Yvaine was pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Zully was lying on her bed with a green face mask on. She watched her, annoyed.
"Yvie, stop. You're making me dizzy."
"I just…" Yvaine stopped, looked at her hands, then shook her head. "I really thought it was me. I thought my powers were finally coming in."
Zully sat up. "It wasn't a bad thing. Ed helped."
"But I wanted it to be me, Zully. Just once." Yvaine rubbed her arm. "Now it just feels worse. Like I'm powerless all over again."
Zully sighed. "Your powers will come."
"When?" Yvaine snapped. "My eighteenth birthday is in two weeks."
Zully shrugged. "Happy birthday in advance."
Yvaine flopped onto her bed. "Thanks," she said flatly. "For a moment, it felt real. Like maybe I wasn't just... stuck. Ed helping me like that? I don't know. It just made me feel small again."
Zully peeled her face mask a little. "Look, I don't totally trust Ed. His vibe's weird around me. But he did save your butt. Lucien would've actually killed you if he didn't jump in."
Yvaine was about to answer when someone knocked on the door.
Zully groaned and stood. "If that's Elyan and Veylor again, I'm setting them on fire."
She opened the door.
No one was there.
Just the hallway. Loud. Busy. A few students walking past.
Then Zully looked down. "Huh."
She picked something up. "Ooh. Letter."
Yvaine sat up. "From who?"
"Maybe we're invited to a secret party." Zully grinned.
"Secret party?"
"Yeah, the elites do it sometimes. Silverwolves, Frosthowls… invite-only. Real hush hush." She flipped the letter. "Wait. It's for you."
She passed it to Yvaine.
Yvaine opened it slowly. Read it.
"It's from Ed," she said after a pause.
Zully waited.
"He says he's sorry. And he wants to talk. Meet under the cherry blossom, near the fountain."
Zully rolled her eyes. "Typical."
"I don't know if I should go," Yvaine said.
"Well… do you want to?"
Yvaine was quiet. "He's been kind. The only one who doesn't treat me like a mistake."
Zully sighed. "Then go. Just be careful. Like I said… something about him feels off."
Yvaine nodded and stood. "He also said he might help. With a potion. To bring out my wolf."
Zully blinked. "Does that really exist?"
"Uh..I don't know. Maybe."
Yvaine grabbed her sweater.
"Be back before moonrise. And try not to get kidnapped."
Yvaine laughed once, weakly. Then stepped out.
_______
Yvaine made her way to the fountain area. Some students sat around, laughing and talking.
She looked up and saw Ed under the biggest tree, hands in pocket.
Yvaine walked up slowly.
He saw her and smiled. "I thought you wouldn't come."
She stopped a little away from him. "I wouldn't have."
Ed ran a hand in his hair." Yvaine... Please, I'm sorry. I didn't want you hurt."
Yvaine gave a small smile. "It's fine. I overreacted. I should've said thank you."
Ed gave a small nod. "Still… I wanted to do this." He pointed to a small mat on the grass. "Come sit."
Yvaine looked at the mat, then back at him. "You did all this?"
Ed smiled and shrugged. "Just a little peace offering."
There was a small basket on the mat. He sat down and opened it.
Yvaine sat too, a little stiff at first.
Ed brought out some cupcakes, little packs of cookies, chocolate bars, and two small bottles of sweet juice.
"Where did you even get all this?" Yvaine asked, raising a brow.
Ed winked. "Well, I know people."
Yvaine reached for chocolate and put it in her sweater.
Ed raised a brow. "Saving it for later?"
She nodded. "Obviously. You seen the food they serve here?"
Ed laughed. "Fair enough."
Yvaine unwrapped another chocolate and bit into it. "Mmm. I haven't had chocolate in weeks. My mum used to bring tons when she went on trips with my dad."
Her voice got quiet near the end.
Ed looked at her. "You miss them?"
Yvaine nodded slowly. "Yeah."
He was silent for a bit. Just passed her a cupcake.
"Here," he said softly. "You can have all of it."
She took it with a small smile. "Thanks."
They ate quietly for a bit.
Then Ed said, "So…do you always almost want to beat someone up before becoming their friend?"
Yvaine laughed. " And do you always pack picnic baskets after being annoying?"
"Hey," Ed said, holding up his hands. "You're the one eating half the basket."
She chuckled. "Touché."
There was a soft silence between them. Not awkward. Just still.
Yvaine looked at him.
"Thanks for doing this, Ed. Really."
He smiled, eyes gentle. "Anytime, Yvaine."
They sat in silence for a bit. Yvaine picked at a cupcake.
Then Ed said, "I found something."
She looked up. "Something?"
"The potion," he said, eyes meeting hers. "It might help bring your wolf out."
Yvaine's hand froze. "Wait—really?"
Ed nodded. "It's called Lunaris Awake. I found it in an old book."
Yvaine blinked. Her chest rose a little. "So… it could work? I might actually—"
"Get your powers?" Ed smiled. "That's the hope."
She almost jumped. "Finally."
But then his tone shifted a little. "There's just one tiny problem."
Of course.
She sighed. "What is it?"
"Well…" He scratched the back of his neck. "It needs some rare ingredients. Stuff you can't just pick up in the school garden. And it brews for two weeks. Plus, it needs witch energy to bind it."
Yvaine's smile dropped. She looked down.
"Of course," she muttered. "Why wouldn't it be complicated?"
Ed gently reached out and tilted her chin up. "No long face now."
Yvaine blinked.
"I said I'll take care of it," Ed said. "I know people. I can find the ingredients. And if Zully agrees, that's our witch energy right there. Or I'll call in a favor."
Yvaine felt something strange as his fingers touched her chin. A soft buzz. Like tiny sparks rolling down her spine. Her skin was suddenly very aware.
It wasn't bad. Just… different.
Her voice came out softer. "You'd really do all that? My birthday is in two weeks, anyway."
He smiled. "Yeah. And since your birthday's in two weeks…"
She blinked again. "How wil you—"
"Dont worry about that" he said. "So the potion could be your birthday gift."
Yvaine didn't even think. She leaned in and hugged him. "Thank you, Ed."
He hugged her back, arms warm around her.
But the tingling didn't stop even when she pulled away. Her body still felt warm, like something was still running through her.
Their faces were close now.
Really close.
Yvaine's heart thudded once. Twice.
Ed's gaze dropped to her lips. Slowly. Almost shy.
Her breath caught.
Then—
"Yvaine Theolux, please come to Esix Hall now."
The voice echoed across the garden. Principal Myrrin.
Yvaine groaned. "Ugh. Seriously?"
Ed rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. That sucks."
She bit her lower lip. "Lets do this again."
Yvaine got up, dusting crumbs off.
"Thanks again, Ed."
"Anytime," he said.
Yvaine turned and walked off, but her fingers still tingled. Her mind was buzzing. What was that spark she felt?
Why was it still there?
And why did part of her… want it to come back?
Yvaine walked fast.
Her heart was still beating weird from that moment with Ed. Her skin still tingled. Her mind was doing too much. She needed to calm down before getting to Esix Hall.
She reached the big double doors.
Took a breath.
And pushed one open.
But someone was coming out from the other side.
She didn't see them in time.
Bam.
She bumped right into a firm chest and lost her balance.
But arms caught her. Fast. Strong. Steady.
She gasped as that same buzzing feeling shot through her skin again. Like soft lightning, crawling up her arms and down her back.
She froze.
So did the person holding her.
Slowly, she looked up.
Her lips parted.
Oh the Moon Goddess!