Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(28)

If only we could start to learn from it, then the world would be a better place.





12





When I reached the commons, it was raining again, and the magical barrier was back in place, keeping us dry. The feeling of spring was gone from the air; it legit felt like late fall. It was messing with my mind—I was not used to living in a place where the weather changed every five or six hours. I mean, I knew there were states in America that often experienced four seasons in one day, but I’d never lived in one.

The other first years I’d been with dispersed, moving with their friends toward free tables. I searched for the closest table that was empty and settled in. Placing my hand on the shield, I said, “Lunch.”

The selections today were all different from last night’s dinners, and I ended up choosing a salad and tacos because they were favorites of mine. I also got some water and orange juice, which arrived immediately.

While I waited for my food, I cast a look around the school, searching for Ilia and Larissa. The commons was not as filled as it had been the last few times I passed through. Now that school was back on, it appeared everyone had different lunchtimes.

There was no sign of my friends, and I made a note to ask them about their schedules the next time I saw them. According to my parchment, I had two hours until my next class, which was a nice little break. Even though I was actually pretty excited to continue with this magic learning thing.

A tingle of energy rushed across my skin a moment before the food arrived, and even though I wasn’t starving, the smell of corn, salsa, and chili mince was enough to have my stomach growling. The Supernatural Academy cooks, whoever they were, made a mean taco.

“You’re at our table, new girl.” His voice was a low rumble and my eyes flew open as I swallowed quickly. I had to tilt my head a long way back to find his face, and the moment I did, I swallowed again. I hadn’t been able to place his face last night, but today I recognized him. The fifth Atlantean.

Jesse was green-eyed, dark-skinned, and a lion shifter. He was one of the biggest guys I’d ever seen in my life, well over six and a half feet and built like a linebacker. He was also really hot. Atlantean-level hot, because I was starting to think that they were definitely their own race of supes.

Before I could break down all of his pretty pieces, I finally registered his words. Their table.

Ah, fuck. Nerves skittered across my insides, making me squirm.

“I didn’t know there were set tables for lunch,” I said in a rush.

Jesse swung himself into a chair directly across from me, and I still had to look up at him.

“We claimed this table in our first year,” he said, “but since you’re new here, I won’t give you too much shit about sitting your pretty ass in our space.” He flashed me a half-smile, the white of his teeth extra bright against his dark skin.

“I’ll move then,” I said, already gathering my stuff together.

Just as I was about to stand, he waved a hand. “You can stay if you answer some questions. You’ve got some of my brothers curious, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to find out some fun facts about you.”

I narrowed my eyes, hands clenching in front of me as I released my plate, letting it clatter to the table. My fear of these unknown Atlanteans faded as a sliver of anger swelled in my chest. “I’m not a sideshow amusement. I just want to eat my fucking lunch. Is that too much to ask?”

Jesse’s smile grew, and then he threw his head back and laughed. “Are you sure you’re not a shifter? Because that sort of fire is rarely seen in the other races.”

Charming and scary. They were literally both.

“I have no idea,” I said, before realizing I’d let a pretty important piece of information slip out.

Jesse didn’t miss it either, his eyes narrowing on me. “Don’t know, hey? Calen mentioned that he couldn’t read your race, and that’s actually a skill that cocky mage is quite good at.”

“Calen spent four point two seconds with me. I doubt he got much of a chance to read anything.”

I was hungry, so I picked up my taco and took another bite. Jesse’s expression shifted then to something darker, more primal, and I almost choked. “What?” I said as soon as I swallowed that mouthful. “Do I have something on my face?”

He shook his head, body unnaturally still. “You sure you’re not a shifter? Have you ever felt like … something else was inside your mind? Taking over your body?”

I shook my head, reaching out to grab the icy glass of water. Swallowing a few mouthfuls, I watched him closely. “No, I’ve never felt that. Princeps Jones says my energy is blocked. They’re waiting for a powerful sorcerer to release it.”

I took another long gulp of water before going back to the taco. He kept watching me with that indecipherable expression, and it was making me nervous.

Thankfully, he turned his focus to food, and I was able to eat a few more bites in peace. He ordered at least six meals. Guess it took a lot of food to fill his height and muscle.

“What was it like being raised as a human?” he asked when he was done ordering.

“I didn’t know any different,” I said truthfully, wondering why the hell I was still sitting here. I should be running, like I had yesterday, but Jesse as an individual didn’t seem too bad. “Yesterday was my birthday. I changed my hair color like I do every year, and then boom, there’s a witch standing in front of me telling me that I need to accompany her to a supernatural school. I’m probably still in shock.”