34

IVY

PART of me was glad we’d been given leeway about the uniforms for the orientation assembly. I couldn’t imagine standing around, waiting for sign-in packages, wearing the plaid skirt and blouse. But another part of me wished we were, because I suddenly felt extremely out of place.

It wasn’t that I was the only larger body here. Thankfully, other plus size people dotted the hall. But I was extremely underdressed.

Someone could have warned me it was Paris fashion week here. I sent that primarily to Maeve and Adrian, who were likely hanging around with my sisters, having a blast not being here.

I think you look beautiful, Adrian said, amused.

I frowned, blocking his side of the bond. Useless men. At least Maeve should have had my back. But no, she wouldn’t respond. I could tell she was focused on something, though what, I didn’t know.

Rowan clung to my side, while Elias went off to blend into the shadows. For now, Rowan was just helping a lost student.

“Come on, this way,” he murmured, resting a hand on my upper arm, guiding me to a row of students. It seemed like there were specific groups surrounding different tables. “Here, like other academies, we have a system. The witches and mages go to one line, Fae to another, demons the next, then shifters, and finally, vampires.”

He spoke quietly enough that no one seemed to notice, though a few people glanced at me with narrowed eyes as I passed. I felt vulnerable here. And I hated it.

Rowan forced me into the line for witches and mages, my new backstory since I only used Adrian’s magic. The people here were dressed like they’d walked off the set of Gossip Girl ; their hair and make-up were perfectly done, and their clothing was artfully styled either to be messy or neat depending on their aesthetic. Some were in goth attire, others preppy, and that was just my line. Some of the Fae were basically naked, shifters were in what resembled gear, which I had to guess was so they could shift without tearing their clothes.

Meanwhile, I was in something less remarkable. It was comfortable, but gave away immediately that I didn’t belong.

I tugged nervously at my turtleneck and glanced over at Rowan. “You guys should have warned me.”

“Shh, we can’t know each other,” he replied, winking in my direction.

I couldn’t help but smile. It took us several long minutes to get to the front of the line, but the boy sitting at the desk glanced up, bored, and asked for my name.

“Ivy Wilson.” Shit. Was that still my name here? I spared Rowan a questioning look, but he had an air of boredom surrounding himself, too.

The mage in front of me glanced at Rowan and stilled, like he’d seen a ghost. Awestruck, maybe. But he quickly wiped his expression clean, rifled through the packages, and handed one to me before checking me off a list. “You can move into the auditorium now.”

I muttered a thanks before rounding the table, Rowan hot on my heels. Before I could go further, a girl appeared in front of me.

Well, woman. She was a couple of inches taller than me, though I supposed the heels helped with that. She had soft, pink hair that fell in waves to her shoulders, and vibrant blue eyes that seemed to get brighter the darker she flushed. She had a package under her arm, and a purse under the other.

“You’re Ivy, right?” she asked nervously.

I nodded. “Yep. You must be...” Double shit. I’d never gotten her name from Headmistress Sylvia.

“I’m Vanya Blackwood, your guide.” She held out her hand, offering me a smile. I took it tentatively, trying to wrack my brain as to where I’d heard the name before. “I’m glad I caught you. It would have been wild trying to find you in there.” She nodded to the flood of students going into where the orientation assembly was apparently happening. “How are you finding things? As a transfer, it must be a little confusing.”

She seemed so sweet that I hated the idea of lying to her, but apparently it had to be done. Rarely did Oberon take students found in the human world. So, to the rest of the people here, I was just a witch from one of the other academies. Not too far-fetched, but not exactly normal, either.

Nodding, I tightened my hold on my package. “Yeah. But I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”

Her eyes crinkled, but she didn’t voice whatever she was thinking. “I suppose Instructor Archer is no longer needed,” Vanya said pointedly. “Ivy will be fine with me.”

