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"So let me get this straight," I said, holding up a hand. "You're telling me I have to feel the magic, connect to nature, and then ask nicely before casting a spell?"
Lucien looked at me like I'd just insulted his whole bloodline. "Magic responds to energy, not sarcasm."
"Then it and I are going to have major communication issues."
We were outside now, in a small clearing surrounded by ancient trees that seemed like they were judging me harder than the court had. Lucien had been trying to teach me a basic elemental spell for the past two hours. So far, I had successfully turned a leaf purple and mildly electrocuted myself twice.
Celine, my wolf, was pacing in my mind.
"Let me take over, I bet I could do it."
"You would just howl at the tree." Diaris, my vampire side, said with a scoff"
"Oh yes, brilliant spellcasting: bark at it until it obeys."
"As if you'd do better, Count Grumpy. You bit a squirrel last week!"
"It was looking at me wrong."
I sighed out loud. "You see what I have to deal with?"
Lucien pinched the bridge of his nose. "Focus, Felice. You're a trifecta of supernatural chaos. You need to learn control before someone else learns how to control you."
"Oh, great. No pressure at all," I muttered. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried again. Focus on the element. Fire. Be one with the flame. Don't burn your eyebrows off again.
I whispered the incantation under my breath. I felt a tingle in my fingertips.
Then—BOOM!
A nearby tree burst into flames.
Lucien froze. "Did you just—"
"Okay, okay," I said, stepping back as the flames crackled higher. "Nobody panic. It's just… aggressive enthusiasm!"
Lucien muttered something in a language I didn't understand but was 90% sure translated to "why me."
He flicked his wrist and doused the fire with a wave of water magic, steam rising into the sky.
"Well," I said, dusting my hands, "at least I didn't light myself on fire this time. That's progress."
He looked at me with a mix of admiration and exhaustion. "You might be the most dangerous—and frustrating—student I've ever had."
"Aw, thanks. I try."
Then we both paused. A ripple of magic buzzed through the air. Lucien stiffened.
"What was that?" I asked, reaching for the dagger tucked into my boot.
His expression darkened. "They've found us."
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