He looked grim for a moment then shook his head, lightening. "I think I'll be busy with Master Thoran for a while.

My heart fell. "Oh. . . . If it helps, tell him I said it wasn't your fault."

I thought he might laugh at me for saying this, but instead the corners of his smile pinched wider. "Thanks. I will."

I kept my gaze locked on for a second, I didn't want to see the person he was being now disappear again . . . but any longer and he'd start thinking I was crazy.

I turned around and left the room.

As I walked through the halls, I was surprised at how not exhausted I was, most likely due to the prospect of magic training tonight. When I entered the cafeteria I got a surreal sort of feeling. I had been here about five hours prior, but so much had happened. The dark and terrifying creatures I had just visited simply didn't fit in with this warm and open building . . . so safe here . . . With a pleasant sigh I walked over to the counter to greet Sophie.

It was late for dinner, nearing eight. Many of the boys had already cleared the room and the ones that were left were studying quietly.

Sophie was putting dishes into the cupboard as I approached.

"Hey, Sophie."

She looked over and smiled. "I haven't seen you in a while. Were you training with Holdan?"

I shook my head calmly, leaning forward onto the counter.

Her face perplexed. "Oh? What did you do then?"

My eyes narrowed slightly. "Well. . . ."

She focused more intently on me now. "Did you ever find Jaden?"

I nodded. "Yes. Thanks again for the directions."

She smiled pleasantly, but here eyes still begged a question. I conceded.

"He told me he would take me along to the next Meoden meeting. That's why I was looking for him, that's where I was today."

She looked surprised. "Oh. . . . Well, how did that go?

My eyes fell slightly. ". . . I should probably let someone else explain it to you . . . I don't think I'd have the most objective view on it."

Her face turned more serious and she stopped her work to walk over to the counter across. "Are you alright?"

I nodded.

She seemed unsatisfied. "Did Jaden do something?"

I waved my hands. "Oh, no, no, no . . . ," an involuntary smile crossed my lips. "He was great actually."

When I looked back up, she had an eyebrow raised.

My eyes widened. "I mean, great for taking me. . . . It was just a nice thing to do," a smirk crossed her face, "Not really great himself . . . Not that he isn't," I corrected quickly, then added, "I wouldn't know."

Oh, God, that was bad.

Her brows leveled and she reached for a plate. "As long as you're okay, that's what matters."

I sucked in a breath, knowing I was red-faced. "Oh, yeah, I'm good."

She grinned, passing me the dish. "Why don't you grab a bite to eat."

I lightened at the escape route. "Good idea. Thanks Sophie."

She waved. "Good night, Evelyn."

I turned around to search for a seat. The sky outside was deep blue, almost dark. The boys still left reading did so by candlelight.

Derrith sat alone at the far end of a nearby table. I took a seat on the opposite side. He looked up smiling when I first sat down, but then resumed his reading.

I ate peacefully, in silence, despite my blunder with Sophie. So what if I had said that Jaden was great? It wasn't like anyone was going to start thinking anything. The idea was preposterous.

I contemplated all the reasons that supported this theory through the rest of my meal and all the way back to the study, neatly lining them up in a graspable picture. Unfortunately, one look at the red flame on the center table and I lost my whole thought process. Then I saw the boy in question kneeling over by the bookshelves and an entire case built up on the other side of the spectrum.

"Oh, no," I muttered.

The perfectly structured face turned to me. "Good, you're back . . . Did you say something?" His tone was so casual.

I swallowed hard and shook my head back and forth.

He smiled and gestured to the couch. "You can sit down. I'm just grabbing a few things."

He looked back to the bookcase and my face scrunched.

Blast it all, he's still being nice. . . . This isn't good. This definitely isn't good.

I went to sit on the couch, almost robotically, then narrowed my eyes.

Alright, Evelyn, you're just letting your imagination get away with you. This is your first real chance to learn magic. Concentrate.

I took a couple deep breaths, just calm down . . .

I really thought I'd managed to . . . until the dark-haired boy sat down on the chair beside me.

I popped up instantly. "I'll be right back." I didn't look to check his reaction, but his responding "okay" sounded a little skeptical.

I picked up some clothes on my way into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind me as soon as I was in. I stood there for a moment, then shook my head clear and went to the sink to splash cold water in my face. I really think it helped. Without much fuss I changed into the white tank-top and comfy cloth pants I had grabbed and exited the bathroom confidently.

Jaden looked up as I approached. I forced a determinedly regular expression. "How did it go with -"

"Master Thoran?" he finished for me.

