call Maddy and give her an update.
Plus, I could stand a shower to get the last of that infirmary smell off me.
But before I deal with any of that, I want to hang out with the guys a little longer and pretend we really are the badass team of heroes people say we are.
“Wanna get some food?” I ask, my gaze traveling over the four of them, extending the invitation to them all. “I’m starving.”
Epilogue
You’d think saving the day, the school, and dozens of lives would make time slow down a little—but it doesn’t. Life goes on as normal, and despite the insanity of the semester and the literal bang it ended with, we still have to finish our classes and take our final exams.
I didn’t miss the stress of huge tests when I graduated high school, and I’m sure as hell not any fonder of them now. But I pull through. We all do. I even pass Roman’s class with flying colors.
The day after my last final, I’m sprawled out on a blanket in the quad with Cam, Dmitri, and Asher, watching the clouds roll by. It’s chilly but not biting, and after all the late night cramming sessions in our dorm room or the library, it feels good to be outside.
“Do you think the professors were extra hard on us to prove we’re not their favorites just because we stopped Raul?” Asher asks. “There’s no other reason I can think of for Binns to be that diabolical in our Magical Theory final.”
“Makes sense to me.” I trace the shape of a cloud with my fingertip.
“You’re all such glass half empty people.” Cam snorts.
“Oh, so you thought the exam was easy?”
“Well, no…”
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, grinning when I see who the message is from. “Maddy’s here!”
My sister is coming to visit me for a few days to see what my school is like before we both head to Neptune Academy for winter break. Her roommate is leaving for the holidays, so we’ll have the dorm room all to ourselves. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with my little sis and see where she’s been going to school, but I’m also surprisingly excited to show her around my own campus. Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, I became fond of this place.
I sit up and watch as the shuttle full of visitors pulls to a stop near the admin building. The doors open, and several people get out—siblings and parents of students here. My hand flies up in greeting when I see a familiar figure emerge.
Maddy runs over as I scramble to my feet, and I open my arms for her to jump into them. I laugh as she squeals, spinning her around a little.
Asher and Cam climb to their feet too and smile at me—Cam with exuberance, Asher with that usual gentle touch—while Dmitri squints up at us like we’re a vaguely interesting zoo exhibit.
“Was your trip okay?” I ask, petting Maddy’s hair and cupping her face in my hands. “Did you enjoy it? Do you have your bags? How was the drive?”
“I’m fine.” Maddy laughs, stepping out of my grasp and staring around in awe. “It’s gorgeous here!”
“Yeah, well, not all of us can go to academies that are right on the ocean with big, rocky beaches and gorgeous views.”
“No, I’m serious, this is great! I want you to take me all over. I can’t wait to see everything!”
“Cam knows all the best running trails, he can show us around.”
Maddy’s eyebrows rise, and then she turns slightly and looks at the three men.
Cam waves, his charisma and exuberance pouring out in waves like always. “I’m Cam. You must be Mini Sin.”
“Sin?” My little sister’s eyebrows have climbed so high they’re almost at her hairline.
Ah, crap. I’m going to get so much shit from her for this. “Nickname,” I say quickly. “And this is Asher, and the party pooper over there is Dmitri.”
Dmitri, to my surprise, smiles—actually honest to God smiles—up at Maddy. “Pleasure to meet you. We’ve heard great things about you.”
I have never been so betrayed in my life.
“I thought he was the asshole?” Maddy asks, shooting me a confused glance.
Okay, now I’ve never been so betrayed in my life. I pinch my lips together. “I hate both of you. All of you. None of you are allowed near me again.”
Mads just laughs, and Dmitri, the bastard, smirks.
“There you are.”
The deep voice comes from behind me, and my entire