Beside me, Rowan tensed, but I nodded. As much as I didn’t want to be away from him, or Elias, it had to happen. I wanted—no, needed —this to work. If I had to be here, then I needed to not draw attention to myself. I had to make sure everyone else here was safe.

Rowan gave us both one of his breathtaking smiles and nodded. “I’m glad Miss Wilson has you now, Miss Blackwood. Just remember, I’m a call away if you need help understanding anything.”

With one last wink in my direction, he started off in the opposite direction of Elias, so that they were either side of me. My heart raced, but I blew out a breath and tried to get it under control.

“I heard he was handsome,” Vanya whispered, “but in person? Wow.”

Despite the churn of discomfort, I nodded. “Yeah, definitely.”

“Are you mated?” she asked as we joined the flow of students. When I shook my head, she sighed. “Me neither. I was hoping a mate bond might appear last semester, but nothing.”

Despite how many people were entering the auditorium, no one shoved or pressed close to one another. There was an air of mutual respect, unlike human college. Vanya grabbed my wrist and darted into a row of seats, plopping down onto one of the chairs beside a burly, dark-haired...person. I tried to get a feel of what he was, but nothing.

I dropped into the seat beside her as the hall quickly filled. At the front was a large stage, though rather than a curtain, the backdrop was a huge window that overlooked the forest. Rain misted beyond, turning the landscape dark and dreary. I shifted warily as I waited. I was surprised by how comfortable the seats were. Just another reminder that this was what prestige looked like . I also wasn’t squished by armrests, even though I filled the chair out. These were definitely designed with larger bodies in mind.

One point to Oberon .

“I know we have most classes together, but what’s your specialty?” Vanya asked.

I glanced at Vanya, shocked by the way her eyes shifted colour. “You—”

She laughed. “Yeah. Illusions are mine. I’m guessing...” She cocked her head and looked me over, her gaze snagging on my ring. “Charms? Or you know someone who is.”

“Yep. Charms.” Since it was the only thing I knew how to do—albeit not greatly.

Vanya nodded. “I’m not sure what it’s like at the other academies, but once a week we split off into specialties to do some one-on-one training with an advisor. I heard yours is Prince Adrian.”

She was right. Adrian’s job was specialty instructor, which meant he was going to be close eventually, swapping out with Rowan or Elias for that day.

“It should be...enlightening,” I replied after a moment. Before she could ask another question, more bodies joined our row. Just more creatures I couldn’t identify.

With everyone seated, the lights of the auditorium dimmed, and a row of staff filled the stage, Headmistress Sylvia leading the group. As she stepped up to the front of the stage, a podium rose from the ground in front of her.

Silence fell as she lifted her fist to her heart. “Afternoon students, staff, visitors. Welcome back to Oberon Academy.”

Loud applause broke through the silence; beside me, Vanya clapped, as did the people on my other side, and I joined as it died down.

“Today marks a new season here at the academy.” She rested her hands on the podium, eyes drifting over us. “Power will be unleashed. Bonds will be forged. And only the best will survive.”

I could almost taste the arrogance in the air. Everyone, including Vanya, was so sure of themselves. Of their power. It was strange being amongst them.

The rest of the assembly went on as one would expect; Headmistress Sylvia introduced the head teachers—one for each species, it seemed—and several professors who would be familiar faces to us. It was an eclectic bunch, but each one was powerful. That, at least, I could figure out for myself.

Certain rules were put in place for this semester. Like not swimming in the lake because of a prank last semester that had yet to be cleaned up. Another thing that seemed oddly mundane for a school of powerful and bloodthirsty supernatural creatures. There was also a reminder to shifters not to take their second form in the buildings, which was followed by groans from a particular group of students towards the back.

“And before I release you to your own devices,” Headmistress Sylvia concluded, “you will all be expected to attend the centennial Nyx Ball. This will be your chance to show Queen Greer and our new Daughter of Nyx how powerful you all are.”

Again, the applause. This time, it was accompanied by shouts of excitement. I opened my mouth to ask Vanya what she meant, but quickly snapped it shut and spared Elias a thought.

