"Oh, its an instinctive thing that happens when you meet the person you're supposed to be with."

"Like a soulmate?"

"Basically, yeah, but it can be broken, that's what happened with Jaxon and Grace, it was broken by a spell by some of the wolves." So that makes much more sense. It's the person you're supposed to be with, got it! Wonder who mine will be? It's not Jaxon like Macy and Grace think, I just feel friendship with him, almost a best friend bond, as hot as he is, I don't see myself mated with him. I wonder who mine will be, or even if he goes here. I'd imagine so. Maybe I don't feel it because of that spell, that would make sense to me. When does it wear off? Why was it even put on me? So many more questions, maybe I should call my mom, that'll help I think. We sat there going through all the basics about being a dragon, and I admit, I learned a lot, just hope I can remember it all. After about an hour, Grace came into the library, she had a paper in her hand.

"Hey Flint, hey Ember, here's your schedule, your next class starts in about 30 minutes, but you might want to wrap it up." She handed it to me and rushed out of the library. Flint peeked over at the schedule.

"I have that class too, I'll walk you there!" Flint was so kind, and handsome. Too bad I wasn't his "type" like Grace said. He was the absolute sweetest!

"We'll have to take the tunnels though, hope you're prepared for that!"

"Tunnels?"

"You'll see."

He walked me to these tunnels, and they definitely were intimidating and very scary, good thing I'm scarier, being a dragon and all. Still don't know how that's going to work. I looked up at Flint, "Its not SO bad, but still creepy. What's with all the chains and junk.

"Honestly I don't know, and I don't want to know."

That sent a shiver down my spine.

"So you're gonna help once this spell wears off?"

"I'll teach you anything you need to know, just make sure you work on that fiery side of you, it can be amplified when you're shifted."

"Good to know."

We made it to class, the teacher was super tall.

"Giant." Flint leaned over.

"Oh gotcha, those exist too then. I'll get used to this eventually."

Once the teacher began talking I zoned in, everything he said was interesting, I didn't catch his name.

I went from class to class learning new things, things I never thought I'd learn, like flying. This was insane.

Next I went to art, which made me happy to have a "normal" class. Grace was in there, I rushed to sit by her. Next, Thomas came into class. The seat next to me was empty, so naturally he sat by me.

"Hey you." He leaned over and whispered at me. I felt a smile tug at my lips. I was happy but also annoyed that he sat next to me.

"Hello." I sat back, dead panned. I didn't want him to know I was actually happy to see him.

"Hey Ember!" Hudson said from the other side of Grace.

I felt pretty welcomed here, honestly, I feel like I've known these people my whole life. Especially Flint. He felt like family. I don't know exactly how I feel about Thomas. I want to be friends but I also want to slap the constant snarky look off of his face. But in a nice way? I don't, it was complicated.

The teacher decided we were gonna do projects with a partner. I wanted to choose Grace, but of course she chose Hudson, but it makes sense. Were they actually "mates"? I wonder what happened with her bond with Jaxon. I wondered if I had one.

"Hey Em. Wanna work with me?" Thomas asked, with a smile on his face.

"What'd you just call me?"

"Um...Ember?

"That's better. And I suppose so."

Thomas' eyes softened when I agreed.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

I heard a faint, "Uh oh." from Hudson, but I ignored it.

We got up from our table and headed to an easel.

"So the project is, paint what you think your partner is feeling. It can be a portrait, or it can be abstract, just whatever you see or feel about this partner."

"Can I do the painting?" Thomas asked, still smiling. I don't know why he's always smiling at me. It's getting weird.

"As long as you quit this whole grinning at me thing."

His expression dropped and now I see the boy I met in the cafeteria.

He began painting. He was starting with yellow, and painting in swirls, then he added orange, I can't even describe what he was doing with the orange. I wasn't familiar with painting techniques. I'm more writer than painter. Soon he added red. He took a large paint brush and began blending the colors together, they looked smooth yet chaotic. This is how he sees me? What does it mean?

"So what supernatural being are you?"

"Shapeshifter."

"Wolf or dragon?"

"Neither. Remember I said I was the only one like me."

"Then what?"

"I can't tell you. No one but the headmaster knows and I'd like to keep it that way."

I sighed, once again, more vague shit.

"When will you show me?"

"Eventually." He got quiet and started focusing harder on the painting. He was covered in paint, it was kind of a hot look. I love a tortured artist. I mean...I don't love him or anything, we just met, but like its a good look on him.

"You're covered in paint."

"This is my last class, I'll go change afterwards." he seemed a little annoyed. He's been a little quiet since I asked about his shifting. Maybe I pushed a wrong button. But I really wanted to know. The painting was finished. It was a swirl of black, red, orange and yellow, in a marble swirl.

"It's beautiful, Thomas!."

His cheeks turned a light scarlet, it was a bit cute.