100% That Witch - Celia Kyle Page 0,19

what others expected him to be and insist on existing in a way that felt genuine. It was the lesson she wanted him to teach her—far more than potions, that’s for sure.

“Even so,” he said after a beat of warm silence, “there is one genuine perk to being a vampire.”

“What’s that? Eternal life?” That’s what she would have enjoyed most.

He chuckled. “No. It’s knowing with absolute certainty that you’ve found your Beloved.”

Her heart twisted inside her chest. His openness threw her off guard and drew her in, much like a really good story.

“And have you?” Tiffany was almost breathless.

Again, Nero looked into her face with keen, mysterious eyes. “Oh, yeah.”

Her heart twisted even more, and as enchanted by him as she was, her brain still managed to connect the dots. Nathan was officially off the table for Ryan. Naturally, her shirtless roommate was too circumspect to say anything himself, but the man sitting opposite her had offered up the truth as if it were the only currency worth spending.

“I... I’m happy for you,” she finally said on an exhale of breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“Now, why don’t we get to work,” he said brightly, the whole tone of their conversation changing in the blink of an eye.

“Let’s!” Tiffany helped herself to a healthy gulp of the gloriously rich tea, and they leaned over the table together.

“Potion-making comes down to knowing your compounds. Once you’ve got those ingrained, it’s just a matter of amounts and combinations. Here, let me show you.”

They looked over lists of amalgams divided up by their primary qualities. As she pored over them under his careful eye, she found herself wishing this kind of foundation had been laid in her class. Dr. Judd seemed to jump into the subject right in the middle.

“I’m not surprised,” Nero replied to that observation. “He’s a good teacher, but when you’re advanced in a subject yourself, it can be hard to remember that some people still need to master the basics.”

“Exactly,” she exclaimed, clapping a hand on the table. “I thought it was just me!”

“There are many different ways of learning. Speaking of which…” With that, he scooted back and collected an armful of small bottles and vials from a line of shelves near the door to his bedroom.

“What are these?” she asked as he spilled them before her.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged playfully. “Arrange them. Terrarials, immoliants, sanguinations, and so on.”

The words spun in her mind for a moment, but she managed to still herself and really look at everything in front of her. Digging at the roots of the words, she began to group things together.

Terrarials were earthbound. Immoliants incite. Sanguinations are of, or have an effect on, the blood.

In just a few minutes, the array of mismatched offerings fell into identifiable categories. It was as if she was working away at a puzzle, and in an instant, it became more like a game than mere study.

“Well done,” Nero said when she finally looked up at him. “Everything in place but one.” Her face fell, and she looked back down at the clusters in front of her. “Take your time,” he urged. “I’m not trying to trick you.”

Regalium.

The small vial of powder had been swept into a pile with the earth compounds, but she reminded herself it was dehydrated blood. She picked it up and showed it to him proudly.

“Very good. What’s it for?”

“What?”

“Regalium.” He pointed at the vial. “What’s the primary use?” She blanched, but he kept his eyes on her face. “You’ve got this, Tiff.”

Flipping through the catalog in her mind, she hunted for the answer. Partly out of a need to get it right, but also because she wanted to impress the tall, burly vampire opposite her. For some reason, that seemed as important as anything.

“Leavening mixtures to soften the edges when casting for…” the last bit caught in her throat, “… love potions?”

“Exactly right,” he said approvingly. “Listen, I’d say we’ve made a fair start. Given how much of the semester is left, I think we should meet three nights a week, if your work permits. Get you in good shape for the final.”

“Absolutely,” she blurted, a little too eagerly. “I think I can arrange things with Kiki to make that work.”

“Excellent.” He rose and finished his tea. She joined him, handing him her empty mug.

“Thanks for this.”

“It’s my pleasure, Tiffany.”

They stood for a second regarding each other, and then he stepped past her to lift the needle from the record. She almost