"Meet me in the library after dinner?"
I groaned. "I can't. I have to meet with Professor Halifax."
His brow furrowed. "I thought you were done with that."
I shook my head. "I've got catching up to do."
"Alright. I'll wait till you're done. Find me in our usual place?" he asked.
"Sounds good," I said, expectant flutters swimming in my chest. Time with Luka was always good.
He pressed his lips to mine, then flicked my upper lip with his tongue as he pulled away from the kiss. "See you later, kitten."
Tingles spread low in my belly just from his kiss. I couldn't wait for our time together tonight. "See you then."
My next few classes seemed to crawl by as I counted down to lunch. Usually, I looked forward to seeing my friends, but today was going to be a quick bite and straight to Dr. Green's office.
My stomach twisted into knots at the thought of how Officer M would glare at me once he knew my magic was back. Would it change anything for my meetings? Would he come more often or make me keep meeting with him? Would he make me show him what I could do?
The whole thing made me beyond uncomfortable.
I could barely taste my food and lost the thread of the conversation at lunch.
"You okay, Raven?" Makayla asked.
"Yeah, just dreading this meeting," I said.
"I'm sure it's just worse in your head," she said.
"I hope so," I said.
* * *
Ifidgeted in the chair, wondering what was taking them so long. Dr. Green had let me in his office to wait while he spoke with my parole officer in the hall.
I stared at the tree clock. The leaves were gone now. It was back to its usual dead, black branches. The owl face seemed to stare out at me, and I could hear the gentletick, tick, tickof the second hand as it moved around the numbers.
After six minutes, which felt much longer, the door opened and Dr. Green walked in. He gave me a look that made me shrink in my chair. Like I'd done something terribly wrong.
He settled into the chair next to me, which surprised me. He hadn't been in attendance for my last several meetings. Why today?
Officer Malone waddled over to the chair, setting a briefcase on the desk before settling into Dr. Green's usual place.
"I hear some of your magic has returned," he said without preamble.
"Um, yes," I said, risking a glance at Dr. Green.
He was staring straight ahead, not looking at me.
"Dr. Green says you're working with an instructor after classes to bring it up to full strength. How are those sessions going?" he asked as he opened his briefcase.
"Good," I said.
"Good?"
"Yes, it's basically just extra class time, you know?" I said.
"Sure," Officer Malone said. He scribbled something on a notepad. "And at this time, are you planning to attempt the practice trials?"