Page 52 of Group Studies

Saffron reached out and squeezed my hand. I’d never appreciated his comfort as much as in this moment.

Stopping myself from touching my neck, I focused on today’s lesson. Exchanging thoughts. My peers' task was to create a story with images inside their minds, adding to it in layers. Although I’d already failed, the professor once again encouraged me to try.

“Now, touch Saffron and find his magic. Take the horse out of the story,” he instructed.

I shook my head, unable to even track the story. It existed outside of me. I bitterly wondered if I could have freed my feet earlier, but in my panic the thought hadn’t occurred to me in time.

“Aphy, focus,” Professor Garnet said, reminding me he’d given me a hopeless task.

Saffron and I turned to each other. His yellow rims blazed, willing me to do something. I placed a hand on his forehead and commanded him to do what the professor asked. The Greek God’s face didn’t change, though his eyes flicked down to my chest and back up. I bit my lower lip. The barrier to my magic began to lower. Maybe if I transferred into him, just a little, with my command in mind…

“That’s enough,” Professor Garnet suddenly barked.

I jerked my hand away, and the barrier snapped back into place. I took a few deep breaths, my heart fluttering. I’d been moments from trying to force my will on to Saffron and I didn’t know how I felt about that.

My gaze darted to Officer Keres, but he didn’t seem any the wiser.

I turned back to the center without looking at Professor Garnet. Instead of dwelling on my failure, he moved on. Tanwyn picked up the story easily enough.

Shame burned my face.

Saffron’s warm hand found mine and squeezed it. Though the Greek God didn’t look at me, his quiet voice whispered into my ear. “We’ll find a more private place and try it again. With or without Professor Garnet’s supervision.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden change in character. He squeezed my hand again, and I narrowed my eyes. Was he helping me because he wanted to, or because the professor told him?

Although I wanted it to be because he wanted to help me, did it really matter? How important was the motivation behind an action?

It was wrong of me to affect free will. But, if I had permission and did it for the right reasons, was it so bad? Is that why Saffron’s offering now? Maybe he’d gotten permission, but we couldn’t do it near the professor because of Officer Keres. I wrinkled my nose. That somehow seemed worse.

I forced myself to stop asking questions I couldn’t answer. Releasing his hand, I sank into my mage trance and watched the mages around me spin a story I couldn't take part in. My stomach soured and I fought to not rub my neck.

Tanwyn caught my attention the moment class ended. He handed me a creamy silk scarf as he took his pillow back.

“There’s a handprint starting to bruise on your neck,” he said, his lips close to my ear.

I forced my hands to stay at my sides, the dull ache annoying but not painful.

“I know you’ve got something going on with the new guy now,” Tanwyn continued. “But if he’s hurting you, or if anyone is, no strings attached, I’m here.” He traced one of the tattoos on his forearm nervously. “I know I don’t throw my weight around, but I am more than capable.”

A memory of Nurse Norah dropping Tanwyn’s name to intimidate Advisor Crowe came back to me.

“I believe you.” I reached out, squeezing his knee. “But you don’t need me messing up your life as well.” Accepting the scarf, I wrapped it around my neck. “It wasn’t Ashe. But thank you, I’ll keep it in mind.”

Tanwyn pursed his lips, ready to say more, but I turned away. The fewer people involved, the better.

Across the Sphérique, Saffron and Ashe stood on either side of Ram, their gazes dark. Although I didn’t want them to get into trouble, I also didn’t want to waste my opportunity to get to GS unmolested.

I booked it out of the dome.

Roisin and Sandy were already in the changing rooms. I listened to them chatter. Roisin eyed my scarf but didn’t interrupt our friend. After our usual line up, the massive class broke up into four groups of about twenty students each. I breathed a sigh of relief when Ashe and I weren’t placed in the same group. If he saw the bruising on my neck, he’d get involved. I had no doubt Ram could make his life as hard as mine. I didn’t want that.

Roisin slipped her hand into mine as we followed Mercedes into a corner of the large yard where a pile of tennis rackets waited. Although I usually hated following her instructions, I’d never been this happy to keep to my own space as we worked on hand-eye coordination.

“Has Ram started bothering you again?” Roisin asked, halfway through our practice throwing balls.

As if his name summoned him, Ram ran past us with his group, his eyes glued to the scarf around my neck.

I grimaced. “Yes.”