Claimed by Nicole Adamz

Author:Nicole Adamz [Adamz, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkblot Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-04-18T05:00:00+00:00

∞ ∞ ∞

The amber runes beneath my skin flickered, slowly fading while my reedy breathing steadied in the quiet room. Sweat trickled down my temples. Sighing irritably, I got out of bed. Beginning the day with a nightmare again—great. I bent over the basin, splashing my face with frigid water before pausing. Are they nightmares?

They feel more like a warning—and a promise. My icy fingers washed away the stench of sweat and fear, the cold cloth moving swiftly over my goose-fleshed skin. I layered myself in my brown, woolen uniform. The one Maewyn hated most.

Oh, well, I shrugged. It’s clean. A cream wool vest completed the ensemble and I paused when my fingers brushed the pendant hanging around my throat. Instead of putting it safely in my sachet I left it tucked beneath my tunic, needing the comfort it gave me. I touched it before leaving my room. True One, protect us.

The common area was alive with noise, and I winced at Maewyn’s chirpiness. She hummed and chittered, clutching a few dresses in her arms. Skies, it’s too early to be so happy, I grumbled. Maewyn paused, raising an eyebrow at my uniform before resuming her antics.

Her return to normalcy was a comfort, but uneasiness crawled beneath my skin. My gut pinched; a reminder of the time. Time for breakfast, I sighed, walking out of the suite. With classes finished for the year, the feast hall brimmed with an overbearing number of people. I’d finally stopped receiving disgruntled glowers from other Caelum, but I wasn’t comfortable.

Examining the buffet, I noticed the food was slightly less abundant. I piled a platter with a good helping of warm, seeded bread drizzled in honey. An Anomaly skirted around me with an armful of dirty dishes for the kitchen. It was a reminder to send Zora dosh I didn’t have. Someone bumped into me hard, and I clutched my tray, beating down the panic strumming my nerves. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. Cautiously looking over my shoulder, I was surprised to meet Docent Pickwickian’s amused gaze.

The ‘hallucination’ incident in the Great Library was still unaddressed. Because I’ve avoided him, I admitted, tensing under his scrutiny. I preferred our silence on the topic stay that way, and I nonchalantly tried to hurry. Snatching a handful of crisp bacon, I shoved a piece in my mouth. Docent Pickwickian coughed, and I tensed. Is he going to mention what happened?

“Your term paper was a disappointment, Ari. It was completely average.” Docent Pickwickian said, peering at me beneath bushy brows. Panicked, I painfully swallowed the crunchy bacon.

“However,” Docent Pickwickian continued, “you provided a wealth of new information regarding the Collective Renewal for the Ward Barrier. Which has changed, it seems.”

I waited, holding my breath.

“It was because of that information you passed my class,” he finished.

A huff of air escaped my lungs in a relieved whoosh.

“Although, if you have questions about the tomes you haven’t returned, I can help you,” Docent Pickwickian said, glancing away at my puzzled look.

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