Chapter 109 109- Never Accept Food You Didn’t See Cooked
LEXI
Blake and I have a nice, relaxed breakfast, the kind where nothing feels rushed or tense. It’s quiet in a good way, not awkward, just… Easy. He sits close like he always does, occasionally nudging my plate closer when I get distracted or refilling my drink without asking. It’s small, automatic things, but I notice them more now. They feel… Intentional. Afterwards, we head to the library to meet Ellorie. She’s already there when we arrive, sitting at a table with a small stack of books neatly arranged in front of her. She perks up when she sees me, her posture straightening just slightly, and I can’t help but smile back. It’s still a little surreal that I can just… Meet a friend like this. No drama. No tension. Just showing up. As predicted, she is a far more enthusiastic study partner than Blake. Blake, meanwhile, claims a spot by one of the tall windows where sunlight spills across the floor in a warm, golden patch. He settles there almost immediately, stretching out like he’s been waiting for it, his long frame relaxed in a way that makes him look completely at ease. Honestly, he looks like a cat. Lazy. Comfortable. Completely unbothered by the fact that we’re supposed to be studying. He has his notebook open, but whether he’s actually sketching or just idly moving his pencil across the page is questionable. At one point I’m fairly sure his eyes are closed for a few seconds longer than they should be. He’s also absently toying with a gold band around his wrist, turning it slowly with his fingers so it catches the light. Watching the way it glints and shifts, like he’s mesmerised by it. He really does like shiny things. I shake my head slightly and turn back to Ellorie, who is already pulling my attention back to the work. She helps me with my basic spellcasting theory, walking me through concepts that somehow feel both completely new and frustratingly obvious at the same time. She explains things in a way that makes sense though, breaking them down into steps instead of just assuming I understand. Blake doesn’t interrupt. He doesn’t hover. He just… Lets her help. Which I appreciate more than I can really explain. Blake is amazing when it comes to practical application, demonstrating things, pushing me to try, helping me feel the magic, but the theory side clearly bores him. Not because he doesn’t understand it. If anything, I think he understands it too well. It’s just… Already there for him. Instinctive. Natural. Ellorie is different. Because she’s not a shifter, her understanding is more structured. Learned instead of instinctual. She explains why things work, not just how to do them. And between the two of them… I’m actually starting to get it. We work for a few hours like that, heads bent over books and notes, the quiet of the library settling around us. At some point I lose track of time completely. My brain starts to feel heavy, like everything I’m trying to learn is stacking up faster than I can process it. By the time I sigh for the third time, my shoulders slumping slightly as I rub my eyes, Blake finally moves. He stands, stretching slowly, then walks over to us.
“Break time.” He announces. I sigh again, but this time it’s relief. I didn’t want to be the one to call it. I wanted to keep going, to prove I could keep up, but… I’m exhausted.
“I agree.” I admit, leaning back in my chair. I think this is harder for me than it is for either of them. They both grew up with this. Even if they learned differently, it’s still familiar. For me, everything is new. I keep having to stop and ask about things that are apparently just… Basic knowledge. Things everyone else already knows. It’s a little frustrating. But also… Kind of satisfying when it finally clicks.
We head to lunch after that, taking our time, not really in a rush to get back. It’s easier to talk now, lighter without the pressure of studying hanging over us. Even Blake joins in a bit more, adding the occasional comment or observation when something catches his interest. Afterwards, we drift back to our little corner in the library, but the afternoon feels different. Looser. Less structured. Ellorie and I spend more time talking than actually working. Movies, TV shows, books we’ve read, she lights up when she talks about things she enjoys, her earlier nervousness fading more and more. I find myself laughing more, leaning into the conversation instead of forcing it along. Blake occasionally chimes in when he has an opinion, usually blunt and to the point, which somehow just makes it funnier. It’s… Nice. Really nice. By the time we finally pack up and head to dinner, I’m tired, but in a good way. The kind of tired that comes from actually doing something. From learning. From focusing. From trying. I wouldn’t exactly call the whole day fun. But there’s a kind of satisfaction that comes from it. That quiet, steady feeling of having accomplished something. Of having put in the effort and seeing the result. Even the parts that felt boring or difficult at the time don’t seem so bad in hindsight. Maybe because I had help. Or maybe because I actually sat down and looked at the work instead of building it up in my head into something overwhelming and impossible. Either way… I feel good. Proud, even. I got enough done today that I shouldn’t need to do any extra work tomorrow. Which means… I get a day off! I glance over at Blake as we walk, a small smile tugging at my lips. I think I want to spend it just the two of us. Maybe another picnic. Or we could go flying. I’m not sure yet. I just know… It’s going to be a great day.
