Page 68 of Demon of Dreams

“Seriously. Try to use technology in a space that’s too magical, or to use magic in a space that’s filled with lots of mundane technology, and things tend to go very badly, very fast.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. Sure, I didn’thavemy phone right now, but I still didn’t like the idea of being so cut off here. Some aspects of Vesperwood felt very comforting, warm, and safe—but the lack of cell service made me feel isolated.

“I wonder if we could ask Erika about the blog posts,” Felix said, tapping his fingers against his chin. “She’s even more well-read than I am. If anyone would have any ideas, she would.” He frowned. “I know she’ll be a good fit for Hex, but I think it’s a shame she won’t go out for History.”

“Erika…” I said slowly. “She’s the girl who wears her hair in two braids, right? The one who sits next to me in Spellwork?”

Ash nodded. “Yeah. She’s even nerdier than Felix, if you can believe that. But somehow, still cooler.”

“She also doesn’t buy into the stereotypes about paranormal beings,” Felix said. “She’s pretty set on going into Hex, since it’s the most prestigious of the havens, but she doesn’t have the prejudices many Hexers have. She’s a good friend.”

I shivered, remembering Sean and his prejudices. “I’m sorry. I know this is normal for you guys, but it’s all so unfamiliar for me. It’s going to take me a while to get used to it.”

“Familiar!” Ash shouted, loud enough that I jumped. “That’s gotta be it.”

“Be what?”

“Your familiar. That’s what the raven probably was. Is. Whatever.” He waved a hand. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“It’s not theonlything that makes sense,” Felix countered. He tilted his head to the side, staring at me as if seeing me for the first time. “But it does have a certain logic to it. Not all witches have familiars, but many do, and it’s not unheard of for the familiar to find the witch, instead of the witch finding the familiar.”

“But I’m not a witch,” I said, utterly confused. The tugging feeling in my stomach was growing more insistent, and I shifted on the window ledge awkwardly.

“Don’t get hung up on the gender thing,” Ash said. “Witch is the correct noun for human spellcasters of any gender—or no gender at all.”

“It’s not that. I’m just not a witch.”

“What do you mean?”

I spread my hands. I’d said it pretty plainly. “I’m just not. I’ve never done magic in my life.”

Felix’s head tilted even further. He looked like a confused owl. “Then why are you here?”

I opened my mouth to explain, then stopped. I’d just backed myself into the very conversational corner I’d been trying to avoid.

“You have to be,” Ash interjected, before I could think of something to say. “I wasn’t sure at first, but now that I’ve spent more time with you, I’m certain you’re human. I can sense other supernatural beings, and I don’t get that particular kind of tingle from you.”

“It’s possible Cory’s nature is something you can’t sense,” Felix said, casting a quick look at Ash before his eyes resumed their scrutiny of my face. “But logic says you’re not paranormal. If you were, you’d have grown up in a paranormal family or community. Or there would be a precipitating event. Like getting bitten by a vampire,” he added when he saw my confusion. “The point is, you can’t be a paranormal being without knowing it. Witches, though. They can come into their powers at almost any age. So that must be why you’re here. To learn how to work your magic. How to control it.”

It was so close to what the dean had told me that I shuddered. But I couldn’t tell Felix that. Just like I couldn’t tell him that therehadbeen a precipitating event—my birthday, this October, when I had the first dream and my life began to unravel.

“Didn’t the dean explain this to you on your first night?” Ash asked. “What did you guys talk about, if not why you’re here?”

My aggressive sex dreams, and apparent need to orgasm or die.

“He just…wanted to make sure I was okay, I guess,” I said lamely. “He said he’d explain more later.”

“Well I hope he does, because I’mdyingto know, and patience is not one of my strong suits.”

“We’ve noticed,” Felix said dryly.

“Not all of us like watching paint dry like you Historians.” Ash retorted.

“Hey, speaking of that,” I said. “Romero said we had to apply to a haven, but you’re making it sound like Felix has already gotten into History.”

“I definitely haven’t,” Felix said at the same time that Ash said, “Yeah, pretty much.”

I looked between the two of them, and Felix sighed.

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