When Magdala arrived late to lunch, she’d received a lecture from Dean Laurence about the inadvisability of inattention in class, she generated a wave of whispers. By now, everyone at the Academy knew she’d been expelled from Bruce College, but while it was almost nostalgic for Magdala to have her name on everyone’s lips, what wasn’t so was the familiar lurching in her stomach every time she heard her name.

Luckily, she had to distract her: Lady Pol’s question.

What did Magdala want? At first, she’d thought she wanted to get back into the Bruce College, but she had never liked the make-work that Bruce had assigned her, which was why she’d jumped on Dwayne’s Qe core project. Did she want to restart the Duelist’s College? No, that was just sport, one that helped her develop her martial skills but failed to achieve her real goals. Was the answer simply that she wanted to be a soldier? That was definitely part of the answer, but increasingly she felt that it wasn’t all of it.

So was this about Dwayne?

Evading the question, Magdala searched for her roommate and found her standing at the east entrance with an eighth-year nQe student Magdala recognized. Ruth Werner’s auburn hair was down, and she’d foregone her black pinafore to show off an alabaster and pearl dress. When something she said made Francesca laugh, she leaned in, clearly hoping for more. For her part, Magdala’s roommate did seem interested - she played with her hair, made witty repartees, maintained eye contact - but the longer Magdala watched, the stranger Francesca’s interaction with Werner seemed.

“What are you doing?”

Magdala jumped. “Mei, you scared me.”

“Why aren’t we sitting down?” Mei looked where Magdala had been looking. “Who is that?”

“My replacement.” Magdala watched her roommate for a little longer, knowing something was wrong. What was it? “She’s not paying attention.”

Francesca laughed again.

Mei frowned. “She’s not?”

“No, she’s not. It’s like…” How to explain this? “It’s like we’re wolves, and Francesca is the best at hunting, so every wolf wants her to be their mate. Some of them don’t know they do, but they join her on the hunt anyway. Others do know they do, but they’re too aware of that fact, so when they jump in to help her, they freak out at how good she is at it and run away. Does that make sense so far?”

Mei waved for Magdala to continue.

“Finally, there are wolves who hunt with her because they like hunting. They only act like they want her.” Magdala gestured to her roommate and Werner. “Francesca amuses herself with the first kind, endures the second, and competes with the third, but now she’s just going through the motions.”

Mei nodded. “I see.”

Was Mei humoring her? “Never mind. Let’s go rescue her.”

Magdala led Mei over to the East Entrance.

“Hey, Francesca,” she inserting herself between her roommate and Werner, “sorry I’m late. Dean Laurence lecture.”

“Mag?” A faraway look faded from Francesca’s eyes. “Oh, it’s no bother. I’ve been having a lovely conversation with Miss Werner here.” She threw a smile Werner’s way. “I must apologize, but my friends and and I have a prior lunch appointment. Can we pick this up later?”

“Of course!” Werner curtsied. “Remember, you’re welcome any time at the College.”

“I’m sure she is,” muttered Magdala, earning herself a glare from Ruth.

“I’ll talk to you later then,” said the older girl, turning to leave.

“What was that all about?” Magdala asked as soon as they reached a table.

“Oh,” Francesca played with her hair, “she invited me to Bruce College.”

“You didn’t accept?” But Magdala knew the answer. “No, of course you didn’t. When would you have the time? You’re working at the Exchequer’s Office.”

“I’m not…” Francesca turned away. “I’m not interested.”

Mei nodded. “It was a bad hunt.”

“What?”

Magdala groaned. “Nothing. Let’s order.”

It didn’t take long to flag down a servant and have food on its way. While they waited, Magdala eyed her quiet, reticent roommate. Francesca Lucchesi only ever hid her light in the presence of the tall goddesses she adored, never in the sole company of her friends. Had something happened?

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When the food arrived, Mei split the food sixty-twenty-twenty and Magdala asked, “Again, sorry I was late. Should we eat quickly?”

“Oh,” Francesca started as if just realizing Magdala was there, “um, we can take our time.”

Magdala shifted in her seat. “Don’t you have to get to the Exchequer’s Office soon?”

“Don’t worry about that.” Francesca pulled a tray towards herself. “By the way, Mei, I heard there was another murder?”

Before Mei could answer, Magdala cut in. “Why don’t we need to worry?”

Francesca’s lips pursed. “We just don’t okay? Mei’s murder is more important.”

Magdala raised an eyebrow. “Why won’t you answer?”

Francesca glared. “Why won’t you let it drop?

“Because you’re a wolf,” answered Mei.

Francesca stared. “What?”

“What she means is,” Magdala said, “we were wondering why you were flirting on automatic.” She froze. “Did something happen to your sisters?”

“What? No!” Francesca’s eyes widened. “Why? Did you hear something?”

“No, I’m just… What’s going on with you?”