The three of us head to dinner together, and I can’t help the small smile that settles on my face as we walk. My arm is hooked through Blake’s like usual, solid and steady, and Ellorie is walking on my other side. That’s new. Even just a few days ago, she would have slipped away the moment class ended, hovering just long enough to be polite before disappearing and meeting us again later. She kept her distance back then, like she wasn’t sure where she was allowed to stand. Now she’s just… Here. Walking beside us down the hall like it’s natural. Like she belongs there. She’s still a little stiff, still glancing at Blake occasionally like she’s trying to gauge his mood, but it’s different now. Less fear. More uncertainty. More… Cautious curiosity. I don’t think she’s scared of him anymore. Not really. When we reach the cafeteria, I drop into my usual seat without hesitation since Blake has already offered to grab my food. Ellorie starts to stand, clearly intending to go get hers too.
“Sit.” Blake tells her. His voice isn’t harsh, but it’s firm enough that she immediately drops back into the chair beside me without even thinking about it. Then she frowns, clearly confused.
“But I need to-” She starts.
“I’ll get it.” Blake interrupts, already turning away.
“Stay with Lexi.” He instructs. He doesn’t wait for a response. He just goes. I beam, completely unable to hide it. I knew it. He doesn’t mind her after all. I reach over and lightly tap Ellorie’s arm, practically vibrating with satisfaction.
“See?” I say, maybe a little dreamily.
“He’s great, isn’t he?” I tell her. Ellorie looks… Baffled. Like she’s not entirely sure what just happened or how she’s supposed to interpret it. Her eyes flick toward Blake’s retreating figure, then back to me.
“Oh… Well…” She says slowly, clearly choosing her words very carefully.
“He certainly takes care of you.” She answers. I laugh. Because that is such a careful, diplomatic answer.
“He does.” I agree easily. She hesitates for a second, then asks, a little more tentatively.
“And… You two are like… A couple… Right?” She questions. I don’t even try to hide my smile.
“Yep!” I confirm. She nods, but there’s something thoughtful in her expression now, something a little more serious.
“And you’re not… Concerned?” She asks.
“About his more… Violent tendencies?” She adds. I pause. Ah. There it is.
“You seem quite soft-hearted…” She continues, her voice gaining a bit more confidence.
“Personally, I think those wolves deserved worse, but you’re a lot more forgiving than I am.” She reasons. That makes me hesitate. Because I don’t want to lie. But I also don’t want to make Blake sound like something he’s not.
“I think…” I start slowly, choosing my words just as carefully as she did earlier.
“That he wouldn’t go too far. At least… I hope he wouldn’t. Mostly because he knows it would bother me.” I explain awkwardly. It’s true. Mostly. There’s still that small, quiet part of me that worries. That wonders where the line is. What would happen if it was pushed too far. But that’s normal… Right? Worry is just self-preservation. It’s how we protect ourselves. If I didn’t worry at all, that would probably be worse. Blake returns before I can spiral too far into that thought, setting down a tray with three plates. I blink. He didn’t even ask Ellorie what she wanted. Which means… He’s been paying attention. Watching what she eats. Remembering it. That’s… Kind of impressive. I don’t comment on it, but I notice. Of course I notice. I’m starving after all that studying, so I don’t waste time digging in. The first couple of bites are perfect, warm, comforting, exactly what I needed after a long day. And then… Something feels… Off. It’s not the food, exactly. It’s… Me. There’s a sudden surge of magic inside me, sharp and bright and completely unexpected. It rushes through my body like a pulse, like something reacting before I even understand what’s happening. There’s a flash of light. And then… Nothing. I’m still sitting there. Still human. Still holding my fork halfway to my mouth. Blake and Ellorie are both staring at me.
“What was that?” Blake demands immediately, his voice sharp, alert.
“I… I don’t know.” I answer, blinking in confusion. Ellorie lifts her fork again, clearly unsure but still moving to eat. Blake’s hand shoots out and knocks it clean out of her grip. The fork clatters loudly against the table.
“Don’t eat that.” He says, his tone suddenly cold. Everything goes still. Ellorie freezes, her hand still half-raised.
“I think it’s been poisoned.” Blake announces.