Page 48 of Inked in Bloom
“Solstice takes place at the end of our spring rotations.” A few hands shoot up with questions. Looks like the next one will be near the end of November or early December… I raise my hand.
“Monroe.”
I lift my chin, trying to exude confidence without the slightest hint that I’m asking for a specific reason. “If solstice isn’t on a set date, how do you know when it is?”
A few classmates chuckle and mutter under their breath. The professor frowns at them. “That’s a great question for a new Bloom. It’s a gradual shift. For one, your instincts will take over. You’ll want to get back to Florezca, show signs of extreme thirst, or feel hazy and feverish. There is also usually a nesting component, where you get a boost of unexplained energy right beforehand. It’s your body’s way of trying to finish up its spring duties so you have enough magic to return beyond the veil.”
Skylar’s hand jolts up, and Tess nods in her direction. “What happens if you don’t make it back before the veil closes?”
“Any Bloom who isn’t back once the veil is closed is susceptible to seasonal sickness. While we are immortal, seasonal sickness will cause dizziness, clammy skin, and jitters.”
Sir Thumps-A-Lot’s chestnut fur quivering against my palm replays in my memory. Explains why the vet didn’t know how to diagnose him. It was seasonal sickness. He’dbeen in my care for a few months, far beyond when the veil would close, according to the chart.
“The symptoms compound slowly, but they severely weaken a Bloom, making any use of their magic nearly impossible. It’s why we have our Rescue Riders.” She gestures toward Dani who smirks and twists to show off their leather jacket’s emblem. “They are a special group of Blooms who Fate calls on to help locate and return harbingers who have missed the window. It’s rare they’re needed, but they are always ready to assist just in case.”
“Well, I won’t be needing any rescuing,” Cherri says to me with every bit of mirth directed at our professors. “I’ll be back the moment the veil opens. I can’t wait for my first solstice,”
Tess clears her throat, though I don’t miss the subtle flush across her clavicles. Dani pops a bubble behind our heads, but I no longer turn around when they do. I find it’s better to ignore them. My brows bunch together and I raise my hand again. Tess nods at me.
“Does that mean not every Bloom experiences solstice?” If Cherri has been dead six months, then surely she would have been around for the last one.
“Correct. Only Blooms who’ve been using their spring magic consistently and need replenishment experience solstice, along with any Bloom mated to someone who has. Their body will sense the shift in their mate.” I vaguely remember learning that from the pamphlet. “While not everyone physically goes through solstice each time it occurs, the entire Warren is utilized and many Blooms partake in the festivities, including the claiming ceremony that celebrates newly bonded Blooms. Anything else you’d like to know?”
I’m sure there is a ton, but I remain silent and shake my head, ready for her to move on to the next question.
The rest of the discussion is buried beneath the patter of afternoon rain. I flit through what I need to have situated with the Solstice Center before I leave for my first spring…or before my mate does. Otherwise, that’ll only spell trouble for us both.
A motorcycle thunders by, its rich rumble vibrating through me. Outside, a long, familiar silhouette moves like a deadly watercolor across the windowpanes. I swallow thickly.
“Well, I guess that’s the end of today’s lesson. If I didn’t get to your question, write it down and I’ll address it next week, once we’re back,” she says, giving Professor Briar a welcoming nod.
He’s drenched by the rain, and I can’t help wondering if he does this on purpose, knowing his tight shirt and jeans hug every muscle and lean inch of him. He shakes the droplets from his hair, and it falls perfectly over to one side in his usual style. I hate that I still find him attractive, but it’s not like attraction is logical. I just happen to have rebellious eyes that like appreciating things they shouldn’t.
He takes a seat next to the projector instead of calling us to our usual circle. “The dean and I both felt it pertinent to go over shifting safety practices today.”
Flipping on the projector, he moves to the first slide and begins going through various hazards to look out for when in our bunny form. “There are many things to be wary of in the mortal realm. Animals that see us as prey. Humans who set out miscellaneous traps, snares, or pest control contraptions. Fences?—”
I avoid his gaze, focusing instead on my notes. Hisblood-soaked fur jumps into my mind, and in his silence, I know with a certainty I can’t explain that his eyes are on me.
Briar clears his throat and switches the slide. “Vehicles.”
An orange bus flies into my mind but I dig my nails into my thighs. I won’t react. I refuse to. But I do finally look up. He’s watching me, expression apologetic. I’m angry, but there’s a heaviness settled on my ribs that’s too hard to shake. Everything unspoken is a bulb lodged in my throat, unable to be swallowed down. It lingers the rest of class and the entire walk back to the cottage.
“I think I’m going to nap before we go out tonight,” I say to Cherri as she opens the door. “Also, I wanted to thank you for taking care of me yesterday and being so thoughtful.”
I pull her in for a hug.
“I try.” She smiles and leads the way up the staircase, veering off toward her room. “Let me know if you need help with an outfit for tonight.”
“We both know I will.”
“Hey, you did a pretty good job in Botany today.”
I sigh. “I guess that’s true. I’ll let you know.”
“Sounds good,” she says, then shuts her door behind her.
I get in my room, toss off my shirt and skirt, and get into bed, curling the comforter around myself. All I want is sleep. To shut my eyes and wake up to my roommates preparing to head to dinner. But sleep never comes. Instead, my mind races, thinking about everything I’ve learned the last twenty-four hours, wondering if I’ll continue to have the magic I’ve only recently been able to access. After thirty minutes beneath the covers, I get out of bed and go into the bathroom, inspecting the sprout still poking from the dirt in the windowsill pot.
