“I can sense your emotions, Serena, and I’m learning to read you better than you probably want. You’re scared, and you feel rejected. You don’t want to be hurt so you shut yourself off from everything and everyone. I know you wouldn’t hurt us because you do like us. More than you want to admit.” I send him a hard glare at that, but he goes on.
“I trust you, Serena. And so do the guys after they got an earful from me.” He huffs out a laugh, his eyes twinkling as he stares forward. “But the best part is when the guys wouldn’t listen, Pax actually told them to quit being assholes.”
My jaw drops, and I turn to see the sad look in Dane’s eyes. “Pax spoke?”
“Paxton… has issues, Serena,” Dane says. “It’s hard for him to talk; he’s still learning and doesn’t want to mess up—but he did talk for you. And he laughed—you saw that for yourself. Please don’t take that lightly.” His hand finds mine on top of the desk and gives it a quick squeeze before our attention is drawn to the front of the room.
“Welcome to Advanced Healing and Potion Arts, or as it’s more commonly known, First Aid.” Professor Ariella’s gaze roams over the class. “Today, we are having a pop quiz!” Groans echo around the room, and a few students bury their heads in their hands. “You are going to be tested on your knowledge of plants and their various healing or poisoning properties,” the professor shouts over the raucous. Her cheeky grin implies she takes a small amount of pleasure from everyone’s displeasure, and I can’t help but like her for that.
She heaves a heavy box up from under one of the benches and drops it on the front table; the students sat there jump back at the loud bang. “We will not be using paper in this class. All of you should have electronic devices, but as I’m sure most of you didn’t bring them today, you are welcome to use these. The exam can be found under the folder ‘Pop Quiz.’ You have the next two hours to complete it.”
Professor Ariella picks up a few of the tablets and helps to disperse them down the rows; the students in front of Dane and me dutifully hand back a tablet to each of us.
“Are you ready for this?” Dane asks as he powers on the tablet, and I give him a rueful smile as I wake up my own.
“Piece of cake,” I say absently. Lifting my eyes, I focus on the teacher who I’m going to be having a very long chat with later, then glance down at my Docs and purse my lips. Let’s hope she wants to talk because I really have no desire to spill blood over my boots—they’re new.
Chapter 7
I tap in my final period and save the quiz document with a satisfied nod. Beside me, Dane sits in absolute silence, a frown marring his forehead and his fingers fiddling with his chin. When I push my chair back, his eyes flick to me and widen.
“You’re done?” he mouths.
I nod my reply and head to the front of the class to hand my tablet back to Professor Ariella who takes it with both hands and an impressed smirk. But I don’t let go as she goes to pull it back.
“I’d like to speak with you after class,” I say quietly.
She nods without hesitation, and I head back to my seat to wait out the final half-hour, which I spend admiring the plants around the walls and hanging from the ceiling. I recognize all of them, if I’m not mistaken, but my eyes continuously fall back to the bulbous warts of the Pestilent Bloodwart.
Struck by sudden inspiration, I reach into my bag and pull out my History notebook, then flip through the first few pages until I find what I’m looking for.
The Trident of Truth, my messy scrawl reads. The Trident is said to be the first weapon created by Poseidon and holds some of his essence. It also has the ability to bring forth the truth from someone, as well as bring the truth from the wielder.
Lore cranes her neck to read the notes over my shoulder. “A powerful tool for quick interrogations,” she says, and I dip my head almost imperceptibly, wary that Dane is watching me curiously.
I tilt my head to look at him and mouth, “Just catching up,” to which he shrugs and resumes nibbling on his knuckle as he taps a new answer onto his tablet, one-handed.
There were originally ten Godly Relics, each with their own divine powers. However, over time, these relics have been used to ward against the evil that has plagued the world.
I snort, earning a curious stare from Dane.
“I can’t believe how quickly you finished that test,” Dane whispers as the professor calls an end to the quiz. While most pack away without protest, some hastily tap away at their tablets to get in a futile few extra points. I look sideways at Dane as I pick up my bag, his expression one of awe. I shrug, uncomfortable with his praise, and round the desk to approach Professor Ariella.
“I had a lot of great teachers,” I say, glancing back at him. “I may be Dark, but I do like learning.”
Dane nods as he shrugs his backpack onto his shoulders, the size of it ridiculously small in comparison to his broad back. “I’m gonna head back. You coming?”
I shake my head, my eyes flicking between him and Professor Ariella. “I actually wanted to talk to the professor to see if I can get some more advanced books. That test was a little too easy,” I laugh, a quiver flitting through my stomach as his magic intermingles with mine.
He nods, but I can tell he doesn’t fully believe me. I appreciate he doesn’t pry, however, when he says, “Fine.
