“Thanks.” I nod, drawing in a deep breath. My heart is still pounding. “You too.”
As we step out into the hall, I can’t help but shoot him a relieved smile. I’ve really never had a partner who kept up with me so well and made me feel so on top of things. Someone who’s really my equal. In group projects at Griffin, it always felt like I was having to carry the whole team, or slow myself down so that the others could catch up.
But not with Logan.
He’s amazing, and he pushes me to be amazing too. He seems to like how nerdy and hard-working I am.
It’s exhilarating, honestly.
The IUM agent who showed us to the room is leaning against the wall, smiling softly at us.
“Good job,” he says. “Very impressive. If you’ll follow me?”
He doesn’t say anything else, but at least his attitude is encouraging. I doubt he’d tell us he was impressed with us if we had failed somehow.
We’re taken to the meeting room where we were greeted by Aurora on our first day. We’re the only two in there, oddly. Logan sits down, but I’m a little too restless for that, especially when our training agent leaves us without a word, just a small smile. He probably thinks it’s reassuring, but it only makes me more nervous.
I pace up and down the room while Logan watches me. He folds his arms and leans back in his seat, looking amused.
“What?” I demand.
He shrugs, his smile growing. “Nothing.”
I keep pacing, completely incapable of staying still. Where are all the other groups? We can’t have been the only ones who made it. Are we?
After what feels like an hour but is probably only a few minutes, the door opens again. Aurora enters, followed by a man I know by sight but have never met before. It’s Jed Stone, the director of IUM.
Holy crap.
Stopping in my tracks, I turn to face him. “Sir.”
I had no idea he’d be meeting with us. Does he do this with all the recruits who pass the test? Or is this a special occasion?
Logan stands up as well, although he doesn’t say anything. He falls into a posture that looks sort of like parade rest, the way soldiers do.
Director Stone lives up to his name. He looks strong and solid, like I’d break my hand on him if I tried to punch him. He’s got hair that’s just starting to go gray at the sides and a pair of dark glasses perched on his nose that make him look formal and intelligent.
“Congratulations,” Stone says, smiling at us. “I have to say, it’s been some time since I’ve been so impressed. The work that you two did in there was admirable.”
“Thank you, sir,” I blurt automatically. Logan nods. I glance over at Aurora, who isn’t smiling, at least not with her mouth, but she has a light in her eyes that I think equals the same thing. “Um, what about the other recruits?”
“We had two other teams make it through the final stage,” Aurora says. “We’ll be meeting with each team individually.”
My brows pull together as I do the math. “Wait. Only four other people made it? One team didn’t?”
“Not everyone is cut out to be in the most active part of IUM,” Aurora replies. “Our tactical team is the best of the best, and although we hope they’ll never face grave magical threats, we need to be prepared for every possibility.”
“We don’t just need strong magic users, but ones who are quick-thinking and intelligent. We ask for a lot.” Stone spreads his arms a little, gesturing to the building around us. “It’s been like this every year since IUM was founded. Only about half a dozen people make the cut.”
“What about the others?”
“Well, we have other positions in different departments that need new workers,” Aurora says. “They still have a chance to be important members of the team, just not out in the field.”
“Aurora will be getting you your official IUM badges,” Stone tells us. “Those will designate you as full employees.”
“There will be paperwork to fill out,” Aurora adds. “But you’ll get the rest of the day off. Your first official assignments and workday will begin tomorrow. Good work, you two.”
Holy shit.
We did it.
A jolt of shock goes through me at that thought. I’m so used to celebrating my successes all on my own. So used to it being an “I” and not a “we.” But there’s no denying that it was both of us handling those challenges in there. Logan was right there with me, every step of the way.
Stone shakes our hands, and then Aurora ushers us into another part of the complex where we get our badges and sign all the paperwork. I feel almost lightheaded as we go through the red tape of becoming official agents. I haven’t been this giddy in ages. Possibly ever. This has been my dream job ever since my magic sparked, and it’s still hard to believe I’m really here.
Logan seems pretty satisfied too. He’s got a small, sexy-as-hell smile on his face as he fills out his paperwork. I can’t help glancing at him, and every time I do, my stomach flutters a little bit.
Damn it.
I really do not need to be getting a crush on this guy. No matter how sexy and talented and nice he is, it would be a bad idea.
Don’t do it, Rae. Be smart.
Once our paperwork is complete, Aurora turns to us, shifting her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. “Since you did so well as partners on this exam, we’ll be keeping you paired up as you join the force of agents at IUM.”
I blink. “Like… permanently?”
“Yes.” She nods, picking up the stack of forms and documents we just filled out. “For safety, all field agents are assigned a partner. We think you’ll do quite well together.”
The stray butterflies flapping around in my stomach take a sudden nosedive.
Partners.
Being partners at IUM sounds a lot like being a partner with someone in the Circuit. Or on the police force, if you’re a non-magical person. You get paired up with someone, and that’s pretty much your partner for the rest of your career unless you transfer to another department or your superior officer thinks you’d be better with a different person. I assume there’ll be a bit of a trial period for us, to see if we’re really good at working together or if that was just a fluke in the testing room, but for all intents and purposes, we’re stuck with each other now.
And I am not about to get a crush on my partner.
It’s fine, though. I’m really good at tuning out distractions and focusing on work. I’ve done it for years, and that’s just what I’ll do here. I can be professional with Logan. Keep a bit of distance.
Aurora gives us a quick rundown of what to expect on our first official day of work, and then Logan and I are dismissed. We walk out together in silence, both of us processing our acceptance as field agents and our new partnership
As we exit the IUM building, Logan squints up at the sky, the late-day sunlight glinting off his dark blond hair. I expect him to head toward his car, but instead, he turns to look at me.
“Hey. Do you want to get a drink?”
I blink, startled by his question. Nobody’s invited me out for a drink or anything like that since my first year at Griffin. They quickly stopped asking when they realized I was never going to say yes. And I can’t really blame them for that. I’m pretty sure I’ve made it clear over the last two weeks that I’m not exactly the socializing type.