Chapter 1

1

I had never been more thankful for single-occupancy dorms. Thank wands and cauldrons I'd chosen Forrestbriar instead of a different academy that would have forced me to share. With all the snogging happening against every wall between here and the classroom I'd just walked from, I had barely made it into my room.

I didn't know what had gotten into everyone—and I truly meant everyone—because my lips were the only pair that weren't attached to someone else's at the moment.

Couples all across campus were glued to one another, hands roaming, hair mussed, tongues playing. Yes, unfortunately, I did have to witness far too much live snogging. I wasn't sure that I'd seen anyone else by themselves. I'd all but sprinted to get out of the mess.

Was it National Kissing Day? Had everyone decided on a partner and just left me out? Honestly, that wouldn't surprise me, because I hadn't caught the eyes of many eligible bachelors since starting at this academy two years ago. It must have been my studious nature that sent men packing. That, or the fact that I didn't attend any social events.

No, for me it was class and the library. If I wasn't in either of those places, I could be found in my dorm, studying. I had grades to make and goals to achieve. Romance could wait.

Regardless of my romantic ambition, it still hurt to think that not one person approached me to ask if I would be their snogging partner. Was I that undesirable?

Through the thin door of my room, I could hear people giggling and the unfortunately loud sounds of mouths overlapping. There was no way this could be chalked up to some national holiday. Everyone was in a type of frenzy. And when I had to squeeze past couples in the stairwell just to get to my dorm? Yeah, there was no way this was a casual event.

I placed my backpack exactly where it belonged—on the hook right next to my desk so it wouldn't take up any floor space in this cozy room—and began unloading my texts and laptop. I had so much studying to do, and normally, nothing could hinder that. But today, I would have to do a little research before I started working on my studies. Whatever was happening on campus needed to be investigated.

My browser homepage was obviously the academy's website, since it was the basis for everything I did. Email a professor? One click away. Turn in an electronic assignment? Easy-peasy, though there were very few of those—it was hard to get professors to move forward with the times. They still preferred handwritten assignments like they'd done when they went to the academy, and they liked to complain about sans-magical practices such as technology and how it would ruin magical society.

I navigated to the news page for the school, wondering if it would provide any answers to the oddity occurring today. It took no time for me to find my answer.

ALL STUDENTS MUST RETIRE DIRECTLY TO THEIR DORMS—ALONE! LOVE POTION DISTRIBUTED ACROSS CAMPUS IN ACADEMY ATTACK.

My brows raised at the headline. A love potion? How would someone manage to dose an entire student body? Of mastery students, no less.

One answer was obvious to me, though. If the potion had been administered to all students—however that could even be done—there was no wondering why it didn't affect me.

I scarcely thought much about men. I found them attractive and sometimes wished I could loosen up a bit and date around, but overall, I was just too focused on studying. Too focused on making sure that when I completed my graduate program, I would be top of the class and wouldn't be dethroned from my rightful position again.

Love potions didn't just make anyone fall in love with the first person they laid eyes on. They only brought out feelings that were previously harbored by the witch or wizard affected. If I had an infatuation with someone before the love potion bombing, I would be one of the many wrapped up in physical affection. But I didn't, so I remained safely tucked inside my room.

My phone buzzed, and the same headline popped up in my academy notifications. It was comical that they thought a text blast would separate anyone from their affairs at the moment.

I stood, turning to the bookshelf that took up half the wall next to my small, academy-sized bed. It held all the books I'd ever studied, ever since my first year in magical school when I was eight. Meticulous cataloging organized the books by subject and then year level. I knew precisely where the book I wanted was and plucked it off the shelf. Returning to my desk chair, I flipped to page two hundred and seventy-three, where I knew the answer I wanted would be.

I already knew the answer, but I wanted to double-check just in case. In undergraduate studies, I'd read this book more times than I could count, nearly memorizing its contents.

3 – Love Potions: A Complete Guide to Brewing and Using a Dangerous Potion.