Chapter One
The University of Magic Vancouver, or Ma-Vic as it was affectionately known by its students and alumni, was the premier magical university in the world. It only accepted the most talented, the most prestigious, the most promising students to be taught by its masters.
At least that was what Avalon's mother kept telling her. In truth, it had cost a tidy donation, enough to build a whole new wing onto the university library, to get her admitted. Avalon had seen the letter the board of trustees had sent her parents, though she hadn't told them that.
Sitting in the backseat of a rented Mercedes-Benz sedan, Avalon stared glumly out at Vancouver. She had expected more from the city, somehow. The tall buildings with their glinting windows in the downtown area were nothing really unique. Crowds of people moved along the streets, moving with a sense of purpose and haste that usually thrilled Avalon.
Vancouver wasn't as energetic as New York, nor was it filled with a historic air like London. Given the amount of bohemian scarves, vintage clothing and distressed designer jeans, it was also far more hipster than Avalon cared for. She had spent most of her life in luxury hotel rooms and at diplomatic parties, shaking hands with people from all over the world. She had acquired more refined tastes.
Still, she would only be here for a few months. Ma-Vic prided itself on turning out top notch witches with incredible skills within a single semester of their intensive programs.
Avalon tugged at her seatbelt, wincing as she heard the child lock engage. She tried to find a position for the belt that was neither squashing her breasts nor cutting into her neck. She succeeded only in losing what little space the belt had given her.
Her mother, Elaine, smiled in the rearview mirror at her, noticing the signs of Avalon's restlessness. "We'll be there soon."
Avalon tried to smile back at her, but her stomach twisted in knots. If the best tutors available were not able to help her get a good handle on her magic, how was this school supposed to?
It was desperation, bribing her a place among other students who were no doubt going to be talented, prestigious and promising.
I'll just have to try harder, she told herself. What does Dad always say? Failure to quit is the only acceptable form of failure?
Thinking of her dad made her smile, but it didn't last long. It was going to be her birthday soon. Once she turned twenty, it was time for her to take the keys to the Gate of Albian from her mother, and protect King Arthur while he slept.
Of course, her mother wouldn't actually transfer the keys to her until a special ceremony on Samhain Eve at the end of October. But it still didn't give Avalon much time to prepare for the responsibility.
Daughters inherited the keys from their mothers when they were twenty years old. It was the way that Morgan le Fay, Avalon's distant ancestress, had decreed when she locked the gates, sealing Arthur in his sleep for his mortal wounds to heal. If her mother did not give her the keys this year, both would be driven mad by Avalon's twenty-first birthday.
"Don't look so glum," Stane, Elaine's bonded dragon, her lifelong protector, twisted in the passenger's seat to look at Avalon. If continuously scanning the other cars past Avalon's head was actually looking “at” her.
"Be bold and confident. You are a Lady Grey, born of the Fey, wielder of magic. Put your shoulders back, hold your head high—"
"I'm fine," Avalon interrupted, smiling slightly. "I'm suffering some self-doubt, but I'm fine. After all, how can I not be confident when I have all this?"
She gestured down her body, indicating the tight corset top and knee-length pencil skirt she wore. The clothes hugged every curve of her bounteous figure. Not so comfortable to travel in, but it looked good on her. She snapped her fingers, creating a small spark and let it steam to emphasize her hotness.
"All I have to worry about is how to handle all my dates," she quipped.
Stane chortled and turned back to the front. He never drove if he could help it. It was easier to fight off villains or use a semi-automatic weapon. Like the one he had resting against his leg if he didn't have to concentrate on not crashing as well.
Avalon would be getting her own bonded dragon soon, though she hadn't met him yet. She wondered what he would be like. Hopefully, he wouldn't be like Stane and insist she eat fewer sweets. Life without sweets was no life at all.
***
Ma-Vic was located away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, close to the Pacific Ocean, making the weather mild and wet all year round. It was drizzling when the car stopped. Avalon stepped out, glad to escape the seatbelt and get a first look at her new home.
