Nothing could have prepared me for how hard I failed. Even Jorge had better luck and he couldn't say two words to a girl his age without biting his tongue by accident. After he bonded with Jillian, a tall girl with wavey blonde hair and a chest that would have given Lorelei a run, he talked of nothing else.

Victor took on his second witch by mid-week. Only Shawn was in the same boat as me when Friday arrived, but he would be leaving me to sail alone as by the afternoon he sat chatting with a group of girls that were a grade higher than us during lunch. While he didn’t seem to have a clue they were interested, everyone else could tell where things were going. And go they did. He had a witch clinging to him by dinner.

My annoyance didn’t just come from the fact they were bonded already, but that they were being approached all the time. For them, Lorelei’s words rang true. One girl even trapped Jorge in a closet after class. Lorelei still kept watch and had him out of it before anything could happen and Jorge looked as scared as I had ever seen him.

At the end of the Saturday I sat alone in the common room, lazily watching the fire in the fireplace burn and flipped through my Mage Tactics for the Battlefield textbook. Familiar emotions found me, those of anger and annoyance. If the emotions were focused on something or someone it would have made things easier, but I was left with only frustration. Never in my dreams did I expect to find myself in the Orange Academy, but now that I had arrived and experienced a days, I was starting to think it had turned into a nightmare.

Girls had come to talk to me, but the conversation never lasted very long and I could plainly tell they were doing it more out of curiosity than any real interest in bonding. To make matters worse, all the others now spent time off with their witches. Even at meal times I sat alone, making it clear to all that I had fallen far behind. I had half a mind to pack up my things and head to the Rickets for training as I had once planned… but that wasn’t really an option anymore.

Night came as I continued to wallowed in my frustration. The first inkling that someone had joined me came from a chill breeze that wafted from the door behind me. The next clue came a bit more forcefully. A hand appeared on my chest and fingers curled up in my shirt.

I jumped from the chair. My book landed with a thud a few feet from the fire. I whirled around to find Lorelei resting her elbows against the back of the chair. She smirked at me.

“Didn’t expect I’d find you here,” she said, eyes narrowing. “What are you doing?”

I stooped and picked up the book. I placed it on the table by one of the windows and looked out. Rain pelted off the glass, blown about by the wind. I could feel the chill from the other side.

“Studying,” I said flatly which got the expected eye roll from her. “Fine. I’m just staying out of the way.”

She shook her head. “Well that’s not the play here, boy. That’s probably the worst idea you’ve had.”

I shrugged and leaned back against the table. “Don’t see much choice to be honest.”

“Why’s that? Because girls aren’t lining up to jump you?”

“No girl is even talking to me for more than a few seconds before blowing me off,” I said and crossed my arms. I felt exposed and stupid for having believed that things would have worked out. “I’m not looking to get laid just to get laid, or that I think I’m owed something. I didn’t even expect to be here.”

“It’s almost the end of the week,” Lorelei said and stood back from the chair. She crossed the room to stand before me. “Remember what I said on the first day during dinner?”

“Then kick me out, I’ll go make a home in the abyss or something.”

She made a tutting sound. “You don’t get off that easy.”

“Why not? You were wrong. That damn crystal was wrong. I must not be a mage if this is how things worked out,” I said and felt a pit burn in my stomach. I never let my hopes raise just for this reason. I found it better to assume the worse and be pleasantly surprised. Life was simpler that way and less painful. The pain I felt now just reinforced that feeling.

“Oh, sweet child, you think I was wrong?” She chuckled. “Or that the crystal was? When did you become so knowledgeable about the world of magic? You’re a kid from the slums, however well read you are. I guess that still hasn't changed. I should have noticed sooner that you would take things this way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you want to bond with me?” she asked and I looked up to see her watching me intently, her silver eyes locking with mine. There was no hint of amusement or deception in her face that I could see. She rose a hand to her blouse and pulled the top open a bit more. “I wouldn’t mind one bit. With your kind of power behind me I could twist time and space anyway I liked.”

“Don’t fuck with me,” I said and moved from the table to put some distance between us.

She undid the first few buttons on the blouse, the curves of her cleavage disappeared into the white lace of her bra. “I want to fuck you, nothing else. I want to bond with you. Why would you run from that?”

“You’re my goddamn advisor,” I said. She popped another button. Two more and her shirt would be completely undone in the middle of the common room.

“You’re a virgin then? Are you scared of what would happen if you bonded with a witch?” The second to last button came undone and she pulled her shirt from the waistband of her skirt. “If that’s the case I’ll be gentle, I promise. I can take good care of you.” She moved closer and I stepped back and we continued the little dance until I was backed against the wall. “I know I’m a bit old, but I think I’m still pretty cute. So, what do you say?”

“No,” I choked out. She removed her shirt and let it slip from her fingers and to the floor. The bra was see-through and I could make out her hard pink nipples underneath. I swallowed hard and shook my head. “I don’t need your pity.”

She stopped, her head canted to the side. “Pity? The only thing I pity is those dumb-ass girls,” she said and motioned to the window with her hand. “They’re out there taking meager scrapes as their mages when you’re standing around looking powerful, cute, and idiotic.” She moved to stand in front of me, our noses inches apart. I could smell her perfume, a strong scent of pine and lavender. It made my head spin.

"Sure..."

“I don’t pity you, I’m angry with you.” She reached out and tapped my nose with a finger.

“What? Why?" I asked. She bent closer. She licked her lips and they shined invitingly. I just had to tilt my head forward a bit and I could kiss her, but her stare stilled me.

“You’re magic is being smothered. These girls… they’re not the smartest when it comes to reading magic,” she said and I felt her hand at my side. “They only see the big, flashy flames. The flames that mages like Victor have.” She pulled me against her and ran her free hand through my hair. “You’re not a flame, you’re a forest fire -- a volcano. Maybe even a sun. It's hard to grasp its totality. Your magic burns hotter than any magic I have come in contact with. It’s intoxicating for those of us who can see past the veil.”

She suddenly pulled away and the pained look she gave as she did so surprised me. She picked up her shirt from the floor and threw he arms into the sleeves. “But of course, you won’t believe me. No, you’re too stuck in your head. Probably from all those damn books you read. So, I’ll keep my promise. Drastic measures.” She ran her hand through her silver hair and shot me a grin. “Only got yourself to blame, Aidan. Be prepared for tomorrow.”

“W—what’s going to happen tomorrow?”

“You’ll see. I’ll leave you to take care of your little friend,” she said with a small laugh as she pointed to my crotch. “Good to know that I can still have that affect.”

The door clicked closed behind her and I stood dumbfounded. The room was far too hot and her scent lingered in the air. It felt like my brain had to reset. When I finally came to my senses it was almost ten minutes after she left and I was just coming to terms with what happened. Her warning echoed in my memory and my dread for the next day grew to the point that I wished I had left the first day.