Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(75)

I should have asked Calen, but it hadn’t occurred to me at the time. I figured everyone would be heading there and we’d just follow along.

“If you’re invited, you’ll get directions soon.”

We fussed with our makeup for another ten minutes, stopping when a quiver of magic licked across my skin. An envelope appeared on my bed, and I shook my head. “For a school where you’re not really supposed to use magic outside of class, there sure is a lot of magic going on.”

Larissa nodded. “That’s a loosely followed rule. It’s mainly because we’re all volatile, and magic users have the advantage over other races. Dad is all about keeping things on equal footing here, even if it’s not like that in the real world.”

I hated the thought that in the real world, the four races were divided. Princeps Jones had done an excellent job in making sure this school did not feel like that.

I kinda never wanted to leave.

Larissa grabbed the envelope; her fingers were trembling when she ripped it open. A single off-white card was inside, with fancy gold calligraphy writing on it. I peered over her shoulder to read it.

Maddison James and Larissa Jones are invited to the first PARTY OF THE YEAR!

Your escort will arrive in two minutes. Be ready.





We exchanged an excited glance, and she dropped the card and envelope on the bed. “Do they always escort you?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Last year I overheard someone talking about a party and how they all got a treasure map on how to get there.”

I already preferred this way.

In the supe world there was no need for identification or money, so I just powdered the shine on my nose, touched up my lip gloss, and pulled on some heels. The knock on my door was firm, and when I opened it, Deeann was on the other side. I hadn’t seen much of her lately. We hung in different circles, and she was a few years ahead of me in classes but was still a welcomed friendly face.

“Hey, bitches,” she said, shimmying in her dress. I felt better about mine the moment I saw her teeny, tiny, almost translucent number.

“Ready to go?” she said, waving us out of the room. I shut my door, excited and nervous about what this party might entail.

Deeann stopped at a few more doors on the way, collecting some other students. I didn’t recognize most of them; they weren’t first years.

“You’re one of the only first years coming,” she said. “Usually newbies aren’t allowed.”

I could tell she thought I should be grateful, but I wasn’t a huge fan of excluding people from anything. It had happened too much to me during my life. It almost made me not want to go. Almost. Pure curiosity pushed me forward.

Our small group followed Deeann through the commons and into the forest quadrant. It wasn’t the easiest place to walk in heels, but Larissa and I managed to keep each other up as we stumbled along. The forest was, in general, off-limits and filled with dangerous plants and animals, which of course made it the perfect place for an “underground” party. We ended up much deeper into the dense flora than I’d ever been. When Deeann sent up some mage lights, I was fascinated by the different trees here. They were huge and gnarled, seeming much older than any of the trees I’d worked with in Herbalism.

“This is the oldest part of the forest,” Larissa confirmed. “We’re definitely not supposed to be back here.”

I was already crossing my fingers that I didn’t stumble across anything that might kill me.

The faint sound of music registered about twenty seconds before the party came into sight. They must have had some sort of noise-dampening spell on the area, because when we stepped between two massive trees, the music all but crashed into us. Not just music, but lights and laughter and the scent of beer.

Deeann chuckled as she spread her arms and spun in a circle. “Welcome to the best party of the year,” she shouted.

Larissa leaned into me. “They’re all called that,” she whisper-shouted. “They have at least four a year, and it’s always the ‘party of the year.’” She finger quoted and rolled her eyes, but it was clear she was still excited to be here.

“Is this clearing a natural part of the forest?” I asked.

It was a huge cleared space.

“Magic,” Larissa said, eyeing the setup. “Lucky they can do that without hurting the forest. Otherwise Dad would kill them.”

“He knows about the parties?”

She nodded. “Oh yeah. He definitely knows. But as long as no one gets hurt, he lets them go. He’s pretty cool for a dad.”

He was very cool.

We both grabbed some drinks, poured straight from a huge silver keg.

“This beer is laced with magic,” Larissa warned as soon as she took a sip. “It’ll get you drunk faster.”

I shrugged, chugging another mouthful. It had been a hectic week, and I was ready to let loose. And maybe a small part of me hoped to find a guy to at least dance with; I had to stop mooning over Asher. We were friends, and don’t get me wrong, I loved our friendship, but I wanted more. Something held him back, and I had a feeling it had everything to do with my unknown power and possible connection to Atlantis. Until he found that damn library and we figured out what I was and how to safely release my power, he would continue to fight whatever was—or could be—between us.