Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(45)

“Ugh,” Ilia groaned softly. “I really like him.” Her whisper was barely audible because shifters had great hearing.

“The feeling is clearly mutual,” I assured her.

Excitement lit up her features before she smoothed it away. They were still in the early stages of their relationship and she was playing it cool.

“So back to this Asher thing,” Ilia said. “Have you considered the fact that you might have Atlantean blood?”

I paused, because I hadn’t. “I mean, I guess it’s possible. It would explain my affinity for water magic, and the pull I feel toward the Atlanteans.” It had been pretty obvious at lunch, and now with Asher. “You said there was at least five hundred or so out in the world—not the best odds, but not impossible. How would I find out?”

“When your energy is unlocked, we’ll be able to tell,” Ilia said.

Josh strode over to meet us, dropping a kiss on her cheek. He shot me a welcoming smile. “Hey, Maddi. Ready for some shopping?”

I laughed. “I don’t have much experience in this whole shopping thing, but I’m guessing Ilia will keep us on track.”

She straightened her shoulders like I’d given her an important task. “You have no idea.”

I really had no idea.

Starting with her insane driving. She borrowed a car from the school, which were only given out to staff and certain students. It was a fancy Mercedes sedan, which would have been lovely if I wasn’t clinging to the door in panic. She was foot to the floor, sliding around corners, iced-out roads be damned.

When we entered Queensborough she finally slowed down and I unlatched my fingers, stretched them out from where they’d cramped in panic. “You okay?” Ilia asked, swinging into a parking lot, stopping less than an inch before hitting the curb.

I wrenched my door open and almost fell out in my haste to get out of the car. “You drive like a maniac,” I choked out, sucking in air. “A. Maniac.”

Ilia and Josh both laughed. “I’m magic, girl. I’d stop us before we hit anything.”

My stomach rolled and I had to swallow more than once so I didn’t vomit all over the pavement. Thankfully we hadn’t had a chance to eat yet. When my body finally stopped freaking, I stood straighter and took my first real look at the charming town.

It was so pretty, with a variety of unique and cute shops decorating either side of the long street. It was cold though, and I shivered because I was not even remotely dressed appropriately.

“Here,” Ilia said, and I turned in time to catch a thick ivory wool coat. “Figured you’d forget it wasn’t climate controlled out here.”

The Academy made me forget that the entire world existed, so that wasn’t surprising.

Ilia was buttoning herself into a tan coat, so I slid my arms into mine and sighed at how warm it was. It fell to midthigh, and I quickly buttoned it.

“Let’s shop!” Ilia all but shouted, and I sucked in a deep breath.

I was ready.





Three hours later, I groaned. “Enough, please. I can’t do any more shopping.” Josh had already been back to the car six times, and Ilia appeared to have just hit her stride. “We’ve got all the clothes I need, and a cell phone. Now get me back to the Academy for my appointment with Louis.”

Ilia shook her head like she was disappointed in me. “I guess you’ve got enough. For now. But I still think you should have looked for a formal dress. We have a school dance next month.”

“Dances are not really my thing,” I told her for the fifth time.

“Mandatory attendance,” she told me, “which means you can’t weasel your way out unless you’re legitimately sick. It’s a supe bonding exercise, and it’s usually—”

“Boring,” Josh added.

I hid a laugh, and Ilia shot him a dark look. “Yes, it can be somewhat boring, but it’s also a great opportunity to wear a beautiful dress and eat awesome food and dance with anyone you want.”

“And the after-parties are always awesome,” Josh added, not exactly agreeing with Ilia, but smart enough not to openly disagree with her.

I sighed. “Maybe … maybe it would be fun to let loose for a change. We can get a dress another time though.”

Ilia didn’t argue, but her full lips were pressed thin as we strode from the last boutique. I had loved being in this little town. To see supes in the “real” world owning businesses and interacting with each other made all of it feel a little more real.

I hadn’t seen much active magic about, but definitely noticed a few things that would’ve had humans scratching their heads if they stumbled on it.

“That’ll never happen,” Ilia told me when I asked her about the possibility of humans finding Queensborough. “There are barriers and securities around the town, the same as around the Academy. If you’re human, you’d never be able to enter.”

Another tick in the “I’m not human” checklist. I loved it every single time that happened.

Just as we were about to hop in the car—the back seats were almost full of bags, but there was just enough room for me to squish in—I caught sight of something that made me pause.

“Uh, is there a race of supernaturals who like to cosplay?” I asked, squinting to see them better.