“You should teach that trick to your fellow classmates,” she chuckles. “The sheer number of lost students I’ll have to deal with this coming week already makes my head hurt.”
“Well, you’ll have one less to contend with. Have a lovely day,” he says, laying his sweet on thick.
Ms. Cain smiles. “The two of you as well. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
I cast a quick wave at her, and her smile twists into a smirk. Walking out behind Wade, I bump my shoulder into his. “What was all that?”
“All what?” he asks, arching an eyebrow and walking out the door.
“You sure impressed Ms. Cain back there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her quite so…happy.” I narrow my eyes at him, unsure that happy and Ms. Cain belong in the same sentence.
He raises his eyebrows and shrugs. Leaning in, he whispers. “I learned a long time ago, you can never be too nice to the administrative staff. If they like you, doors open that may not have existed. They are the eyes and ears of their establishments, but everyone overlooks them.”
My mouth drops open, and I stop my descent down the snow-covered stone steps. “Ah, that makes total sense. It’s always been uncanny the way that woman can memorize people’s names and faces without even having met them.”
“Maybe that’s her gift,” Wade says, matter-of-factly.
I halt my progress to Big Blue, blinking back surprise. “You know, she’s always seemed so mundane. It never occurred to me that she might have a special ability, too.”
“She works at a supernatural school, Autumn. I think it’s pretty safe to say everyone who works here has some sort of gift,” Wade says, winking at me.
My heart beats faster and I reach for his hand.
Suddenly, the Lucifer theme song goes off, and Wade pulls up short, reaching for his phone in his back pocket. He eyes the phone number, raising an eyebrow, then eyeing me.
After a moment, he raises the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
His expression flits from confusion to concern as he swaps the phone from one ear to the other.
“Are you…are you sure?” he says.
Silence follows and I shiver in the cold, swapping which leg I put the most weight on. My gaze falls on Blue, just a few feet away, but I don’t dare leave him standing here alone because he doesn’t look thrilled. I wish I could read minds or hear what’s going on with the other end of the call.
Wade’s silver eyes darken, and he meets my expectant gaze. “Okay, thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.”
He hangs up the phone, staring blankly at me. The edges of his jaw tighten and release, but he doesn’t say anything at first.
“What is it? Is everything okay?” I finally ask, unable to stand the suspense.
Wade’s nostrils flare and his black pupils consume nearly all of the silver lining. “Not really.”
I exhale a billowing breath. “What’s happened?”
His eyebrows crumple inward and he stares absently at the phone in his hand. “Someone’s broken the door on my grandpa’s columbarium and stolen his cremains.”
Chapter 5
Rumors On The First Day
This new semester is already tainted by torment. Wade and I spent so much time apart last year, and now that we’re finally together, living in the same town and going to the same school, in some ways, I feel more distant from him than ever.
He spent the entire weekend going back and forth to Mistwood Point to figure out what to do with his grandpa’s columbarium and talking to the police. As much as I wanted to go with him, he insisted this was something he had to do on his own and I know it’s tied to the strange conversation at the graveyard. I just can’t prove it.
Now, here we are, first day back at school—his literal first day at Windhaven Academy—and I have no idea where he is.
I pull out my phone, staring at the lack of notifications, and sigh. Do I text him again? Or do I just go on with my day and hope he catches up with me?
I’ll give him a few more minutes.
Shaking my head, I take a seat on the stone steps in front of the school. Then, I spend the next five minutes fiddling with my phone, swapping it from hand to hand as I cast my gaze over the sea of students and their rides.
“I heard there was another robbing in a town south of us. Mistwood something or other,” a dark-haired girl says to a small congregation of others as they make their way up the steps.
The rumor mill has already started. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. Even supernatural people are still people.
Flipping my phone over, I check on the time. “Dammit,” I mutter under my breath.
Standing up, I flip open my messages and shoot Wade a final quick text.
Heading inside. Hope everything’s okay. Find me when you get a free minute. <3 Dru
I shut off the screen and cram it back into my pocket.
Inside the school, I catch snippets of multiple conversations, all centered around the grave robbings. Seems like everyone finds the act completely fascinating—or appalling. But either way, totally of their concern.
I shake my head, making my way to Intermediate Spellcasting alone. Thankfully, a semester in the building has made me as adept at finding my classes as Cat was on the first day. When I turn the final hall, there stands Wade outside my door, a single red rose in hand. His grin stretches from ear to ear as I approach.
“I thought you were never going to get here,” he says, handing me the flower and kissing the side of my face.
I shake my head, holding the flower close. “I was waiting for you outside.”
“Yes, but that didn’t fit into my plan of surprise.” The creases in the corner of his eyes deepen as his smile widens.
“You are a pain, you know that?” I say, shaking my head. “I have to get to class now and I totally missed you. I was hoping to have more time with you this morning and now you’re going to be late.”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m already here.”
I snicker softly. “You don’t have Intermediate Spellcasting.”
“You’re right, I don’t,” he says, narrowing his gaze. “I have Spellcasting Basics.”
I tilt my head, confused.
“It’s taught in the same classroom. Remember what Mrs. Arlo said at the Witching Stick? The classes are tailored for each student’s level?” he says, smirking. “Yeesh, at least I paid attention.”
Blinking back surprise, my mouth drops open. “Oh my gosh, you’re right.”
Wade tips his head to the doorway and holds out his elbow. “So, would you do me the honors of sitting next to me?”
“As if you’d be able to have it any other way.” I loop my arm through his and together we walk inside.
Throughout the day, Wade and I end up having three of our six classes together, despite being taught at completely different levels. From class to class, I can’t help but be awestruck as I look around the room, wondering what each student is actually hearing and how it’s different from what lessons are being taught to me. It’s brought a whole new level of fascination to the school and the way it operates.