Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha-Chapter 133: Magical Examination

The next day, Dev hands me a bag of wardstones, courtesy of Ellie and Zach. "Here. You said you needed them for your dorm barrier, right?"

I peer into the bag with a mix of gratitude and gut-twisting guilt. The wardstones catch the afternoon light, winking at me like they know my secret. These aren’t exactly what I need—not specialized enough for the security system I’ve mentally blueprinted for our apartment. But something about Dev’s eager expression stops the truth from leaving my lips.

"Thanks. That’s... really generous." I run my finger along one smooth stone. "Why would you guys give me something this expensive?"

The garden buzzes with afternoon activity—students lounging on patches of grass, others hurrying down paths with armfuls of books, a few practicing small charms that make the air shimmer around them. Normal college stuff, if your college happened to be filled with magic. There seems to be a higher ratio of students wearing robes lately, too.

Dev drops onto the bench beside me, not bothering to ask if I want company. Penelope would usually be there, but she’s off gathering intel from her geese somewhere. "Ellie and Zach pulled an all-nighter researching wardstone engineering because of you."

"Because of me?" My eyebrows shoot up. "They’re both brilliant. Why would they—"

"Anyone around here can cast crazy magic." Dev waves his hand dismissively toward a student who’s making a small whirlwind of cherry blossoms dance around her friend. "But blocking magic cleanly? That’s rare. You created a perfect barrier around that candle like it was nothing."

A group of students passes by, laughing about something that apparently involves tentacles and the cafeteria pudding. I lower my voice. "So they want to learn how to ward?"

"They want to create portable versions." Dev leans forward, excitement brightening his eyes. "Think of the practical exams—having a functional defensive barrier that can be activated instantly would give them a serious edge."

"Ah." The word slips out, hollow and strange.

My mind snaps back to the research team at work—my real work, not this bizarre magical college detour. The very portable wardstone he speaks of was developed by my colleagues, and I’d successfully used it against Logan.

I wonder what I’m going to do about a job when I’m done here.

Ah, well.

At least it’s nice to hear these kids are now diving into the same passionate research, just because they saw me do something "cool."

Dev settles against the bench, stretching his arms out across the back of it as he looks at the sky. "Figured it out yet?"

"Figured out what?"

"Magic." He says it with the impatience of someone stating the obvious. "Your magic. Have you got it working yet?"

My jaw tightens. I scratch at it, buying time. His idea of trying to do the required magic lessons the same way I channel my other magic isn’t working. I really thought it would. I’d struggled to figure out a way last night, for hours.

But in the end, I couldn’t use local mana to conjure glyphs, and I once again failed at connecting to the "well of power within," as the professors say.

Nothing.

Not even a spark.

"I tried last night but..." The breeze carries away the rest of my sentence. A nearby cluster of students start laughing over something banal. "It’s still not really working."

"Hmm." Dev turns his head, studying me with enough intensity to make me squirm. His dark eyes narrow slightly, as though he’s seeing something written across my skin. "Have you been through a comprehensive magical examination?"

The question catches me off guard. "A what?"

"A magical examination. You know, where they test your magical channels, energy pathways, potential affinities?"

"Mm. No, I don’t think so." Who knows what tests the Conclave ran while I was unconscious.

"I thought so." He shakes his head. "This is why you need to at least do your due diligence, even if you’re bribing your way into the university."

I blink. Oh—right. He probably believes I’m a trust fund baby, like everyone else. "Oops," I murmur, not able to explain anything to this well-meaning but mistaken kid.

"I can’t believe they enrolled you without testing your magical signature first. I bet we’ll find the problem once you get examined."

I squint at nothing. "Yeah. Maybe I’ll look into it." But first I should run it by someone to make sure nothing’s going to show up on that exam. Marcus isn’t really hip on the magical ins and outs, but the only person I know here is Dr. Blackthorn.

Talking to her sounds...

"Dangerous," Dev mutters.

I flinch. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I said, not testing you is dangerous. You should file a complaint. Even if you bribed them, they still need to follow proper protocols."

I force a laugh. "Right?"

A shadow falls over us, and I glance up to see Penelope standing there. Her gaze narrows as she studies Dev, cold judgment radiating off her like frost. She’s not a huge fan of the Supernatural Research Club.

Penelope waves her hand at him in a shooing motion.

"Up. That’s my spot, kid."

Dev’s eyebrows creep upward. "You’re not that much older than me."

It’s at least a ten-year difference, though...

She scoffs. "Flattery won’t get you anywhere. Now scoot."

Dev rolls his eyes but stands, apparently knowing when to retreat from battle. He gives my shoulder a friendly smack before he goes. "Get it done soon, yeah? I bet they’ll fast-track it."

"I will. Thanks, Dev."

"I’m not joking. Soon." He points at me with mock sternness. "Like, this week. Before you blow something up."

"I know, I know. Thanks for the wardstones."

Dev flashes a peace sign as he saunters away, blending into the flow of students crisscrossing the garden paths.

Penelope drops onto the bench beside me with a frown. "I don’t like those nerds."

"I don’t like your little gaggle of gossipers."

"Yeah, yeah. What were you two talking about?"

I hold up the bag of wardstones. "Research Club stuff. These are from him and the others."

"Hmm." Penelope plucks one from the bag, turning it over in her palm. "What do they want in return? Nobody gives away free wardstones."

The cynicism in her voice makes me smile. "I impressed them yesterday. Now they want to study my methods."

"Ah." She drops the stone back in the bag. "So they’re using you for your brain. Good to know."

"He thinks I should get a magical examination. Apparently it’s weird I was enrolled without one."

Penelope’s eyebrows shoot up. "Wait, you never got tested? Like, at all? Well. I guess it makes sense, considering your situation. Secrets and all."

"Yeah. He thinks it might tell us why I can’t use magic."

Penelope watches two girls huddled under a shimmering cloud of iridescent bubbles. Their laughter rises above the dull hum of campus chatter as they add more bubbles to the illusion.

"Show-offs," she mutters. "Half these kids just want an audience."

I follow her gaze. One bubble drifts away from the cluster, growing to the size of a basketball before popping in a burst of rainbow-colored sparkles. The girls squeal with delight, drawing more attention.

Penelope turns back to me, brow furrowed. "So how exactly are you planning to get this magical examination? Just stroll into the medical wing and say ’test me, please’?"

"No. I don’t know what an examination might find. I think I need to talk to Dr. Blackthorne."