What’s the Nyx Ball? I asked.

His discomfort hit me immediately. It’s a ball held every hundred or so years. From what I’ve heard, it’s a huge party for the powerful, but it’s also a day of celebration for everyone else. And yes, you’re expected to go.

Typical , I replied. Another thing people forgot to warn me about.

Sorry, Angel.

I couldn’t blame him. He probably hadn’t known about it either.

Adrian, Rowan, and Maeve on the other hand...

Vanya rose as the rest of the hall descended into quiet chatter. “Every semester we have the same spiel. Well, except for the last part.” She grinned down at me, and there was genuine excitement on her face. “I’m going to have to warn the tailor about needing a dress. Do you need a designer?”

I quickly shook my head. “No, I should be okay with the one I have.” I internally cringed at that response, but knowing Queen Greer, she had a few on hand and probably had a vision of what I’d be wearing already.

“We should still go dress shopping, though.”

“Only if a friend of mine can come,” I replied. Thinking about Thea made my chest tighten, but I knew she’d excel at finding a dress for the ball. “She doesn’t attend the academy, but she’ll probably be going.”

Especially if I had any say in it.

“Oh!” Vanya clapped excitedly, and we followed the procession out of the auditorium. During the Headmistresses speech, they’d cleared everything from the next hall, which made it easier to leave. “I don’t have many...well, friends.” She shrugged.

Before I could respond, someone shoulder checked me from behind. The contact was only quick, sharp, not hard, but the impact rattled my bones.

My body locked up, muscles freezing.

I stopped, heart thundering. The block I’d been holding so well since the nightmare crumbled in an instant. Painfully, it revealed the frayed, golden thread that tied me to my first mate. It was all consuming. Powerful. Overwhelming in its force. My knees threatened to buckle from the impact, but I held myself up as a flood of different emotions from him crashed into me.

Lust. Adoration. Rage. Everything hit me so suddenly, and then it was gone. Just like before.

But somehow worse .

My heart stuttered a beat as the block reappeared, thrown up so quickly it took my breath away. Pain crashed through me at the disconnection, cracking through my skull like lightning.

It wasn’t possible, was it?

Hands gripped my face, and I was forced to meet the worried stare of an older woman. “Are you alright, dear?”

I blinked, and the pain that had hit me trickled away the longer I stared into her dark eyes.

Licking my parched lips, I fearfully prodded the wall, but it was stronger than it ever had been before.

Which meant...

I nodded quickly at the woman, who finally released my face. “Some find it entertaining to strike others with magic. Seems you were hit by someone who has power over the mind.”

Vanya had an arm around me, her expression filled with worry. “Are you sure you’re okay? You went as white as snow.”

Bile rose in my throat, nausea churning in my gut. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be okay,” I whispered, eyes shuttering as I tried to pull myself together.

“If you continue to feel the effects of the attack, please come see me immediately.” With that, the woman turned on her pointed heel and stalked away.

There was a group around us, some snickering, others looking on in disdain. Automatically, I searched for Elias and Rowan, finding them angrily watching on, being held back by Headmistress Sylvia. When she noticed my stare, she nodded, like she’d done me some kind of favour by holding my men back.

But she had , I reminded myself. I’m not supposed to be mated .

“Ivy, let’s go,” Vanya murmured.

I straightened and tried to give off the air that I was unbothered by what’d happened. But that was hard to do when I couldn’t stop shaking.

I’m okay, I told Elias, hoping he would believe me. I’ll be okay .

I wasn’t entirely sure if that was the truth, but the lie felt good. Like if I said it enough, it would be true.

My shifter mate glowered at me, definitely not believing me. But for now, for the sake of all our plans, I needed him to wait.

But that told me everything I needed to know.

Ry was here. At the academy. My first love, first mate , was walking the same halls I was.

And as much as I hated him, I was going to find him.

He was not running from me again.