The glazed lemon loaf on the counter draws my eyes, and I veer toward it, my devouring intent clear in the way I lick my lips.
“Seriously, Serena. Where were you? You had us worried.”
I groan as I take a bite of the loaf. A soft furry creature rubs against my leg before hopping onto the table, and Keaira’s bright emerald eyes meet mine.
Her nose lifts to the air, and she takes a deep sniff. She shakes her head. “Why on this Earth would you be drinking Moon’s Brew?”
“Because it’s absolutely magical and wonderful,” I sigh.
“What’s Moon’s Brew?” Declan asks; his eyes flick between the two of us as he leans against the bench opposite. I hold out a piece of the cake, to which he shakes his head. “Thanks, but I think you need all of that.”
This is true. I pop the whole thing in my mouth, and he laughs when I shrug. “Can’t take it back now.”
Keaira watches us with interest before her eyes settle on Declan. “Moon’s Brew is a powerful elixir for mythical beings. In most cases, it’s a healing tonic, and it rejuvenates the body.” Her eyes glance at me and my glittering skin. “But from the looks of this mess, it also had the blessing of a unicorn—”
“A unicorn?!” My jaw drops, revealing a mouthful of mushed food to the boys. Declan grimaces and looks away. I hastily chew and swallow. “Ariella never mentioned it having a unicorn’s blessing…”
Keaira sighs. “When a unicorn blesses something, it’s like being lit up from the inside. It’s like life itself. And it makes you so happy and relaxed that it’s like you’re intoxicated. But on life.”
Declan raps his knuckles against the counter and shakes his head. “Only you, Serena. Only you.”
A large, warm hand rests on my shoulder, and I glance up to Dane’s relieved eyes. “I can definitely say that she’s on cloud nine,” he says. “But I do think you should get to bed. You’re going to have a crazy hangover in the morning. I can already feel the exhaustion wearing on you.”
Now that he mentions it, I can feel the tiredness in my arms and my legs. How did I even miss that?
With his hands on my shoulders, Dane spins me around and walks me toward the stairs and then to my room. “Serena, please don’t worry us like that again. I wouldn’t put it past Professor Worgren to come after you.”
A smile pulls on my lips as I pat his chest. “He is the least of my worries, Dane. There are much bigger and badder things out in the world. Me included. Besides, you obviously didn’t look very hard. I never even left the greenhouse.”
He rolls his eyes as he leans against the door frame, watching me flop onto my bed. “Sure, Serena. But get some sleep.” He turns to walk away, and I call out to him.
“Wait! Stay with me.”
He hesitates before nodding.
Stepping into my room, he closes the door behind him and sits at the top of the bed, relaxing against the headboard with curious eyes. “I never know what to expect from you.”
I grin as I roll to my side, watching him trail his eyes over my face. “I know. But this is our first week, so who knows? Maybe in a month’s time you will know me like the back of your hand?”
Dane shakes his head with an arched eyebrow. “Serena, you’ll keep us on our toes for as long as we’re still together. But I wouldn’t have it any other way… And neither would the guys. You fit with us. More than we ever expected.”
As happy as his words makes me feel, the niggling in the back of my mind reminds me this isn’t what I’m here for, and that in the end, I will betray them. I close my eyes and relish in the darkness behind my lids.
I don’t know how long I stay that way, but the bed shifts as Dane moves to leave. I reach out, tugging on his hand, and pull him back. “Stay. Please?” I ask, hating to need his comforting presence.
He stays quiet for a few moments before sighing. A soft material falls over my body and I realize he grabbed the throw blanket from the foot of my bed to tuck me in. Reaching up, I grab my pillow and sink into the softness of it while Dane settles next to me.
“If you hog the pillows or my blanket, I will stick Keaira on you,” I mutter as drowsiness takes over. His deep laugh is the last thing I hear before I drift into sleep. And for once, my dreams are filled with Light.
Chapter 12
I tilt my head back and let the afternoon sun soak into my skin. “Are we almost done? I’m pretty sure no one else is studying this hard.”
The guys nod in agreement; all except one. Declan simply raises one eyebrow before tapping his pencil against the group assignment on the table in front of us.
It’s Saturday, and instead of being normal college students recovering from a wild Friday night and preparing for another, equally wild Saturday night, we’ve been studying. All. Freaking. Day. When I finally suggested we make our way outside to the gazebo, you’d have thought I’d recommended we sacrifice fluffy animals and wear their feet as earrings with how horrified he looked.
But he gave in, thanks to my three amigos. They all agreed we needed a change of scenery.
“We only have a few more questions to answer and then we’re done. We’ll be at least a couple of weeks ahead, and we’ll stay that way.” He taps on the paper again, and I roll my eyes, leaning back in my chair.
“And why, oh studious one, do we have to stay a couple of weeks ahead? Won’t that mean we’ll just be bored in class?” I ask.
Declan hangs his head. “We need to stay ahead in these classes in case one of us gets sick,
