Page 10 of Fated for Flames

“Hi, I’m Evelyn,” I greeted as I took my seat beside him.

His reaction was immediate, eyes wide in surprise.

“Just a heads-up, I’ve been known to…let’s say, turn into a ‘natural disaster’ when it comes to potions. Classroom explosions aren’t off the table,” I joked, wanting him to know I was friendly and not one of those stuck-up witches.

His smile was shy but genuine. “That’s all right. A bit of excitement might be a nice break from the usual. Plus, I’m pretty good at dodging debris,” he quipped back, his humor surprising me.

I could already tell we were going to be great friends.

Ten minutes into our potion-making session, confusion and frustration had already set in. I was relieved to be paired with the shy but quick-witted Adrien.

“Potions are about precision and intention,” Adrien said quietly, filling up his cauldron with a musky substance. “My brother taught me that. He’s the potion master teaching advanced classes here.”

“Why all the bugs though?” I wrinkled my nose as he reached for a beetle required for our potion. “Shouldn’t this class be called Insects and Potions instead?”

He covered his mouth to muffle his laughter before explaining, “It is the essence of the bug or its attributes that are important for the potion. For example, did you know beetles can triple their strength and lift three hundred times their weight? In potions, we can magnify that essence and grant strength beyond your imagination.”

That was pretty cool.

“My brother taught me everything I know.” A hint of pride shone in his eyes.

Taking a leap of faith, I asked, “Could I meet him? Your brother? I have some personal questions that could use his expertise.”

Without hesitation, he readily agreed, not even inquiring about my reasons. “He would be happy to help you.”

8

Evelyn

Lunchtime found me dragging my feet to the cafeteria, the last place I wanted to be. Hiding my true feelings about Lia’s betrayal felt like swallowing poison, but uncovering the truth required playing the part.

As I joined her and the usual coven crew at our table, something about her struck me. She seemed…dimmed. Normally, Lia radiated, but today, she was just…less.

As I leaned in closer, my voice barely above a whisper, I asked, “Is everything okay?”

Lia’s gaze met mine, a flash of vulnerability seeping through her guarded exterior. A slight tremble imbued her voice as she confessed, “I don’t know…my magic seems off.”

At that moment, I was torn between the Lia I’d once known and the one who had betrayed me. My focus needed to be on preventing history from repeating itself. If this wasn’t an act, Ineeded to make sure Lia knew how much I cared, because, in the end, I still did, even after everything that had happened.

“If there’s anything wrong, you can come to me. I have your back. Always.”

She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. I returned her smile with one of my own. This might be my chance to prevent Lia from going against me. So for now, I must stay strong and fight for our friendship.

Then Ruby, with her nasal voice that could cut glass, blurted out to everyone about spotting a “hunky shifter” lingering at my dorm room door early this morning. The table erupted into a mix of shock, gasps, and a few giggles from all, except Lia.

“A shifter, Evelyn? Really, how degrading! You know better than to mingle with those lesser beings,” she scoffed, her face twisted in disdain. “Especially for someone from the Luminary Coven. We’ve got a reputation to uphold. Those creatures only ever want one thing.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Oh, he can have that one thing with me anytime.” Ruby flashed a mischievous grin that lit up her vivid green eyes. “The guy was a total knockout.”

Lia shot her a withering glare, silencing her on the spot, before her gaze fixed on me again. “What exactly were you doing with a shifter, Evelyn? And what about Theo?”

I nearly spat out my juice.

The interrogation continued, “Haven’t you been drooling over that warlock for ages?”

Theo. My former crush turned the bane of my existence. Our brief romance had flared at the Snowfall Ball, but then he’d abruptly dumped me, his demeanor turning as cruel and heartless as Lia’s.

The urgency to uncover why they had both turned against me pressed heavily on my mind.

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