showcase just around the corner where I’d need my entire homeroom coven ready to impress every possible enchanter so they landed solid internships during their third year when I wouldn’t be their instructor any longer.

I went into the semester with such grand plans, goals, hopes... And I failed to achieve any of them. In fact, the only lesson I successfully taught and lived through was how to cope with failure.

“ And yeah, you’re probably not listening, doing your whole distancing thing while sorting through all the memories, the visions, the emotions. ” Milo smiled. “ But I’m secretly hoping you’re eavesdropping. Hoping you can feel my love. ”

My heart hitched, and I went to link our thoughts to tell him I did. I did eavesdrop while taking the space I needed, I did feel his love, I did love him. But a wave of frustration wafted through the halls, hitting my telepathy.

I followed that thread of rage, finding an anxious Kenzo standing at the front doors of Gemini Academy. His heart hammered so hard against his chest, he thought he might pass out. The scowl on his face did wonders to deceive his peers while his insides twisted in knots over not being good enough. That this gesture meant nothing. That he needed a real declaration.

All in all, the self-doubt was Kenzo’s alone, and Gael eagerly held his boyfriend’s hand for the first time in public as they walked into school the day before winter break. Gael had styled his hair a bright red while somehow convincing Kenzo to add green streaks to his own. They had matching holiday hair, and Kenzo loathed the idea almost as much as Gael loved it.

I stared as they approached the classroom, Gael’s sharklike teeth beaming as Kenzo frowned.

“What?” Static popped along Kenzo’s brow, not hiding his thoughts but coursing across his pale skin while he continued training the full extent of his branch. “I’m holding my boyfriend’s hand. There’s no academy policy against that. If you got something to say, just fucking say it.”

“Kenzo, chill.” Gael chuckled.

I shrugged. “Nothing to say.”

“Keep it that way.” He dragged Gael into homeroom but paused once the eyes of everyone else fell on him. “Not. One. Word.”

“Looks like love is in the air.” Gael rocked his head side-to-side, humming some hit song while King Clucks mimicked the motion. Gael’s faux hawk swished almost as much as the rooster’s red comb jiggled.

Kenzo walked past, only releasing Gael Martinez’s hand once they’d reached their seats, but Gael Rios-Vega’s song continued, and his thoughts twisted into something minxy I figured he’d soon regret.

“It’s beautiful to see my buddy happy with his beast.” Gael winked at Gael, whose unyielding smile twisted into a grimace as his face flushed.

“Stop talking.” Kenzo’s face burned bright with annoyance, yet he’d found a way to be honest about his feelings leagues ahead of me. For a kid who wanted to isolate himself from the world while striving to be the best enchanter living in it, he couldn’t fathom pushing Gael aside, even if it meant he had to deal with the other people in Gael’s life—like Gael and King Clucks.

“What?” Gael grinned, mischievous as ever. “I’m just happy you’re happy.”

“No puedo decirte nada.” Gael placed a spiky hand over his eyes.

“Yet you tell me everything.” Gael smirked at Kenzo. “Everything. First comes hand holding, followed by sweet kisses, enchanting dates, lovely chats, and then it’s all like sit on my face and—”

SLAM.

“ Motherfucker. ”

Static pulsed, lunging across the room and hitting Gael’s stomach. He spun around, floating sideways until the motion met a bit of telekinesis from the other Gael, who sought to quiet his friend before his chatty personality embarrassed his boyfriend.

“I’m gonna be sick.” Gael twirled, his cheeks puffing. “King Clucks, help me.”

“Ba-ba-bawk.” His familiar hopped off the desk and scampered over to Tara’s seat, clearly content Gael’s safety was not at risk.

Everyone in the class giggled as Gael fought to catch his seat while spinning round and round. Their surface thoughts were filled mostly with amusement for Gael’s plight, completely overlooking the gesture Kenzo had made, already forgetting it like yesterday’s news. All except Caleb.

“ It’s nice to see Kenny happy. Genuinely happy. ” Memories of Caleb and his former best friend flashed in his mind, a lost childhood friend he couldn’t relinquish.

I gripped Gael with a telekinetic hold, waiting for the hex to fade and pretty impressed by the level of improvement Kenzo had made with his casting. His disruption had gone from merely quelling active magics to amplifying them, proving his branch had extensive reach. All the same, I tossed Gael into his chair that he held onto for dear life while glaring at Kenzo.

“As entertaining as this is, we need to get to the auxiliary gym.” I instructed everyone to gather their things so we could leave.

Chanelle’s class met us halfway, irritation festering at the surface of her thoughts. I embraced it because there was no wave of grief burrowed beneath. She hadn’t healed. No one really does when death strikes, but it got easier. Or so I’d seen from thousands of different minds over the course of my own dragged-out sorrow.

“You wouldn’t believe the hell I’ve been through.” Gael sulked, dragging his feet as he reached Tiffany. “Betrayal from every corner.”

“Poor baby.” She interlocked her arm with his as their familiars walked side-by-side. Quite a pair, King Clucks the rooster, and Duchess the beaver.

