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She looks at me, grin wide and eyes shining. “What do you mean?”

I nudge her. “Please, you’re practically floating.”

“Okay, so there might be a guy,” she says with a dreamy sigh. “A beta . . . honestly, he’s almost perfect, but there’s one problem.”

A group of students comes toward us, and we split around them before rejoining.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He already has an alpha.”

“Shit. Yeah, that’s a problem.” Wolf pack politics can be intense. Generally, once you’re in a pack, that’s it. To fall for an alpha outside of the pack . . . that could be grounds for the pack alpha to challenge Ever. Whoever wins would keep the beta. “Who’s the alpha?”

“Some second year I haven’t really met yet. Not that I’m planning to anytime soon.”

“Probably best to stay out of his way. You alphas can get territorial.”

She nods solemnly. “I should probably break it off with him, but I really, really like him.”

“I mean, we could die tomorrow. You’re strong as hell, but there’s no guarantee you’ll survive the Goddess Trial. I say enjoy the moment and deal with drama when it comes.” I hold the door open for Ever, and hundreds of voices rush to greet us. The muscles in my body instantly tense.

It’s always obnoxiously loud in the cafetorium.

“Such wise words. Are you sure you’re not from Archive?” She waits for me once she’s inside.

“Trust me, I don’t get along with Archive right now.” Especially when the archives—digital and physical—have proven useless. I haven’t discovered anything about my missing affinities, my twin, or Rowan’s ability to remove the silver from my veins.

I’m starting to wonder if those in the order are really shitty at their job, or if someone has purposefully removed the information. I choose to cling to those beliefs and not the one that is full of despair. Maybe there’s nothing to find, because I truly have no power and Addy is dead.

My throat burns at the thought, and I force positive thoughts.

Ever and I grab our trays, food, and drinks, then join Bree and Eli at our usual table where Bree has already laid a privacy rune. The magic tingles over my skin before settling around us like a dome. The noise fades away, and once again, I’m thankful for Bree’s casting abilities. Seeing as all paranorms can use them, I really should learn basic runes, but I’ve been a little preoccupied.

“So, I heard that Melody has been actively campaigning against you. She’s saying you cast a love spell on Bellamy,” Bree says, picking up her coffee and sipping on it.

“A love spell, really?” I shake my head. “Those aren’t even real.”

Bree’s lips tug down. “There are spells like that in darkcasting.”

“Yeah, but I’m obviously not doing that.” Darkcasting is forbidden magic linked to the God of Destruction. There’s no way I’d ever go near it. I look at my friends, but they’re all somber. Bree winces. I straighten and shake my head. “Melody is saying I’m using darkcasting?”

“She’s saying that’s why you don’t have affinities, that the Goddess knows you’re using corrupt magic and took them away from you.”

“Son of a bitch,” I growl, glancing around the cafetorium, spotting the mage in question sneering at me. I flip her off before turning back to my friends. “I’m not using darkcasting,” I insist, picking up my cup of water.

“Oh, we know,” Ever says quickly. “But the rest of the student population is wary.” She grimaces and turns in her seat to face me. “You still haven’t used your affinities⁠—”

I slam my cup down onto the table with a crack. “Because I literally can’t.”

“I know.” Ever grabs my hand. “None of these people here know you the way we do. I know there’s no way you’d use the God of Destruction’s magic, but they don’t.”

“You need to figure out what’s going on with your affinities now more than ever,” Bree adds. “I can help you, if you want.”

Have Bree rip my mind apart with her mindcraft? No thanks.

“I’ll figure it out. I’m making some progress in tutoring.” Lie. A total lie, but one way or another, I’m going to find out why I can’t use my affinities and prove to everyone that I’m not using darkcasting.

“Are you ready for Practical Casting?” Ever asks, changing the subject, her tone careful.