for them. But Delmare was so terrified she’d end up like her mother, she was keeping her heart under lock and key. “I understand.” I got to my feet. “I should get back to my dorm. Ethan’s waiting.”
Delmare didn’t respond. Her eyes were locked on the sketch of the dragon.
“Well?” Stefan asked as I shuffled into the Rec Room. I wiped my snotty nose with my sleeve— gross, but I didn’t have any tissues.
I didn’t know how to explain this to Stefan— or how much to tell him. Delmare’s story was personal, and I didn’t have the right to spread her past around.
I took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, Stefan. She’s just not interested in a relationship.”
“You were in there a long time,” he accused.
He knew there was more than I was letting on. I shrugged and said, “It’s her business. But Delmare has... a complicated past. I don’t think she’s ready.”
I figured he’d give up. Let the mating bond go, and find someone else.
Yet that’s not what he did. Stefan sent a determined look toward Delmare’s door. His gaze was steely and resolved. “I got plenty of time to wait.”
He stalked off. I frowned as I watched him round the corner.
Dragons were stubborn. This situation had come to a standstill, and Delmare wasn’t giving in.
But neither was Stefan.
Chapter Nine
Ethan
History of Druids wasn’t one of my favorite classes. Professor Victor was very much into historical material, and he was known for giving long lectures. Today would be no exception.
Still, when I entered his lecture hall on February twentieth, something seemed different... though I couldn’t quite lay a finger on what. I had the thought to skip and put the time into investigating the White Rose instead, but my gut told me I needed to attend. I felt like I was going to learn something important today, and only a stupid Arcanea ignored their instincts.
History of Druids was held in a large, beautiful classroom next to the Conservatory. The chairs and desks were set up in a circular fashion around a graceful oak tree that grew out of the center. The branches of the oak tree spanned above, while glass in the ceiling nourished the tree with sunlight. Professor Victor tended to the tree itself, giving it water and sustaining it with magical energy. As such, the tree pulsed with life and supernatural power, much like the Willow Maiden did. The classroom was always bright and open, leaving plenty of room for Arcanea to cast spells.
I took a spot near the front of the classroom, ten feet away from the trunk of the oak tree. Professor Victor spread his arms wide, and golden illusion magic emitted from his palms, settling in the leaves of the oak tree. The tree literally moved, giving a sigh and shaking as the shimmering dust reflected off its leaves.
“Today we’ll be covering ancient druid lore,” Professor Victor began. “Now, as you know, the Druids are commonly known as a group of Celtic people who lived in Britain and France. But Edinmyre had druids of their own. They were called the dryca; a word in Malovian meaning religious teacher.”
Professor Victor strolled in a circle around the trunk. “Malovian stems from the ancient fae language. It is the tongue we spoke in Edinmyre, and thus, is the language we continue to use today,” Victor explained. “The Arcanean druids, or dryca, were rumored to be revered spiritual scholars. They were considered the communicators between the fae and the gods.”
Professor Victor held up a finger. “Like the Unseelie fae, the dryca were wiped out during the war after the Arcanea made their way to Earth. Their population was small, and it didn’t stand much of a chance against the terrors being perpetuated at that time. Rumor is there are some fae still living who possess dryca blood, but there’s been no scientific nor magical proof of their survival.”
Victor clasped his hands in front of his body. “Druids were gifted with the gift of prophecy, the ability to tell the future. They were sent messages from the gods to convey to the Arcanean race. The majority of these teachers... some, not all... were Marked. These sorceresses had a special connection to the Great Hunting Grounds, and could therefore impart their wisdom upon the masses as they learned it directly from the spiritual realm. Since there are no prophets remaining in the Arcanean world, we can deduce that the druids have gone extinct.”