It appeared they’d gotten much closer this semester. Something told me Gael would only become more insufferable with a girlfriend who understood his minxy mind.

“ Not to be that person ”—Chanelle strutted close to me like it’d increase the volume of her thoughts—“ but what the actual hell are you doing? ”

“ It’s a nice day for a little training before winter break. ”

“ You’re full of shit. ”

I’d ruined Mrs. Whitehurst’s Winter Wonderland World of Trivial…I honestly couldn’t recall the full name. It was long and absurd and had too many rules that led to lots of children screaming in equal parts entertainment and frustration. Ugh. Personally, I rather enjoyed ruining her game day. She sent the kids off to all their classes high on sugar and demanding fun from every other class before vacation, so ruining her plans served as an added bonus to being a thoughtful assistant in today’s agenda.

We arrived at the auxiliary gym, where Vik and Tia waited. While others had helped, these two orchestrated everything into place, so I was glad they stood here basking in the credit. Even though Tia had already conspired ways to sneak out for a vape break and Vik’s face turned so ghostly white, they looked a moment from passing out with everyone’s eyes on them.

“Here, I figured you just took an early vacation.” Chanelle side-eyed her two students. “I’m still marking you both tardy.”

Acolyte Novak and Reed entered the auxiliary gym.

“Where’s Hayden?” Ellie eyed everyone from mine and Chanelle’s homeroom covens. “I don’t get it. We left at the same time. He even took off ahead of us. How’s he not here?”

“He just texted.” Lena shared her phone. “Look at this bullshit story about helping a little old lady cross the street.”

Ellie huffed. “He needs better lies.”

“Enchanter Evergreen should honestly fire him.” Lena fought a smirk, not for the comment but for the tiniest sign of things moving back to normal.

My telepathy soared, searching for the serene light, which was easy to spot, and I found Hayden was, in fact, not lying. He really had gotten distracted when stopping to help someone get across a busy street. That guy was perplexing, to say the least.

“Why are they even here?” Kenzo asked, grumbling tone almost half as powerful as his irritated thoughts. “Didn’t you cancel the midterm rematch?”

“I did—”

“Which is fortunate for you, squirt,” Lena interjected.

“Squirt? What are you ninety?” Kenzo folded his arms at the same time as Lena, each studying the other with scrutiny. “Heard you went and got yourself impaled like some amateur.”

Lena took bold steps toward us, but Kenzo noticed the weakened fluctuation in her constant casting as she recovered. “Were you hoping for an easy win?”

“Not a chance. I want you at your best when I wipe the floor with your smug face.”

“Bring it on, kid. I’d love to slap you around a second time.” Lena sneered. “And this time, I won’t hold back when kicking your scrawny ass.”

“Can’t wait to show you how wrong you are.” Kenzo scowled. “Anytime and anyplace.”

Gael and Ellie grimaced at each other, half expecting a fight to break out between Kenzo and Lena this very second. It wouldn’t. The two shared a sordid respect for one another. And honestly, I believed Kenzo would help guide Lena away from her grief while she helped him navigate his rage into success during combat, something I never rightfully fully grasped.

Changing my midterm so drastically wasn’t ideal, but most of my students anticipated it. Not for the recent events. No, they braced for the pop quiz I gave them last week instead of a combative rematch because, apparently, it was still a very “Frosty” thing to do, changing lessons at the last possible second. The fact was I didn’t want more fighting, combat, bloodshed—at least not until after the break. We’d return and focus on everything they needed to learn and prepare for next semester before moving into their third-year internships. I’d ensure it.

But first, we all still needed time.

I cleared my throat loudly to steer Kenzo and Lena away from their glaring contest, which would likely last forever, so we could focus on a little of that well-meaning time for mending.

Vik and Tia stared at the still chatty room.

“That was your cue,” I said, clearing my throat again. “They’re not gonna shut up until you start talking.”

And even then, it took some serious effort to quiet a room full of teens.

Vik eyed Tia, who scrunched her face and signed. I wasn’t sure what she signed, but her expression very much said, “I can’t lead the discussion.”

“We’ve been working on a project, um, all of us,” Vik stammered a bit. “Well, not all of us, all of us. A group consisting of…”

Damn. They rambled through their well-rehearsed speech and threw in a bunch of added side comments they hadn’t prepared to say. Everyone was pretty considerate. I backstepped from the group and approached Katherine, who watched Vik with awe, presenting the gift to everyone.

“You did a wonderful thing.”

“Huh?” Katherine adjusted her glasses, attempting to hide her thoughts and failing terribly at it. I wouldn’t tell her, though, since Katherine rarely failed. “I just made a couple enchantment spells. I hardly played a role in this massive collection of combo magic.”

“I know this has been a tough semester, feeling like your ranking is stilted.”

“Nope. Still top ten, so I’ve got nothing to complain about.”

“The academy ranking system doesn’t evaluate all the hard efforts of students.” Something Katherine grasped more than others since she worked closely with her boyfriend, Caleb, who struggled to push his ranking higher. “But I see your efforts. Your determination. Your support. From making weighted blocks for Caleb and Tara to transcribing complex spell algorithms for Gael and Jamius, all the way to being an outlet of conversation for Jennifer and Carter.”

