of the Fire Elementals had actually stored clothes in their attic. Surely no other students had encountered such difficulties.
“We haven’t had that many werewolf distractions recently,” Moonglow pointed out. “The feud’s over, and Kalix has been fairly quiet.”
Daniel was unconvinced. It still seemed unjust. “Anyone that has to look after a werewolf should get extra marks on the exam. It’s the only fair thing to do.”
Daniel’s tirade against the iniquities of the education system was interrupted as they heard the door slam downstairs.
Moonglow smiled as Kalix entered the room. “Hello, Kalix. You’re just in time for a tea break. We’ve been studying, and Daniel keeps complaining about everything.”
“I was just pointing out—”
Daniel halted. Kalix was gone. She’d barely acknowledged them before disappearing to her own room. “You still couldn’t say her social skills were great, could you?”
Moonglow shrugged. “Oh well. They’re better than they used to be.”
“Do you think she’s still upset about college?”
While Vex had professed to having a wonderful time at the remedial institution, they were both aware Kalix had still not shown any enthusiasm.
“I’m sure she’ll like it when she gets used to it.”
“I’m sure she won’t,” said Daniel. “I still expect her to eat her teachers. We’d better use the Mistress of the Werewolves’ money to pay the rent quickly before Kalix gets expelled. Verasa won’t send us any more after that.” He rose from the table. “Time for tea. I’ll put the kettle on.”
He wandered through to the kitchen. Though it had been rude of Kalix to barely acknowledge them, Daniel had already forgotten about it. Kalix’s emotions could be so extreme that a little rudeness was hardly noticeable. Mainly, he was preoccupied by Moonglow. It was time she started going out with him. It should have happened by now, and it could only be willful unreasonableness on her part that prevented it.
Suddenly moody, Daniel deliberately made a lot of noise washing cups, as if banging some crockery around might repay Moonglow for her lack of reasonableness. When he took the teapot back into the living room, he thumped it down quite violently on the table. Moonglow was immersed in a book and didn’t notice. Daniel glared at her then took a cup of tea towards Kalix’s room. He found Kalix sitting on the bed in her small, bare room.
“Cup of tea?” he asked, pleasantly. “Very refreshing for werewolves.”
Kalix smiled. Only a few months ago, Daniel had found Kalix’s werewolf nature terrifying. Now he could be lighthearted about it. Neither he nor Moonglow regarded it as very strange anymore.
Kalix had never regarded it as strange. She’d been born a werewolf and was proud of it.
“Moonglow is being completely unreasonable,” said Daniel, sitting down.
“Why?”
“She won’t be my girlfriend. Isn’t that the most unreasonable thing you’ve ever heard? I mean, we’re obviously well suited. I’m a far better alternative than the useless string of boyfriends she’s had. And you know, it was close to happening. Did you notice that? I definitely noticed it. There was a moment when Moonglow was right on the verge of being my girlfriend. And then something happened. I can’t understand it. It was like…”
Daniel stopped. He couldn’t describe what had happened, but something had. After the MacRinnalch werewolf feud ended, Moonglow had become very close to him. It seemed like any moment she would take Daniel in her arms and tell him he was the boyfriend she’d always yearned for. Perhaps not yearned, admitted Daniel. But they’d definitely been getting there. Then, abruptly, she’d backed away. Since then, Daniel had been unable to rectify the situation.
Daniel flicked his hair back from his face. At nineteen, he was finding life and romance increasingly frustrating.
“Seriously, how am I supposed to study for exams when Moonglow just
“We haven’t had that many werewolf distractions recently,” Moonglow pointed out. “The feud’s over, and Kalix has been fairly quiet.”
Daniel was unconvinced. It still seemed unjust. “Anyone that has to look after a werewolf should get extra marks on the exam. It’s the only fair thing to do.”
Daniel’s tirade against the iniquities of the education system was interrupted as they heard the door slam downstairs.
Moonglow smiled as Kalix entered the room. “Hello, Kalix. You’re just in time for a tea break. We’ve been studying, and Daniel keeps complaining about everything.”
“I was just pointing out—”
Daniel halted. Kalix was gone. She’d barely acknowledged them before disappearing to her own room. “You still couldn’t say her social skills were great, could you?”
Moonglow shrugged. “Oh well. They’re better than they used to be.”
“Do you think she’s still upset about college?”
While Vex had professed to having a wonderful time at the remedial institution, they were both aware Kalix had still not shown any enthusiasm.
“I’m sure she’ll like it when she gets used to it.”
“I’m sure she won’t,” said Daniel. “I still expect her to eat her teachers. We’d better use the Mistress of the Werewolves’ money to pay the rent quickly before Kalix gets expelled. Verasa won’t send us any more after that.” He rose from the table. “Time for tea. I’ll put the kettle on.”
He wandered through to the kitchen. Though it had been rude of Kalix to barely acknowledge them, Daniel had already forgotten about it. Kalix’s emotions could be so extreme that a little rudeness was hardly noticeable. Mainly, he was preoccupied by Moonglow. It was time she started going out with him. It should have happened by now, and it could only be willful unreasonableness on her part that prevented it.
Suddenly moody, Daniel deliberately made a lot of noise washing cups, as if banging some crockery around might repay Moonglow for her lack of reasonableness. When he took the teapot back into the living room, he thumped it down quite violently on the table. Moonglow was immersed in a book and didn’t notice. Daniel glared at her then took a cup of tea towards Kalix’s room. He found Kalix sitting on the bed in her small, bare room.
“Cup of tea?” he asked, pleasantly. “Very refreshing for werewolves.”
Kalix smiled. Only a few months ago, Daniel had found Kalix’s werewolf nature terrifying. Now he could be lighthearted about it. Neither he nor Moonglow regarded it as very strange anymore.
Kalix had never regarded it as strange. She’d been born a werewolf and was proud of it.
“Moonglow is being completely unreasonable,” said Daniel, sitting down.
“Why?”
“She won’t be my girlfriend. Isn’t that the most unreasonable thing you’ve ever heard? I mean, we’re obviously well suited. I’m a far better alternative than the useless string of boyfriends she’s had. And you know, it was close to happening. Did you notice that? I definitely noticed it. There was a moment when Moonglow was right on the verge of being my girlfriend. And then something happened. I can’t understand it. It was like…”
Daniel stopped. He couldn’t describe what had happened, but something had. After the MacRinnalch werewolf feud ended, Moonglow had become very close to him. It seemed like any moment she would take Daniel in her arms and tell him he was the boyfriend she’d always yearned for. Perhaps not yearned, admitted Daniel. But they’d definitely been getting there. Then, abruptly, she’d backed away. Since then, Daniel had been unable to rectify the situation.
Daniel flicked his hair back from his face. At nineteen, he was finding life and romance increasingly frustrating.
“Seriously, how am I supposed to study for exams when Moonglow just
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