First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

the consequences of what I’d done until much later, but for now I was glad I had killed the Vyken. Maybe too glad.

There was a dark part of me, hidden deep within, I felt growing like the stretched shadows of night when the sun sets across the horizon. It frightened me, but I reasoned it had something to do with what I’d endured, and given enough time it would go away. I hoped.

Graduation seemed to last forever, and I could tell by the looks of those around me they agreed too, especially Matt who was sitting a few rows in front of me. A couple of times his head dropped back like he had fallen asleep. I felt particularly sorry for him. He took Tracey’s death pretty hard as he blamed himself. He should’ve picked her up like a normal date, he had told me. I tried to convince him it wasn’t his fault, but when a person feels both guilt and grief, only on their own can they find their way out of the suffocating black hole of depression. Believe me, I know.

Finally, the last speaker finished and the principal asked us to stand while he gave us some final words of wisdom. When it came time to throw our hats into the air, some of us did, but most of us just quietly took them off.

And just as quietly, we left the gymnasium and high school behind.

Outside, Jake gave me a dozen roses.

“I’m so proud of you,” he said, giving me a hug. “Your parents would be proud, too.”

“Thanks. Is Christian still here?” My escort wanted to take May and I to the airport as soon as possible.

“He said he’d see you back at the house,” Jake answered.

“Llona?” a familiar voice asked.

I turned around. “Matt. How are you doing?”

He had already changed out of his graduation gown. He had dark circles under his eyes, and I wondered how much sleep he was getting.

“I’m okay. I just wanted to say goodbye and wish you well.” He pulled me in for a tight hug.

“So you’re off to Rouen now, right?” I said when he finally let go.

“Looks that way. You know it all seemed so important before, but now … I don’t know.”

I grabbed his hand. “It is important. You are important. You are going to do some amazing things in life.”

He searched my eyes. “So will you. Maybe one day in the future, we can try doing them together.”

I chuckled lightly. “Maybe.”

“Take care of yourself, Llona. There’s no one else like you.”

After we said our goodbyes, I jumped into the car. May was waiting for me in the back.

“You sure you want to do this?” I asked her.

“Absolutely. Finally we won’t feel like freaks any more. It’s going to be great.”

I wished I could agree with her, but something told me where we were going wasn’t going to be as wonderful as May wanted to believe.

After the elderly escort from Lucent Academy dropped May off to finish packing, we approached my house. Christian’s car was parked in the driveway.

The old man swiveled around in his seat. “You’re all packed, yes?” He dabbed at his face with a perfectly white, ironed handkerchief.

“Pretty much. Give me ten minutes.”

He blew his nose. “We’re on a time table.”

“I know. I’ll hurry.” I jumped out of the car.

The moment I walked into the house I knew it was empty. I looked out my bedroom window to find Christian standing outside, his back to me. By his rigid stance I could tell he was upset.

I joined him. “Christian?”

He turned around and forced a smile. “Happy graduation!”

“Right. What are you doing out here?”

“Just thinking.”

“What about?”

Christian nodded his head back toward the house. “You ready for Lucent?”

“I guess. I still wish it were you taking us. The old guy is creeping me out."

“He’s not that bad.”

“He carries a hanky.”

Christian smiled but couldn’t laugh.

“So where are you headed?” I asked.

“Not sure yet. They’ll probably send me back to Oregon to train younger guardians again. I doubt I’ll get another ward assigned to me for a while after the way I screwed up.”

“Screwed up? You saved my life. More than a few times, if I remember correctly.”

He was silent for a moment. “Your escort's probably waiting for you, huh?”

“He can wait.” I didn’t want our goodbye to be rushed.

“I’m glad May’s going with you. It makes me feel better knowing you won’t be alone.”

“Me too, but it will be weird not seeing you. I’ve gotten used to having you around.”

“I know what you mean.” The sadness in his eyes reflected my own.

“I wish you could come with me,” I complained again.

“Against the rules.”

“Pesky rules.”

“Yeah.”

Silence again.

“You can at least call me, right?” I asked.

“It’s frowned upon.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh.

Christian slid his hand into mine. “Don’t worry. I’ll call and you can call me. We just can’t be too open about it.”

He wrapped his arms around me. I inhaled deeply, wanting to always remember his spicy scent.

“You have no idea how much I’m going to miss you,” he whispered.

“Not as much as I’m going to miss you,” I whispered back. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of the pain growing in my gut. A hook ripping open my insides would’ve felt better than having to say goodbye to him.

He created space between us and stared down at me with stormy blue eyes. “Take care of yourself. And trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t.” He let go of my arms and stepped back. “Call me when you get there, if you can.”

“I will.”

He turned back toward the house. Was he really just going to leave? As he moved further from me, air caught in my chest and I didn’t think I’d be able to breathe. I wanted to cry out to him, beg him to stay. My eyes burned with fresh tears.

Christian made it to the screen door before he stopped. My heart skipped a beat. His white knuckles gripped the handle and his muscles tightened.

“Screw the rules,” he said. He turned around and in about three steps was across the lawn and taking me into his arms. His lips pressed upon mine with such passion, my legs weakened.

Finally, the kiss I had dreamed of. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. The kiss lasted less than a minute, but in those seconds I knew exactly how Christian felt about me.

When he released me, he breathed, “I don’t know how I’m ever going to let you go.”

“It’s just temporary,” I said, more to convince myself. “We’ll see each other again. We have to.”

“We will. I’ll make sure it happens.” He smiled down at me.

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He kissed me again, lightly.

This time when Christian left, my heart didn’t feel as heavy. He had made me a promise, and he wasn’t the type to break it. I would see him again.

I returned to my room and moved to grab the suitcases off my bed but stopped in front of the mirror. After glancing around to make sure I was alone, I moved the side braid away from my neck.

Very faintly, beneath heavy foundation, two red marks stared back at me accusingly. The bite marks hadn’t healed. They remained a permanent fixture on my body reminding me daily of what had happened.

I wish it were just the bite marks that remained. The Vyken’s poison had left a darkness inside me that couldn’t be concealed by foundation. I’d tried to ignore its presence, pretend it didn’t exist, but very subtly I felt it changing me despite my best efforts.

At the sound of a knock on my door, I quickly moved my braid back into place.

“Are you ready?” the elder escort asked at the door.

I looked at myself one more time in the mirror.

Ready? How could I be ready for a future I didn’t know? One thing was certain, however.

I had survived.