Hopeless Magic by Rachel Higginson Read Free Book Online Page B

both snapped our heads up to stare, open-mouthed at Sebastian. His accent was unmistakably English, although for some reason I had been expecting it to be more French, since he was apparently from France.
    “I think the prince is over there,” Avalon found his voice first and I realized that in his mind his suspicions were confirmed, making me very nervous.
    “Yes, thank you, but I was hoping to meet the Shape-shifter, the girl whom Kiran raised such a fuss over,” he smiled widely and I could see that 80/711
    although I refused to trust him, he had a certain charisma that would make him easy to like.
    “Oh, she’s not here today,” Avalon continued.
    “Not here? After all of the work Kiran went through to make sure she could be here? I hope she’s not ungrateful.” Sebastian took a seat next to me anyways, despite Avalon’s clear rejection.
    He set his tray down and turned to face me directly. Although his words had sent a chill through my spine, his manner was so inviting and warm, that I was able to hold myself together.
    “I’m Sebastian by the way,” he extended his hand to me, gazing deeply into my eyes. I reached out to take his hand politely, when Avalon clumsily spilled my Dr. Pepper all over the table. I stood up instinctively, hoping to save my uniform from the fizzing soda.
    Sebastian however, was quicker than me and stopped the brown liquid with his magic, before it reached the end of the table. He then made the soda disappear completely, leaving only a half-empty, still-foaming can. He looked up at me 81/711
    with a quizzical expression, but I laughed it off nervously and took my seat once again.
    “Eden, you forgot again,” Avalon teased through gritted teeth. “She was raised human, did you know that?” He addressed Sebastian by giving him far more details than I ever would have, until I realize what Avalon saved me from doing…. If we would have shaken hands he would have gotten to feel my magical imprint. I knew it was impossible for him to recognize a similarity between me and either one of my parents since they had been missing for over one hundred and fifty years. But better to be on the safe side. I quickly took my half eaten-croissant back from Avalon and busied my hands with holding it. "I'm Avalon St. Andrews by the way," Avalon introduced himself to Sebastian, who only stared back suspiciously.
    “Avalon, you say 'humans' like it’s a bad thing,” I laughed casually, trying to hide my nerves.

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    “Humans? How is that possible?” Sebastian once again searched my eyes deeply in a way that I suddenly found invasive.
    “Her parents both died of the King’s Curse, or so we assume because she was abandoned in the woods. A hiker found her and then when no one came to claim her, she kept her. Eden didn’t even know she was Immortal until she came to this school,” Avalon told the story dramatically and I couldn’t help but smile at my overly expressive brother.
    “That’s unfortunate,” Sebastian’s eyes continued to narrow in suspicion, but he maintained a friendly smile. “So if you didn’t know you were an Immortal, how did you end up at Kingsley?” Sebastian specifically addressed me, even turning his body to exclude Avalon.
    “A…. Principal Saint found me, I mean he didn’t find me of course, but he followed my progres-sion in the papers and had his own suspicions, I mean his own thoughts on me. I kept um….
    breaking things before I knew the truth. I guess 83/711
    once he figured it out, he talked my aunt, I mean not my aunt, my guardian, into sending me here.
    She of course thinks this is just a school for the gifted,” I babbled nervously.
    “Lucky for you Principal Saint was there to help you,” Sebastian said coldly.
    “Yep,” is all I managed.
    “So your friend, I mean I was told she was your friend, the Shape-shifter, where is she today?” Sebastian pried, inching closer to me. I dropped my napkin onto the floor casually and bent down to pick