Longing surged up within me. I wanted it. Oh God, I wanted it. I didn't want to hear Jerome chastise me for my "all lowlifes, all the time" seduction policy. I wanted to come home and tell someone about my day. I wanted to go out dancing on the weekends. I wanted to take vacations together. I wanted someone to hold me when I was upset, when the ups and downs of the world pushed me too far. I wanted someone to love.

Life, unfortunately, doesnʹt seem to care what we want. Act now while you can actually stop it from being a disaster.

Being charming is my hobby.

Theyʹre shooting at us,ʺ I said incredulously. ʺTheyʹre actually shooting at us!

Did Belikov bend the rules of time and space to get here so fast? He can do that, right?

Oh God. Why, oh why, did I have to be the one to deliver this news? Why couldn’t I be locked away in my room or the library doing something enjoyable, like homework?

Besides, I could hardly complain to the administration that I was being forced to learn magic.