I nodded, then dropped into the couch carefully. The room was dim, and quiet enough to hear the flame hissing.

"I explained to him what happened. . . . He was fairly understanding."

"You're not in trouble then?"

Jaden laughed immediately. It was full and unguarded, if not a little grim, very different from the usual. "Let's just say you'll be seeing a lot of me for a while."

I thought about this. "You're grounded." My voice was bleak.

He looked back up through dark strands, his mouth tipping easily in confirmation. Then he looked over to the fire.

The flames seemed to curl around the tips at his gaze, distracting me enough to speak without thinking.

"But Ikovos told me that -" his eyes shot to me expectantly. I gulped, already regretting the words. ". . . Ikovos said you hate being stuck at the lodge." I finished hesitantly, my gaze shifting about.

After a few uncomfortable seconds, he smiled slightly, not sparring with an obvious stare. "Maybe I have a new incentive to stay."

Before I had time to contemplate what this might mean, a knock came at the door. I looked over to it, then back at Jaden momentarily, he was still smirking, before standing up and walking to the door. "Coming."

I opened it carefully, easing when I saw that it was Cornelius. His face looked relieved. "Oh, my dear, I'm so glad you're safe."

My features lifted, but his tone was way too fretted to smile.

"I just heard what happened. Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine." His frown grew. "It really wasn't that bad," I lied, sparing a glance at Jaden.

Cornelius didn't seem to notice this. His brow furrowed, eyes dropping. "Sylvanus . . ." my breath shook ". . . I'm sorry that you had to encounter him again."

My nose started to sting, but I didn't want to lose it in front of Jaden again. I forced a glossy-eyed smile, shaking my head.

Cornelius's face became indignant. "Between you and me, I'm quite glad that Jaden punched him." I widened in sincere surprise. Cornelius caught this and quickly nodded to me. "Of course, don't tell him that I said that."

One of my brows lowered now as I tried to decide if I should tell Cornelius that Jaden was right inside and had more than likely heard all that he'd said. "Ah . . ."

A throat cleared behind me. Jaden's hand pulled the door open further. I released it, looking over.

"I'll make sure she doesn't," he said with as wicked a grin as I'd seen from him yet.

I turned back to Cornelius, a bit worried.

He rolled his head dramatically. "Oh, great, Thoran is going to kill me. Just . . . just don't tell him I said that . . . please."

Jaden raised his hands. "Hey, I already got my punishment, no point in dragging you down with me."

His attitude was still quite lighthearted. He was standing in the doorway right beside me now, form and posture far past picturesque. He looked down again at exactly the wrong moment. For absolutely no reason at all it was enough to make my head spin, my throat dry, and my heart start beating double-time.

I looked away as quickly as possible, catching at Cornelius instead. The robed man was eyeing both of us.

"Speaking of punishment, this hardly seems fitting."

Jaden shrugged, as I tried to contain my sudden internal daze. "I'm still in the lodge."

Cornelius scowled at him. "Yes, well . . . I think Evelyn has had quite a long day, so why don't we both head out so she can get some sleep."

I didn't look over. Cornelius tossed his head back and Jaden moved forward.

"Night, Eve," he hummed. It made my head all dizzy.

"Ah, ni . . . night."

Cornelius gave a reassuring grin. "Goodnight, my dear."

I smiled and nodded, attempting to keep my eyes off the boy walking past behind him. When he turned, my forced expression dropped.

My eyes were wide. I turned around and closed the door behind me. Then I walked over weakly and plopped backwards onto the couch, letting out a giant breath.

Without announcement Tanis crawled into view on the couch ledge.

I stiffened, immediately self-conscious.

He squeaked. His big, round, eyes were piercing.

I straightened up nonchalantly. "I'm just tired."

He leapt onto my shoulder and squeaked again.

I looked over with a darkened brow. "Don't look at me like that. I'd have to be crazy to -" his eyes seemed to shrink in one me. "Oh! Now I'm arguing with a . . . a . . . whatever you are. I am crazy."

I set him down softly onto the table, then dropped my head sideways onto my pillow.

After a couple of seconds staring at the fire I realized that I wasn't going to be able to sleep right now. I grabbed viscously for one of the books Jaden had left sitting in his seat and started reading.

I didn't fall asleep till at least three hours later. It should have been because my mind was buzzing from all that I'd heard at the meeting. Or because I'd just witnessed a fistfight firsthand. But neither of those were the culprits.

The real reason was much more disconcerting.

Chapter 12.