I eyed those two, pausing as sometimes, when I focused on the pair, my thoughts flashed back to the singular moment that bonded them together. The day I nearly died. Those two had bounced around their feelings and friendship for a year now since they worked together to save my life. Skimming the surface of their minds, it didn’t seem either knew whether these feelings were friendship or blossoming into something else. In any event, Katherine did what she did best—supported those around her.

“I also see your thoughts dancing in Spanish.” I nodded as she finally found a trick to hide her words in a language I’d yet to learn. “You’re teaching yourself. Another way to show support, offering Gael something to teach you when you’re reviewing materials with him. I see that. I see the arguments you skirt when Kenzo annoys you. I see the study sessions you host for classes you’re already breezing through because you want to make sure Yaritza, Layla, and Melanie’s rankings aren’t affected by a failing grade.”

Katherine clutched her grimoire tightly, so tightly it distracted her from the joy of validation she felt selfish for basking in.

She shouldn’t feel selfish for being acknowledged; she should be angry for how long I’d overlooked her. Even after telling myself this semester that I’d focus on all my students. Even after I noted the struggle Katherine internalized. Unfortunately, I let the struggles of other students pull my focus because when glimpsing at Katherine’s mind, she always managed to pull herself out of the self-doubt, the frustration, the overwhelming emotions and persevere.

“I see everything you do, Katherine. You’re an admirable person.”

Those who always kept it together, never buckled under the weight of pressure, and constantly offered support to everyone around them were easy to overlook. They kept their composure; they acted as pillars of support—strong and sturdy, unyielding in their determination. They never appeared like they needed help. They didn’t. They would survive without praise. I’d forgotten that sometimes, just because someone wasn’t broken or struggling didn’t mean they didn’t require that emotional support, that kindness was too often reserved for those who needed it to stay strong.

“I’m sorry I don’t acknowledge that more, don’t express how grateful and fortunate I am to have such a talented and independent student in my homeroom coven.”

Even though supporting everyone around her didn’t pay off and grant Katherine guaranteed success, she carved out time every day to ensure a better tomorrow for those she cared about. I’d have to work on that next semester. Katherine wanted to see herself as a star. Katherine needed to feel supported in this program, too.

“Thank you, Mr. Frost.” Katherine fixated on Vik’s continued speech, so proud of them for making it this far without a panic attack like in the practices Katherine ran through with them.

I leaned in on Lena’s mind since this gift was for her, her family, Chanelle, and a few others who might want to carry a piece of Jamie with them.

Lena’s expression shifted, soft and surprised—forceful because she was in no way surprised. At the surface of her mind, Milo’s spoilers rang through. Of course he told her. Anything involving her brother, his memory, the smallest possible trigger, he wanted her to go in prepared. She came here placating the forethought of others, quietly overjoyed for the sentiment put into this gift, and graciously accepted the totem along with the vial that would enact memories she carried of Jamie, recreating an illusion of their time together.

“Thank you so much.” Chanelle hugged Vik and Tia, then eyed me. “ Thanks for not ruining the surprise. ”

“ It was the least I could do. I’ve sort of been a shitty friend. ”

“ Not at all. ” She grinned. “ Considering the low bar I keep you at, you’re looking pretty top-notch. ”

I glared.

We let the students stay in the gym after the presentation while Lena and Ellie took their leave. Everyone relaxed, trained, or bounced off the walls—some quite literally—and then we sent them off to their next classes.

As the day wrapped up, I reached out to Milo’s mind, missing him, missing us, missing the feeling of comfort his presence brought.

He soared through the sky, leaving a meeting and making his way to a case where he’d follow up with an interview he’d prepped for in his thoughts.

“ I appreciate the time and distance. ” I linked to his mind. “ Thank you for respecting my need, my addiction to distance, but I wish you wouldn’t. ”

“ Huh? ”

“ I don’t want time to decompress, to process. I mean, I do. It’s important, but also, I don’t want to be that guy who boxes everything away and shuts out the world. ” It was that exact type of behavior that led to the manifestation blossoming, finding a way to cut his strings and knowing me so well that he understood I’d never search the depths of my subconscious for the absence. “I don’t want you to give me time.”

“ So, you want me to pester you? Bug ya? ” Milo’s smile filled the skyline he flew through. “ I can annoy you with lots of love. I’m good at it. ”

I sighed. “ I just need you to remind me that I’m not the worst person on the planet. ”

Milo scoffed. “ You barely make the top ten. ”

“Milo,” I whined, not even sure that audible gravelly groan traveled through my telepathic connection, but I waited.

“ If you want me to stop by, I will. If you want me to overstay my welcome, I will. If you want me to refuse your commands on space, I will. ”

“ Well, I mean, a little space every now and then would— ”

“ Absolutely not. ”

I huffed. “ Thank you. ”

“ Just glad you want me in your life. ”

“ Always. ” I strengthened the connection, wanting to feel the warmth of his chest, his soft skin, his firm muscles. “ I need you in my life. Always. ”