“I…” Francesca sighed. “Fine, I suppose you would have heard eventually. They terminated my position at the Exchequer.”

“What? Why?”

“They didn’t say.” Francesca looked away. “Just let it go. I’m fine”

“No, I won’t and no, you’re not.” Magdala took her roommate’s hand. “Ever since you heard of this magical place where you can do sums all day long, you’ve wanted to work at the Exchequer. Why are you giving it up?”

“I’m not giving up!” Francesca turned away. “I’m not, but it’s… I mean…”

“Oh.” There was only one reason for the Exchequer’s Office to terminate Francesca. “This is about me, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Francesca grimaced. “I told the accountants about the Harvest Ball - most of them weren’t able to attend, only the Gray Tower hands out Harvest Ball invitations to its employees, well except the Royal Sorcerer’s Office, I guess, because there’s only two of you.” Mei grunted. “Anyway, when I told them about you kissing Dwayne, one of the senior accountants asked me whether or not I thought it was proper for a Souran noble to kiss a Wesen, and I answered ‘I’ll never have a problem with fate.’ I guess that didn’t go over too well.”

Magdala’s heart melted. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did.” Francesca squeezed Magdala’s hand. “Just like you’d never let me wallow in my sadness, I will never let anyone impugn my friends.”

“I will tear out the throat of any who do,” declared Mei, who was halfway through her meal.

Magdala narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know what ‘impugn’ means, do you?”

“And you think wolves hunt for their mates.” Mei shrugged. “We only know what we know.”

Francesca laughed. “What are you two are talking about?”

“How bad I am at metaphor.” Magdala eyed her roommate. “You really haven’t given up on?”

Francesca smirked. “No, not yet. I’m young. I’ll have another chance, and besides, I have something else to occupy my time.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Have you spoken to Dwayne yet?”

Magdala’s face flushed. “No, I, uh, was busy.”

“Dueling?”

Magdala’s mouth fell open. “How do you know that?”

“Lady Pol told me.”

“When?”

“She stopped by before class.” Francesca cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t change the subject. You should talk to Dwayne.”

“He’s busy with Royal Sorcerer stuff and I have to study for final examinations and practicals, and-”

“He’s planning to show off your magic stone to the whole city,” said Mei.

“Really?” both mages asked.

“When?” added Francesca.

“How?” demanded Magdala.

Mei answered each question in turn. “Yes. Don’t know. Don’t know.”

“But that’s a significant undertaking,” insisted Magdala. “How can he can afford it? Where would he have it? And what do you mean the whole city?”

“Luisa said he had to,” Mei wiped her plate clean with a heel of bread, “so he will.”

“But that’s…”

“Sounds like someone should go help him,” said Francesca. “Maybe someone who’s lived in this city all her life, whose family is fabulously rich, and who’s Offered the Qe mage core to the queen herself.”

Magdala glared at her. “You know that describes you as much as me.”

“I didn’t kiss him.”

Magdala’s face heated. “That doesn’t- Look, I can’t just hang around him like a puppy waiting for scraps.”

“Like a cub,” corrected Mei.

“Scraps?” asked Francesca.

“You know.” Magdala squirmed. “Just waiting for him to pay attention to me. Scraps.”

“Dwayne Kalan has given his friendship.” Francesca snorted. “If he doesn’t want more, is that not enough?”

Magdala opened her mouth to say that of course it wasn’t, but she knew what the next question: so what do you want? She wasn’t going to compromise when it came to becoming a soldier, she’d realize that dream some way or another, but was her relationship with Dwayne the same? In one way, it was because, just like how fighting in the Vanurian jungle, joining the College of Martial Magic, and dueling Lady Pol had made Magdala want the real thing, kissing Dwayne made her want more.

But what if wanting more lost her what they had?

Mei placed a hand on Magdala’s. “Help him. Be the wolf that hunts with him. It’s what you want.”

A gulping chuckle bubbled out of Magdala’s throat. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

Mei’s eyes twinkled. “Now you know how I feel.”

Magdala wiped her eyes. “I thoroughly regret the metaphor.”

“It’s possible Dwayne doesn’t share your feelings,” Francesca’s tone cast doubt on that statement, “but I know you. You’ll regret not helping him.”

“What if something goes wrong?” asked Magdala.

“Especially if something went wrong.”

“Hah.” Magdala finally smiled. “Well, it’s something. I’ll talk to him tomorrow and-”

“He’s free tonight.” Mei got up. “Talk then.”

“Wait, Mei,” said Francesca. “We haven’t talked about your murder investigation.”

“Sorry, I am not free.” Mei pulled on her satchel. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she was gone.

Francesca frowned. “That was strange. Do you know why she’s acting like that?”

“Another thing to ask Dwayne tomorrow,” said Magdala, hoping it would stick this time.

“No, Mei’s right.” Francesca pushed Magdala’s tray of food towards her. “You will talk to him tonight.”