Page 101 of Trivium

Ahmina sighed, “No. I’ve barely just come to terms with the idea that I have it. It’s something to do with—” She stopped herself, remembering the instructions she received during her first Charming class: don’t reveal your magical ability. Not to anyone. “It comes out sporadically. I accidently used it on Lennox once,” she said instead, crossing her legs under her. “Not intentionally, of course!”

“He would probably like it regardless,” Zeina muttered.

“Okay so let me get this straight.” Loveleena was back to pacing again. “We all have inherited magic that none of us can fully control, while our deranged uncle tries to steal it from us via Barrow, who, from what you’ve told me”—she pointed to Ahmina—“is as mentally sick as our uncle. And for some unknown reason triplet magic is stronger, more desirable.”

“Which actually doesn’t make sense,” Ahmina added, ignoring any thoughts of Barrow, her mind tracing over all the facts. “Because wouldn’t the same amount of magic passed down to one fetus just be split into three?”

“Well, it is. For whatever reason.” Loveleena eyed them both, chewing at her fingernail before sitting down beside Ahmina. “I have to tell you something.”

Like every other Jarrian, Ahmina had heard of Park Kem’s disappearance. So, when Kumani had told her that Loveleena had come looking for her missing friend, she found it hard to believe that was her only reason. To change your entire trajectory just to look for your friend? It seemed absurd, especially for a noble. The Academy wasn’t a place you just tried out. It was a lifelong commitment. But once Loveleena started opening up, it was like a waterfall of information. Park. Kumani. Ren. And when she finished, Ahmina was at a loss for words.

Zeina didn’t seem that surprised by the information, but she was hard to read anyway.

“So, are you and Ren like, a thing?” The way Loveleena had described their relationship sounded a lot like two people who secretly wanted each other.

“Goddess no!” Loveleena got up and fixed her hair in the mirror. “We tolerate each other at best. He literally drives me insane.”

Ahmina turned back to Zeina, her chest tightening at what she was about to ask. “And you? Zeina? I mean…” She looked back down at the bed, picking the blanket again. “You did live in Lennox’s dorm all year.”

“Half the year,” Zeina corrected.

“Did you guys ever?” She almost didn’t want to know. And if she were being honest, she did feel a little jealous.

“No. We’re just friends.”

“Can’t you tell?” Loveleena said as if it was obvious. “Look at her face; she looks repulsed at the thought of it.”

Ahmina giggled. “Yeah, you do look kinda disgusted.”

“Lennox is like a brother, I guess?” Zeina admitted. “I’ve never had a brother, so I don’t really know, but I think this is what it feels like.”

“Now you have sisters too.” Ahmina looked between them, her eyes bright. She had always considered Elder Muaka and Rory her family. But having blood-related sisters? It felt… nice.

“Awww, come here.” Loveleena pulled them both into a hug, which she could tell made Zeina want to crawl up the walls, but she tolerated it.

“Plus,” Loveleena said to Ahmina as they pulled away. “That man looks like he’s just dying for you to sit on his face.”

“Loveleena!” Ahmina screeched, throwing a pillow at Loveleena who caught it easily, laughing.

“What? It’s true!”

Ahmina’s mouth hung open. “You did not just say that!”

“Oh don’t be so shy.” Loveleena waved Ahmina off. “I bet he’d be good at it too.” Just the thought of it made Ahmina’s cheeks heat, and she covered her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment.

They sat, talking and sharing stories for hours, before Ahmina finally decided to call it a night. And when she slept, she dreamt of life with her sisters by her side.

68

LOVELEENA

With the third assessment approaching, the air of the Academy had become suffocating. Everyone was catatonic, deep in studies at the library or huddled up in their dorms with “do not disturb” written across their door.

Loveleena wandered the halls aimlessly, dragging her feet until she had her final Trivium class. She had ventured around the Academy and Defender Village two or three times already. After working so hard at all her lectures and practicing her magic, she felt restless—unable to use her mind for anything of importance, yet unable to shut it off.

Walking slowly back to the castle, she thought of Park. It had been weeks since Ren had revealed Park’s involvement in setting traitors free. Loveleena still hadn’t had the opportunity to find out how Park had gotten involved, or why Ren was doing it in the first place. With her new knowledge of real Jarrian history swimming in her mind, she had some guesses, could make some loose connections, but couldn't fully piece it together. The rain reminded her of all the seasons they spent hulled up at his parent’s estate. He would draw, she would read, and together they would sit in silence while the rain pounded outside. The memory of it alone made her heart ache for him.

But by the time she arrived at Trivium, Professor Kaplana was ushering them all out again. Kaplana had been filling in for Barrow, not giving them a moment’s peace.