Page 4 of Alchemy of Souls

Instead, I pick up my to-go mug. The spell Naomi used to boil the tea also melted the cup and it’s totally ruined. My magic flares, the feeling of injustice bubbling up in my chest. Screw you, Naomi, and all your entitled Mage friends. Iampassing this exam today.

I toss it into the bed of my truck with a clang and turn toward the sleek black Audi as it cuts its engine in the spot next to Naomi’s convertable. That’s what made Naomi lose interest in me—Grayson Stone—beautiful, stupidly arrogant, and without a doubt the most talented student in a generation. Everyone says he’s our biggest hope against the Lawless.

Grayson exits his sports car like he doesn’t have a care in theworld, his wavy dark hair emphasizing his relaxed posture, the only one of us who’s not nervous about today. His blazer is flung casually over his broad shoulder, and he shoves the last piece of a chocolate croissant in his mouth as he snaps his door shut. And I swear, every student within fifty feet collectively sighs.

Bastian jogs across the green to meet him. “Grayson, mate, good of you to finally show,” he says in his Aussie accent. “What do you reckon, Naomi? Will he get Gifted?”

“Oh, without a doubt,” Naomi says. She looks at Grayson like she wants to take a step closer. Actually, most people look at him that way. If it were possible, I’d suspect his pheromones were magicked.

Bastian chuckles. “After today, everyone’s gonna fall at your feet begging for your autograph because your magic is just sostrong.”

Case in point.

Grayson laughs, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Don’t they already?” he asks with a charming lilt to his voice.

I scowl at him, a guy who is my opposite in every way—annoyingly good at everything with no effort.

As though he could somehow feel my disapproval, his gaze momentarily meets mine as he steps onto the green. There is something about his look that feels as though he could hear my insult. The corners of his mouth pull up ever so slightly and his eyes seem to laugh. Instead of sending back a look that screams middle finger, my stomach drops and my cheeks flush of their own accord. And now I’m furious at myself for reacting to him the way every other clown on this campus does.

CHAPTER 3Eloise

I tap my foot from where I sit on the earthy wooden bench in our auditorium, which reminds me of a giant tiered sauna. Maggie suddenly appears to my left, dissolving her invisibility spell—a rare talent her parents hope will make her a candidate for University. Even so, the prejudice against Laboring families is so strong that they moved all the way from Ireland because the American Academy is less competitive than the European one. Maggie has really honed her skills over the last four years, though, and I’d say she’s a shoo-in. Now, if only I can get in with her.

I don’t flinch at her sudden appearance. I’m used to her antics by now.

Maggie takes note of my tapping foot. “Are ye scared or excited? Or so nervous ye wonder if you’ll sneeze wrong and a little wee will come out?”

I snort despite myself. Because I know she’s saying it for my benefit. She can see how tightly I’m wound and she’s helping in her very Maggie way.

“I justneedmy spell to be good enough.” There’s that word again. Need.

Maggie scoffs. She’s tall and dancer-like with the mouth of a drunken sailor. “Don’t ye dare give yourself a hard time, EloiseBelrose. You’re an absolute legend, ye are. We’rebothgraduating today. We’rebothgetting into University. And we’rebothmoving our families the hell out of here. Nothing less.”

“Nothing less,” I repeat—a pact Maggie and I made after the Lawless raid last year that killed Grandad.

Maggie nods, like I’m seeing reason. “Watch, ye will even get recruited to be one of those terrifying Guardians with all the pointy things strapped to their belts and the I-eat-people expressions.”

I smile. “That’s the goal.” I link my arm through hers and rest my head on her shoulder. “I just wish I had your calm.”

She raises an eyebrow like it was an exclamation point. “Calm? Can ye not guess why I appeared outside your bedroom window this morning like an enchanted siren? Had a fecken panic last night and tried to come see you then, but Ma wasn’t having it.”

My mother wouldn’t have allowed it, either. Traveling after dark where we live is risky.

I don’t ask her why she didn’t text me, because I know the answer. We’re all forbidden to talk about anything that involves the magical world over the phone. Not because of the magicless, who explain away anything they witness as faulty vision or bad memory. But for the Lawless, who use our communications against us. That’s the one real rule our community has, not to aid the Lawless in any way. And there’s no flexibility or forgiveness. If you break the rule, the punishment is death.

But before I can reply, the doors of the auditorium fling open. Our instructors walk down the tiered aisles and file into the benched rows in front of the stage. The atmosphere shifts. Everyone can feel it—the thrum of power that suddenly billows like thick smoke.

Magic recognizes magic.

The High Mage Council has arrived.

“Here we go,” I say, and Maggie slides her hand into mine, giving my fingers a squeeze.

As the room falls silent, the stage curtains open, revealing the eight members of the High Mage Council and the High Chancellor himself.

The Mages are in high-backed wooden chairs that form a U, centered around a gossamer spell sparkling on the floor like dancing fireflies.

“The discernment spell,” I whisper in awe. The ancient spell that evaluates each candidate’s magical abilities and conjures an image representing their assigned guild.