Thornhill Academy. Chapter 41

Professor Fenwick clapped his hands once, the sound carrying like a crack of thunder. The room instantly stilled, every pair of eyes dragging to him. His grin stretched fox-wide. “Since the Moonlight Festival is drawing near, let’s try something with a bit of charm and sentiment. Today, you will be crafting gifts. Something you could give to your mate, if fate deigns to grant you one.”

Half the class gasped, the other half practically sighed like they were already imagining dancing under moonlight in some fairytale. I rolled my eyes. Typical.

Fenwick set a tray on the desk, each student’s name etched faintly in glowing script above a silver bracelet. Simple bands, plain, waiting. “Here’s how it works,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “You’ll inscribe a series of runes into the metal. Each rune will hold a piece of you, your essence. When done correctly, the gemstone will reflect your emotions. Colour-shifting to show your mood, even at a distance. Romantic, practical, or possibly a recipe for disaster depending on who ends up holding it.”

A ripple of uneasy laughter went around the room. I picked mine up, feeling the cool weight of the metal.

Fenwick winked. “No flashy spellwork necessary, just intent. Etch the runes, carve meaning into them, and the band will take your magic or your spirit just the same.”

The scraping of carving tools filled the room as students bent over their bracelets. Sparks sputtered. Someone’s rune snapped in half, another bracelet cracked down the middle, sending its gemstone flying across the floor. Swears filled the air, followed by a tiny explosion of smoke and a shriek. I took my time. The runes were easy enough; all you had to do was be patient and careful with how you carved them: focus, strength, truth, spirit. I traced them carefully along the inner band, pressing power into each mark. The bracelet pulsed once, faintly, like a heartbeat.

I added the last rune—balance—and the gemstone in the centre flared. No pop, no shatter, no pathetic smoke cloud. Instead, it hummed. A low, steady vibration that sank into my bones. The stone glowed a bright, radiant yellow, the colour filling the whole gem like sunlight caught under glass.

Fenwick leaned over just as the colour locked into place. His sharp brows arched, impressed. “Happy,” he said, the rune-markings glowing faintly as if agreeing with him. He gave me a crooked smile that held something almost proud. “And you should be. Excellent work, Ms Rivers. Better than most of the class combined.”

I let myself grin back. I didn't care that this would never be used; I was just happy that it worked. I was learning something all on my own, and it made being at this school feel just a little bit less like the prison it is.

Tessa leaned over, her braid sliding across the desk as she peeked at the glow on my bracelet. Her eyes widened. “Oh my gods, Ally, that’s… that’s perfect.” She flipped her own band in her hand, the gemstone flickering from blue to red to orange to purple so fast it looked like a dying lantern.

I raised a brow. “What, are you about to have a heart attack?”

She snorted, clutching her stomach as she laughed. “Shut up.” She wiggled the band once more, winced at the violent green it landed on, and then tossed it onto the desk like it had personally offended her.

Before I could say more, the bell cut through the room. Students scrambled to pack up, bracelets shoved in pockets or left smouldering on desks. I slipped mine into my skirt pocket; no way in hell I was leaving it behind, and I grabbed my bag.

“Please tell me we’re eating in your room today?” Tessa asked, still grinning, though the hopeful lilt in her voice said she wasn’t joking.

I smiled, already picturing the comfort of the attic and our quiet kitchen waiting. “Yeah,” I said as we threaded out the door together. “Definitely.”

The shriek Tessa let out in the hallway nearly gave me a heart attack. I spun, hand flying to my chest, only to find Tessa practically plastered to a corridor wall, clutching a glossy poster like it was a sacred relic.

“Moonlight Festival!” she squealed, bouncing on her toes. “Look, look, look!”

I narrowed my eyes at the paper she shoved in my face. Elegant silver script curled across enchanted parchment, glittering faintly as if each letter had been written with starlight. Moonlight Festival — This Year’s Theme: Enchanted Garden.

“Oh, Ally, I wish you could’ve seen last year’s,” Tessa babbled, eyes already gone dreamy. “It was a winter wonderland, snow falling from the ceiling, ice sculptures of famous fated couples, enchanted sleigh rides, you name it! But this one is an enchanted garden-themed one. Oh gods, the flowers, the lights, it’s going to be magical!”

Her words spilled faster the more excited she got, tumbling into chatter about gowns and shoes and whether she could sneak her ears through a braid without looking ridiculous. Then she grabbed my wrist mid-step, eyes wide and hopeful. “Don’t you think this could be my year? Oh, imagine it, me finding my mate under the enchanted wisteria!”

I blinked at her, fighting the urge to laugh at her dramatics. “You’re really counting on it?”

“Of course I am!” She clasped her hands against her chest, a little starry-eyed. “Don’t you? Don’t you wonder who yours will be?”

We rounded the corner, her words still hanging in the air, and both Evander and Kael froze in front of us, their broad backs stiffening like someone had just shoved an icicle down their spines.

I frowned, my steps faltering. Tessa, oblivious, kept going. “Do you have any clue who might be your mate, Ally?” she pressed, beaming up at me.

I opened my mouth to answer Tessa, but I never got the chance. Because in four long strides, both Evander and Kael closed the distance between us.

“Hey, Ally,” Evander said first, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. He rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish in a way that didn’t fit the dragon boy I’d seen tear through the skies. “How are you feeling? I’m… sorry about last night.”

His sincerity caught me off guard. There was something in his eyes, guilt maybe, or something heavier. I forced a shrug, brushing off the strange vibe curling between us. “I’m fine,” I said. “And thank you. For saving me.”

His shoulders eased, just a fraction, like my words mattered more than they should have.

Before it could get any weirder, Kael cut in, his usual grin sliding back into place. “Great,” he drawled, “then we’ll walk you to lunch.”

I blinked, already bristling, but Tessa beat me to it. “We’re actually going to eat up in Ally’s room,” she chirped, completely unbothered.

Kael’s smirk widened. “Even better.”

I narrowed my eyes at him in a silent warning—don’t you dare—but of course, Kael wasn’t the type to take hints. “I think the least you could do for your two heroes is supply them with lunch, don’t you think?”