Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(41)

“Are you going to put on makeup?” Ilia asked, sitting up. She looked tired, and I wondered if it was Josh or something else keeping her up. “I mean, it doesn’t hurt to look hot for Asher.”

I shook my head. “We’ll probably spend most of our time in the water, and panda eyes are not my best look.”

Ilia nodded, grimacing. “Good thinking. Besides, you really don’t need anything. You’re lucky to have such gorgeous lashes and eyes. And you know how I feel about the freckles...”

I pressed a hand to my chest. “Aw, you’re such a great friend. I mean, if we’re throwing compliments around, you look like you were hand carved by the gods themselves. As does Asher. Which is very disconcerting for someone who’s normal, like me.”

Ilia was up off the bed, her face fierce. “Girl. Friend. Don’t let me hear you say that again. There’s nothing normal about you, and even if there was, you’re not less than Asher. Not less than anyone.”

I opened my mouth, but she cut me off. “I get it, I really do. It’s not even that he’s built like a god, which everyone can agree on, or that he rules the Academy. It’s that he’s an extra powerful supernatural, and you’re still trying to find your way … figure out your race and energy. I get the insecurities. But unless he’s literally out there singlehandedly saving orphans or some shit, he’s no better than the rest of us.”

I shot her a grateful smile. “You’re right. I’m not going to stress about him being out of my league. I mean, we’re only meeting to see if we can explore my water magic affinity. So … nothing to worry about.”

Ilia didn’t say anything, but I could tell from her smile she thought I was full of it.

Something we could both agree on.





17





The sky was a dark, stormy mess as I crossed through the commons and made my way toward the water world. The snow had arrived in the short time I’d been in my room.

As I got closer to the water world, I felt the pull in my blood.

It hadn’t been like this in my old life; being around all of this magic was changing me.

Into what, only time would tell.

I was a little early and there was no sign of Asher when I arrived, so I decided to head inside. The moment I set foot in the glass walkway, I let out a low sigh. Strolling along casually, I didn’t think, I just enjoyed the cool air and endless blue lights splashing across me. It was only when I reached the doorway, stopping just outside of it, that I admitted to myself that I wanted to try stepping through again.

Not being perfect used to bother me a lot. Like … a lot. It was why I hadn’t blinked an eye at Jesse and his eating preferences. I was that child who lined all my pencils in a perfect row and followed the same routine when stepping on the cracked tiles in our kitchen. A shrink would have probably commented on my need to control the few things I could in my life, because I lived in an out-of-control environment.

Either way, my OCD tendencies had been beaten out of me by the time I reached my teen years, and eventually my mind let it go and allowed me to flow with the never-ending chaos of life. But, occasionally, a little tic would return, and not making it through the doorway had been bothering me.

“Hey there, door of Sonaris,” I said conversationally. I hadn’t had a chance to do any research on the god yet—the schoolwork I had already was keeping me busy. I’d have to wing it. “So … about the other day. I’m not sure what I did wrong with your door, but I promise I mean no harm. From a water-loving chick to a water-loving god, I’d appreciate if you let me in.”

And I was probably officially crazy. In my old life, I hadn’t been religious; talking to God was not something I ever did. But three days into this new “supernatural” world and suddenly I was a believer.

There was no answer, which was a good thing—an answer would have actually caused a heart attack—so I pushed forward toward the dark, arched door. It was scary doing this on my own—if something went wrong there was no help. But this new life meant I had to try and be brave, at least some of the time. And it wasn’t like darkness was new to me; magic was just a new version of it that I had to learn and understand.

When I hit the doorway the sensation was the same as before, a cloying jelly that choked off my senses and sent panic fluttering through my veins. I pushed myself for longer than I had yesterday. I mean, it felt like an eternity before I backed out, choking and coughing.

Shaking my head, I paused at the sight of Asher, one arm propped against the wall, doing that long lean that had my eyes travelling the length of him. He wore just a pair of board shorts and a fitted black shirt, the edges of some symbolic ink extending down his right biceps to his forearm. It was all black and geometric, and I tried not to drool over the way it bisected his muscled and tanned skin. He looked like a surfer, all sun-kissed and golden.

“Almost made it that time,” he said, straightening and moving closer.

Wiping at my face to try and dispel the lingering feel of jelly, I coughed to clear my throat. “Almost?”

Asher nodded. “Yep, you basically disappeared from sight completely. You need to trust in yourself … in the journey.”

This time he didn’t sound condescending, but I still got pissed off for no reason whatsoever. “Maybe I didn’t want to be as awesome as Asher and achieve this in my first week!” I put my hands on my hips and glared. “Showing everyone else up.”