Page 7 of Witchful Thinking

"Does that bother you?"Alarick asked.

Diana considered while arranging her napkin with unnecessary precision."It's complicated by our age difference."

To her surprise, he nodded."Ten years.Though I'm not sure why that matters."

"It doesn't," she said quickly."But they probably think you need a maternal figure to supervise your work."

Alarick nearly choked on his water."Maternal is not the word that comes to mind when I think of you, Diana."

The way he said her name, combined with the unmistakable appreciation in his gaze, sent heat rushing to her face."My point is that their efforts are misguided."

Agreed."He took a bite of his lunch."So, what's the most bizarre magical injury you've treated?"

Diana considered for a moment, grateful for the shift to neutral territory."A junior who tried to enchant her hair to change colors with her mood.Unfortunately, the spell affected her internal organs instead."

"Oh no," Alarick winced."What happened?"

"Let's just say we could tell exactly how terrified she was by the glow emanating from her stomach."Diana's lips quirked."She lit up like a festival lantern every time someone mentioned exams."

Alarick laughed, the sound warm and genuine."And here I thought my story about accidentally making all the door handles melt was embarrassing."

"Door handles?"Diana raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued despite herself.

"An experiment gone wrong at Frog’s Hollow High.Let's just say the strengthening spell backfired."His eyes crinkled at the corners."The maintenance staff threatened to hex me if I ever touched the hardware again."

Diana surprised herself with a genuine laugh."Your magical modifications do have a certain creative flair.Even if they're occasionally disastrous."

"High praise indeed," he teased."Next you'll be admitting you don't actually hate having me renovate your infirmary."

"Let's not get carried away."

His laugh drew more attention from the students.Diana focused on her food, determined to maintain professional distance despite the unwelcome warmth spreading through her.

As they walked back after lunch, Diana was uncomfortably aware of the whispers following them.She maintained a professional distance, though part of her—a part she refused to acknowledge—noticed how easily they fell into step together.

"So," Alarick said as they approached the west corridor, "dinner tonight.Should we coordinate our arrival to avoid the appearance of coming together?"

Diana gave him a sidelong look."Are you mocking me?"

"Not at all.Just trying to accommodate your obvious discomfort with being seen with me."

"I'm not uncomfortable being seen with you," she protested."I'm uncomfortable with the assumptions people make."

"Fair enough."They reached the temporary infirmary, and he held the door for her."Seven o'clock, then.I'll try to contain my youthful exuberance to avoid embarrassing you."

"Your what?"Diana turned to face him, finally catching the teasing glint in his eye."You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"A little," he admitted."You're rather magnificent when you're flustered."

Before she could formulate a response, he moved past her to resume his warding work, leaving Diana torn between irritation and a treacherous flutter that had no place in a professional relationship.

Six weeks, she reminded herself firmly.Six weeks of maintaining proper boundaries despite matchmaking colleagues, lovesick students, and a man whose rare genuine smile was becoming dangerously difficult to resist.

She'd survived magical emergencies far worse than Alarick Blackthorn.

Probably.

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