twelve feet from where I was standing before.
A wide smile spread across my face. I’d done it— and on my first try!
“Well done!” Lucien announced. “We’ve had our first success of the day!”
A couple of people cheered, though most sent me dirty looks. They wanted to be the first one to do it, and me, the shunned cheater, had shown them up.
Odette clapped her hands and bounced. “Yay! Go, Emma!”
I tried again. This time, I was able to make the portal take me back to the spot I’d been standing in before. I made three others, each one taking me to different places around the classroom. I expected one of them to fail and backfire on me at some point, but none of them did.
Unlike most forms of magic, portals were so freaking easy for me. I could do these in my sleep. Odette and I used the rest of class time to practice making them. Half of the class had gotten it by the time our hour was up, but no one had managed to make as many as I did. In fact, I was so proficient Lucien asked me to work ahead, and showed me how to begin shutting down portals that were created by other fae. I closed each of the portals he summoned with ease as I focused my intention on blocking his power.
I felt relieved. I was usually behind in most of my classes on account of being the outcast. I might get a good grade for once, instead of barely passing like I had last semester.
Hey, C’s get degrees, right?
“Portal work is not something I recommend for everyday practice,” Lucien announced as class ended. “In fact, I advise you to create portals only when it is absolutely necessary. Overextending your powers by summoning a portal that is beyond your control has been known to result in death. Use them wisely.”
Ew. That wasn’t pleasant. As people flooded out of the classroom, I touched Odette’s arm. She looked exhausted, and hadn’t created a portal all session. “Odette, are you all right?”
Odette was breathing hard. “Yeah... I’m... I’m fine.”
I frowned. I felt tired from making the portals, sure, but not like Odette. Maybe it just affected us differently.
While Odette gathered her things, I watched Lord Lucien. He’d sat at his desk and was working on grading papers. Odette and I were the only people left in here.
I got an idea. “Hey, can I catch up with you later?” I asked Odette. “I need to talk to Lucien.”
Her eyelids hung half-closed. “Okie dokie. See you around.”
As Odette walked out, I stood in front of Lucien’s desk. “Lord Lucien? Can I talk to you? I know it’s not your office hours, but it’s important.”
Lucien looked up and put his quill down. “You don’t need to come by during my office hours to speak to me, Emma. As one of my favorite students, you can drop by whenever you wish.”
I smiled. I didn’t know I was one of his favorites. “Thanks.” I pulled up a chair and sat in front of his desk. “I’ll try not to take up too much of your time. I just have a question.”
“Ask away.” Lucien leaned back in his chair, folding his hands.
My gut churned nervously. “I... I was wondering if you could tell me what the Worldweaver is.”
Lucien’s eyes got large. His complexion went slightly pale, and— if I wasn’t seeing things— I think his hands started to shake. Hoarsely, he said, “The Worldweaver. Why would you want to know about that?”
“I’m writing a paper on it for another class,” I lied. “But I can’t find any resources. You teach fae history, and are the most knowledgeable professor I know. I was hoping you could tell me where to start my research?”
Lucien didn’t look like he believed me. I couldn’t blame him— I didn’t think this stuff was the kind of material they covered in First Year classes.
But he sighed and said, “What is it you want to know?”
“What it is, basically. What it means,” I said. “I know the Black Claw wants to use the Worldweaver’s blood to resurrect Droga, but I don’t know how, or why.”
Lucien nodded. “You are correct on that, Miss Sosna. The Worldweaver is an intricate piece of fae lore. The ancient Seelie had stories and legends about her, but they were lost long ago after the separation of the Unseelie and Seelie courts.”
“So she’s definitely a woman? And she’s existed before?” I asked.
“In a way,” Lucien said.