Page 6 of Strength of Desire

“It’s nice to meet you,” I told her. “I’m Cory.”

“And I’m Keelan, which you’ve probably already figured out,” Keelan added. “So you’re the new kid. How are you enjoying life at Vesperwood?”

“It’s been, um…interesting?” I said, trying to be diplomatic.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Min said. “Batshit crazy is another. I would have freaked the fuck out if I’d seen moraghin during my first semester. Hell, I’m still freaking out.”

She shivered, and I smiled in relief. It was nice not to have to pretend to be cool about all this. On top of everything that had happened earlier, I was starting to feel that tug in my gut again, and a week’s worth of lessons with Romero had taught me that only meant one thing. I wasn’t looking forward to what came after dinner.

“So you’re a witch,” Keelan said—it wasn’t quite a question.

“That’s what they tell me,” I replied. “Though I didn’t know magic existed until I got here, so I’m still getting used to everything.”

“Oh my God, so you’re not just new to Vesperwood, you’re new tomagic?” Min said. “Andyou saw moraghin in your first two weeks here? Honestly, how are you, like, upright?”

“I’m not entirely sure of that myself,” I laughed.

“So, do you know what you’re going to study?” Keelan asked.

I shrugged. “Still figuring it all out.” That seemed like a safe enough answer.

“Well, if you ever want help, just let us know,” Min said brightly. “I’m going out for Harmony, and Keelan’s a Hunter, but he does have a brain. He even uses it now and then, so he’s not a total meathead.”

“Excuse me.” Keelan brought a hand to his heart. “On behalf of meatheads everywhere, ouch.”

“Oh, don’t get mad about it. You know you take pride in having biceps the size of normal people’s thighs.”

“I’m not mad,” Keelan said, shaking his head sadly. “Just disappointed.”

“Go drink a protein shake about it,” Min said with a grin, and Keelan looked back towards the kitchen.

“I was thinking of getting a second helping of chicken…” he said hopefully.

I pushed my plate at him. I didn’t think I could eat any of it.

“Hey, speaking of birds,” Ash cut in, “what was the deal with that crow in the gym today, Cory? The one that attacked the moragh for you.”

“Definitely a raven,” Felix said. “Did you see the size of that thing?”

“I was more caught up in how it was trying to gouge the moragh’s eyes out. But was that the same bird you saw before?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think so. At least, it looked familiar. And it seems a little weird that two separate birds would come and help me at different times, right?”

I still couldn’t quite believe the raven had found me again. I’d been so caught up in the way Noah was looking at me—or rather, not looking at me—that I hadn’t paid attention as I left the gym. Was it still there? It hadn’t followed me up to the infirmary.

“Where is it now?” Felix asked.

“Beats me.”

“You’ve got a familiar? That’s so cool. I’ve always wanted one,” Min said, her voice wistful.

“You’re welcome to mine,” I told her. Sure, the raven had helped attack the tenelkiri and that moragh, but I couldn’t help noticing that it only showed up when I was in danger. What if the bird wasbringingthe danger to me, somehow?

But it wouldn’t be fair to stick another person with that problem, I realized. Besides, I wasn’t even sure it was possible to transfer familiars. With my luck, they’d be permanent, like a weird mole that appeared on your back and started sprouting feathers.

After dinner, Felix walked Ash and me halfway back to our rooms before turning down a corridor on the third floor to head to his own room.

“It’s right next to the second library,” Ash told me as we waved goodnight. “Freshmen aren’t even allowed in there without a note. Can you believe he requested that specifically when he arrived?”

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