Two things limit my time—Jamie could take my book, or the faculty could follow me 24/7. I'm a pain in the arse to them, but not a danger. The guards focus their energy on patrolling the academy perimeter. Dominion and hunter attacks are constantly imminent on the academies holding the supernatural world’s brightest and best, and that’s where their focus stays.
The stone pavers are cool against my backside as I rest against the brick wall, fingers shaking as I turn the pages to search for a spell I’d like to practice. I don't know if it’s because I’m alone and relaxed with the book, but when I sit here I feel a closer connection to Blackwood magic.
Not everything in the book is dangerous—the Blackwood witches enjoyed frivolous magic too. I flick past the protection spells and the ones used to change form. Witches are jealous of shifters' abilities, and shifters are annoyed that witches can imitate them with the right spell. This spell was banned in the interests of harmony. I'd love to cast this and see what I become, but I’m not that dumb. I may as well tattoo ‘I used an illegal spell’ over my head if I did.
I’m not interested in the blood magic, either. That creeps me out.
I run my finger across the text, mouthing words to myself as I attempt to memorise them. Something niggles as I do, as if I've a plate of my favourite food in front to me and I'm on a diet and can’t touch. I bite hard on my lip to prevent me speaking incantations out loud but a small voice inside whispers at me to screw their opinions. Nobody can see. Not all spells are dangerous. Try one.
I run my tongue along my teeth and flick through faster. Hand-drawn pictures accompany some spells and one catches my eye.
A small dragon is illustrated at the top of a page, the snout and eyes painted with orange depicting fire spreading along the slender body. This dragon looks like a serpent—a shifter shape now adopted by human culture.
I decipher the words: Living Fire.
Whoa.
Fire? My favourite element. Hell, the idea I could manifest fire into something living and in my control triggers a tingling excitement through my veins.
Can I?
How much practice would it take? Using the elements in spells isn’t illegal—elemental witch students spend day after day practicing. This is a more advanced spell, that’s all. Instantly, thoughts of conjuring one at the next bonfire party grows. How bloody impressed would people be? Nobody in school could do this.
I mean, the spell only has two words for the incantation: Ignis draig. Simple, but I need fire to start the spell.
Easy. Elemental magic 101. Every witch learns to conjure fire in high school when testing which element they’re the most connected to. With a finger, I draw a criss-cross of lines in my palm as I’ve done hundreds of time. A flame springs to life, hovering above my hand.
Pointing a finger upwards, I amuse myself as I draw the crackling flame from side to side, creating spiral shapes in the air as the fire follows the direction. Shifting the book so it's open in my lap, I circle my hand around the flames, not touching but controlling the movement.
I speak the words: Ignis draig.
My spirits sink when the fire stays as a single flame. Simple incantation, but I need more energy. Am I paying too much attention to my surroundings and not allowing the magic to grow inside?
Palm on the page, I close my eyes and the words spill from my mouth as my voice projects across the dark. The flame fizzles and the heat against my skin grows. I open an eye. The fire has formed a small oval, unlike the fireballs I usually create, and a shape forms as if something is poking through.
A small dragon’s head appears and my mouth parts, heart skipping out of rhythm for a beat.
"Holy shit, dude."
I jerk back to full awareness at a voice behind me and jump to my feet. The flames shrink as I drop my concentration, and the growing serpent disappears, leaving a small, white plume of smoke.
Andrei Tepes, the least-trusted hemia vampire in the school, watches me with wide eyes. He’d blend into the dark if it weren’t for his pale face. As always, he’s dressed in all black from his heavy boots to his black jeans and jacket. With his fringe combed forward into his face, he’s earned