Page 11 of Fated for Flames

Needless to say, I wasn’t going to go through that again.

“Yeah, I’m over him,” I managed to say.

Lia regarded me with an incredulous look, as if unable to accept my words at face value.

There were a few things about her that had always irked me: one was her belief that witches were superior to all other supernaturals, a notion I vehemently disagreed with, and the other was her tendency to covet what was mine, as if to prove she could lay claim to anything I valued.

“You sure?” she said. “I never admitted this, but I’ve always had a crush on him, too.”

And there it was, her desire for what was mine…yet that didn’t necessarily equate to wanting my death, right?

Theo, with his tall, muscular frame unusual for a warlock, and those soft brown eyes that always seemed to listen, had once been everything I wanted. But that was a lifetime ago.

“Theo’s another I wouldn’t mind getting cozy with,” Ruby chimed in, twisting her auburn locks around her finger with a dreamy expression on her face.

“Speaking of me, witches?” a familiar voice teased from behind me, making me jump like a freak and accidentally douse Ruby in juice.

She shrieked, but with a flick of her wrist and a muttered spell, she was dry, looking unamused but unharmed.

Just then, the bell overhead chimed, signaling the end of lunch. I fled quickly, not feeling strong enough to engage with Theo yet. I’d never been more grateful for an interruption.

Thank goddess.

9

Evelyn

I’d skipped the class taught by Miss Clarissa. There was no way I was attending class with the witch bitch that had tortured me for three months straight. The academic counselor had rejected my request to drop the class; I would have to face her eventually, but not today.

The afternoon zoomed by in a blur, with each moment ticking me closer to my meeting with Potion Master Lucien.

Adrien had set it all up, timing it perfectly for right after classes.

Despite the urgent need to uncover the effects of the elixir, I had to tread lightly.

I didn’t trust anyone.

Not anymore.

Professor Lucien was no ordinary potion master. I had never met him in my previous life, preferring to stay clear of anything potion-related, but the guy had a rep. He was renowned not justfor his potion prowess but also, as campus chatter would have it, for his striking good looks. It seemed his reputation filled his classes as much as his expertise did, attracting a crowd of eager witches.

Walking toward his office in the academy’s new modern building, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Adrien had assured me of his brother’s discretion and willingness to help, which was reassuring, but I was worried about revealing too much, especially to another coven.

I wanted to avoid drawing any attention to myself until I had more answers. What if word got back to Morgana? I needed to keep my investigation under wraps. If she realized I was on to them, she might retaliate sooner. Besides, I didn’t know who I could trust.

I had learned my lesson in the most brutal way possible. Trust was a luxury I could no longer afford. Not when those closest to me had betrayed me in the worst way possible. Lia… Morgana… They were supposed to be my family, my allies. But they had proven that even love could be tainted by power and ambition.

Now I was walking into the den of another potential enemy, another warlock from a different coven. Adrien seemed genuine enough, but could I trust him? Could I trust his brother?

With each step toward Professor Lucien’s quarters, my apprehension grew. Was I walking into another trap? Was I setting myself up for another betrayal?

But what choice did I have? If I wanted answers about the elixir Lia had given me, Professor Lucien was my best bet.

As I approached his office at the end of the hallway, my heart pounded in my chest like a wild drum. With a deep breath to steady myself, I raised my hand to knock on the door.

Trust no one. That had been my new mantra.

And yet here I was, about to ask for help from a stranger. It seemed like life enjoyed throwing me into paradoxes.

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