Page 111 of Mistaken Magic

"Bracken!"Iwhined.

"Again,Rain.Morepaint is coming.Luckyfor you, it will all wash off with just water.Butif you keep failing,I'lljust add extra sparkly glitter."

"Fine!"Itook my spot, and we did it again.

Thenagain, and about a dozen more times after that.Runningat him wasn't working, soIexperimented.SinceIwas still holding my sticks, that gave me a little extra reach.Twice,Imanaged to thumpBrackenhard enough to break his control.Thosewere simply rewarded with a reset.

AndthenIgot doused in rainbow glitter to make up for it.Lime-green paint came next.Sodid white, brown, black, orange, and a whole lot more pink.Somuch pink!ProbablybecauseI'dmade a face whenIsaw the color, so my instructor was intentionally trying to piss me off.

Isimply wasn't fast enough to stop him.Igot the idea.WhatIdidn't understand was how to reach him.Thenit hit me.Thenext timeBrackenhad me reset,Iwas smiling, becauseIhad a plan.Henodded, andIreached up to swipe a handful of paint from my body and slung it at him.

Technicolor, glitter-coated goo landed right across his neck and chest.Brackenjust opened his mouth and groaned. "Thatis honestly disgusting.It's... warm!"

"Youmade it!"Ireminded him.

"Andyou just got a new idea."Helooked down and checked his shirt. "Justglad it washes out.Again!"

Thistime,Iwas done messing around.WhenBrackentensed to cast,Itossed one of the sticks at him, standing my ground.Thething bounced off his shoulder, making him jerk his head up in surprise, and then he began to nod.

"That," he said. "Thatworks.Yourtablet, a book, or anything else.Hitthem and it will distract."Thenhe flicked his finger at the door. "Gohome and have a shower."

"Isit bad?"Iasked.

Hejust laughed. "Oh, it'ssobad.Havefun explaining it to everyone you pass.Maybetomorrow you'll have a few more ideas, because you won't get the weapons.Havea nice night,Rain."

"Ihate you,Bracken.Youknow that, right?"Igrumbled, tromping over to get my things.

"AtleastI'mnot making you clean up the room."Thenhe pointed to the rack. "Don'tforget the keychain, becauseI'mnot touching the thing again!"Iturned that way just as he added, "Andso you know,Aspen'scontrol is fragile, butHarper'sisn't.Pickyour fights wisely for the next few days."

NotwhatIwanted to hear.Notat all.Evenworse, whenIreached the door,Irealized it was well into twilight outside.Thatmeant cold, and this was going to be a miserable walk home.

Chapter Forty-Five

Idid not put on my coat.Hell,Iwas mortifiedIeven had to hold it, let alone slip the cute little butterfly keychain into the pocket.Paintdripped off my clothes in wet, glitter-filled globs.Granted,Brackenhad warned me, and it could've been worse.Ijust had a feelingIwas going to spend this entire week covered in something.

Iwas barely out of the door before a snorted laugh made me look up quickly.Themotion made another drop of goo slide down my arm.Standingacross from me, watching the exit,Keirsaw it all.Thebastard didn't even try to hide his amusement.

"So, did you learn how to block at all?" he asked, walking over with his arms out. "Letme have your coat.Youare a complete mess."

"Jack!" the crow said before rattling in some crow version of amusement.

Ok, it probably wasn't a laugh, but it sure felt like one right now.AllIcould do was sigh and give in.Keirtook my coat, the bird flapped around me, andIjust started walking back toward the school.Iwasn't ashamed, butIwas disgusting, and allIwanted was my shower.

"Rain?"Keirasked, jogging to catch up.

"Istopped a couple,"Itold him. "Brackenactually laughed at me, though."

"Ican't say thatIblame him,"Keiradmitted. "Isthat glitter?"

"Assholeglitter bombed me more than paint."

Keirnot only snorted this time but he sputtered to go along with it, all but spitting as he tried to hold back his amusement. "Isee.Buthe let you out early, so that must mean you did well, right?"

Ijust stopped and spun to face him. "Whyare you here?Classwas over an hour ago."

"AndIpromisedHawkeI'dwait."

Myeyes narrowed. "Explainthat.WhywouldHawkecare?"

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