It was a smaller campus than she expected with the buildings closer together. There were half a dozen of them, each of them three stories high, scattered in a circle around a large grassy field that sported several stone picnic tables and a fountain right in the middle. Despite the rain, students were lounging about. Some had swirls of cloud hovering over their heads, keeping them dry.
Well, that was an easy enough spell to do. Avalon twirled her fingers in the air, summoning her own cloud umbrella.
Stane embraced a young man. She arched a brow, interested in this display of affection. In all the years she had known Stane, which was her whole life, she had only ever seen him hug one person besides his husband, and that was her mother.
"Avalon, Elaine, I would like you to meet my nephew, Vaughn," Stane said.
Avalon nodded in greeting, eyeing Vaughn. He could not be much older than she was. Like Stane he was well-muscled, his tight V-necked sweater emphasizing that fact. Both had dark, impossibly red hair. Stane wore his long and tied back, but Vaughn had his in short curls that clung to his scalp. They both had the same dark blue eyes, too. But while Stane's skin was a dark russet, the younger man was pale, with a scattering of freckles over his face. His cheeks and nose were both red, as though he was sunburned.
"Pleased to meet you." Vaughn nodded first to Elaine and then to Avalon.
"And you, Mr. Vaughn…?"
A smirk spread over his face, looking rather smug. What did he have to be smug about? "Albanesi."
"Vaughn is going to be watching after you," Elaine said, stepping to Avalon's side and putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Watching after me?" Avalon frowned. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Like my uncle, I am a Red Dragon. I have been trained as a protector and guard from before you started learning magic. I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself killed or kidnapped."
Avalon's face got hot. She was used to having bodyguards around her, but they were usually Stane or people of similar age.
Why would she need a bodyguard here, anyway? In all her life there had never been an attempt on her or her parents. Stane mostly protected them from annoying diplomats that had a little too much to drink at parties. Certainly the school would have its own security?
"I don't have a habit of getting killed or kidnapped, but thank you," she said coolly. He must be more of a guide, to help her acclimatize to the school's culture. "Would you be so kind as to show me to my dorm?"
Vaughn inclined his head.
"Call your father," Elaine told Avalon as they embraced. "He'll want to tell you how much he's sorry for not being able to be here. Again."
Avalon's nerves twisted again, though she kept a smile plastered on her face. "I will. You have a safe flight home."
"Oh, I'm not going home. Some business in London has popped up and the queen is desperate for a little bit of magic to help smooth things over." Elaine's eyes twinkled. "Just think, by this time next year it will be you instead of me that everybody is trying to get a piece of."
"I'm never going to be as strong in magic as you are," Avalon whispered, letting herself voice her fears for the first time.
Elaine's face became serious. "Of course you are, Avi. You have far more potential than I ever had. That might actually be your problem. It's hard to focus and contain that much raw energy. But don't worry. With the intensive programs here and nothing to distract you, you'll be moving mountains before you know it."
Out of the corner of her eye, Avalon saw Vaughn loading all her suitcases into his arms. His muscles strained at the load, but he laughed and chatted with Stane as though it was no effort. His tight shirt showed off his well-formed back, making Avalon's cheeks warm.
"Yeah. No distractions."
"Just don't look at his butt and you'll be fine," Elaine whispered.
Avalon's face went red. "Mom!"
Elaine laughed but sobered quickly. "I'm serious, though. You only have until Samhain Eve until I pass the keys to you. It's a lot harder to concentrate on your magic when that happens, believe me."
Samhain Eve. It was still ten months away. Avalon shook her head. Stressing about something that far away was not going to help her.
Yes, she had a lot of work to do, but even though she hadn't seen the progress she wanted with her tutors, she had to admit that her magic blossomed over the last two years. She was even able to levitate multiple small items these days, something even her mother had trouble with.
As Elaine hugged her mother one last time, Stane told Vaughn not to let anything happen to her, and then they drove away.
Avalon turned to Vaughn. "Want some help with those suitcases?"
"I'm good."
"Are you sure? They're heavy."
A wicked gleam lit in Vaughn's eye, as if what Avalon had just said was a challenge. "I've dealt with heavier. Come on. I'll take you to your dorm."