Chapter 106 106- Do Not Assume Sparks Mean He’s Angry
LEXI
I am basically over the moon by the time class ends. Sure, Ellorie didn’t actually say she’s going to come have dinner with us, but like… we all eat in the same place anyway, right? So chances are we’ll see her, and I can just… Casually arrange for us to ‘accidentally’ run into each other. And then we can sit together. And talk more. And not have Blake standing directly over her looking like he might accidentally terrify her into silence again. Okay, maybe I need to be a little strategic about this. Still, it’s a start. A really good start. I practically bounce in my seat for a second before forcing myself to calm down. Focus. I have tutoring now, and I actually really want to pay attention. Layla pulls a chair up beside my desk, turning it slightly so she’s facing me properly instead of the front of the room, and immediately the space feels calmer. More grounded.
“So, Lexi. How are you feeling? You kind of had a big week, huh?” She says gently. I nod without hesitation.
“Yep. But I’m good.” I tell her cheerfully. She raises an eyebrow at that, clearly not convinced.
“Really?” She asks, a little surprised. I nod again, a little more firmly this time. And the thing is… I actually mean it.
“Yeah. There are… Definitely problems to consider now. Being hunted is not exactly ideal.” I admit, making a slight face.
“But the important things are okay. I have my family, I have Blake, and I’m… Maybe making friends.” I can’t help the small smile that sneaks onto my face at that.
“And I finally shifted, so I’m not really worried about failing everything anymore. So that’s a bonus.” I add. Layla watches me for a second, like she’s weighing that up, then she laughs softly.
“Yes, well that’s great. I’m glad you’re feeling stable about everything. But I also meant how you’re feeling in terms of your magic. Do you feel burned out at all?” She asks.
“Oh… ” I blink. Right. That.
“Not really?” I answer.
“You did a huge amount of healing when you helped Ellorie-Rae. You didn’t just remove the poison, you also repaired a significant portion of the damage it caused. That’s… Not something most people can do, especially not without training. I suspect your first shift, combined with your natural affinity for healing, gave you an unusually strong surge of magic. And removing the poison quickly gave her body a much better chance to recover.” She continues. I sit there for a second, letting that sink in. I knew what I did was… A lot. But hearing it explained like that makes it feel different. Bigger. More real.
“Ohh… Yeah, that makes sense.” I say slowly. Then, because my brain absolutely refuses to stay on one track for long, I lean forward slightly.
“Okay, so I actually have a few questions about shifters.” I tell her. Layla smiles immediately, like she was expecting that.
“Of course you do.” She answers warmly.
“So… I was thinking about dragons and other shifters with wings, right? And how healing works with that. Like, if they injure a wing and then shift back to human form… Where does the injury go? Does it just disappear? Or does it… Transfer somehow? And can you still heal it in human form?” I start, already getting a little animated. Layla’s smile widens slightly, clearly pleased.
“Technically, healing across forms is a second-year topic, but I see no reason we can’t discuss the theory.” She says. I perk up even more at that.
“In cases like the one you described, the injury doesn’t disappear. The body compensates. Pain and strain will typically present in the closest equivalent muscle group in the human form, usually the back and shoulders for winged shifters. However, the injury itself still exists in the alternate form, and it cannot be fully healed unless the individual shifts back. Without a direct anatomical equivalent, the magic doesn’t have a proper ‘anchor’ to complete the healing process.” She continues. I stare at her, completely fascinated.
“So it kind of… Translates the pain, but not the injury?” I clarify.
“Exactly.” She nods.
“Where there is a direct equivalent, like a hand, arm, or leg. the injury can shift with the body and be treated in either form. But more unique structures, like wings, horns, or tails, require the correct form for proper healing. Luckily, those areas rarely result in life threatening injuries.” She adds. My mind immediately starts racing.
“Okay, so what about…” And then I’m off. Every answer just leads to another question. Healing limits, magical fatigue, whether intent affects the outcome, whether purification and healing are technically the same branch or different, whether emotional state impacts magical precision, whether I could accidentally overheal something, whatever that would even mean. Layla answers everything patiently, occasionally redirecting me when I go too far off track, but mostly just… Letting me explore it. By the end of the session, my brain feels like it’s buzzing. I’ve learned at least a hundred new things. And somehow, I have at least a thousand more questions. So… Progress, I guess?
Blake takes my arm and we head back toward the dorms, and I don’t even try to hold back my excitement. The words just spill out of me as I chatter away, bouncing between everything Layla taught me and everything I’m already thinking about trying next. My brain feels like it’s moving a mile a minute, jumping from healing theory to magical mechanics to all the possibilities I didn’t even know existed a few days ago. And then, of course, there’s Ellorie.
“I can’t believe I got to make another friend.” I gush, turning my head to look up at him as we walk.
“I mean, I guess I had to literally save her life to manage it, but still! That counts, right? Isn’t that so great?” I grin.
“What did you think of her?” I add. I feel Blake hesitate beside me. It’s subtle, just a slight pause in his step, a shift in the way his hand rests on my arm, but I notice it anyway.
“I think…” He starts slowly, like he’s choosing his words very carefully.
“That… It’s good when you’re happy.” He says vaguely. I blink at him. Well. That was absolutely not an answer.
“So you don’t like her then?” I ask, tilting my head slightly as I study him. He sighs, and I can feel the tension in it more than I hear it.
“I don’t have any real reason to not like her.” He says. I raise an eyebrow immediately.
“Implying that you don’t like her.” I prompt. He glances down at me briefly, then looks ahead again, like he’s debating how honest he wants to be.
“I guess I don’t trust as easily as you do.” He admits.
“And I didn’t really speak to her. Or rather, she didn’t really speak to me. So it’s hard for me to like her.” He points out. That… Makes sense. Still.
“Oh…” I say, my excitement dimming just slightly.
“So are you upset that I invited her to dinner?” I question. A small flicker of worry settles in my chest. Maybe I should have checked with him first. I didn’t really think about it at the time, I just got excited and-
“No.” He says quickly, though there’s a faint edge to it.
“Not really. I just don’t want you to end up disappointed. I am completely fine that you invited her to dinner.” He tells me. I look at him for a second. It doesn’t sound totally true. But that’s the thing about Blake, he doesn’t really lie. Not the way most people do. He doesn’t soften things with fake enthusiasm or say what people want to hear just to keep the peace. If anything, he tends to say too much of the truth, not too little. So if he’s saying this… Then he probably means it. Even if it’s not the whole story.
“I know you don’t love the idea.” I say gently, giving his arm a light squeeze.
“But I appreciate your effort in lying to me.” I add. He immediately looks down at me, frowning slightly.
“It’s totally fine if you say you’re uncomfortable with it. It won’t upset me. Especially since you’re willing to try.” I add quickly. There’s a brief pause.
“Oh. Well, in that case…” He exhales softly, like he’s dropping the filter completely.
“I am concerned that you trust her so easily. But I know that’s hypocritical of me, since you trust me.” He starts. I smile a little at that. He continues, more firmly now.
“Having another friend will make you happy. And I want you to be happy. I doubt that she is going to tolerate me as well as you’re hoping, though. I’m not going to get attached to someone unless I know it’s worth the effort.” He explains, a little defensively. There it is. Blunt. Honest. Very Blake. And somehow… That actually makes me feel better. I grin up at him.
“Well, alright then. We can see how it goes.” I say easily.
“Maybe she’ll grow on you. And if it doesn’t work out… Then I’ll still have you, and we haven’t lost anything.” I add. His expression softens at that, just slightly. He tugs me a little closer to his side, his arm tightening around me.
“Yes, you will.”