"That makes sense." Finished with my vegetables—all crunchy and drowning in garlic, which seems to be a favorite Fae flavor—I attack the first steak on my plate. It looks similar to chicken, and has some sort of thick layer of cheese melted over it.


    Once it enters my mouth, I have to bite back a groan.


    Delicious.


    Everything I eat here is good. I need to ask Magister Orion about learning how to create food out of nowhere, but I''m too busy shoveling the food in my mouth to ask something so practical. Besides, I''m not able to replicate the magic anyway.


    Later.


    I''m definitely going to learn it later.


    It would really come in handy.


    "When we introduce ourselves, we rarely include our family names. It is always our full name and title, if we have one. You humans have both names as your identity, and so we often use them. If it bothers you, I can always call you by your short name."


    "It doesn''t bother me at all," I assure him, stabbing into another bite. "If you use titles, I should probably mention that Vanessa is a Healer in the Westwood Pack." But I can''t remember her last name.


    What''s her last name? Shit, I''m a terrible person. I''m pretty sure she introduced herself with her full name when we first met. Then again, I was pretty out of it.


    Still.@@@@


    I should know this.


    Magister Orion turns to Vanessa, his expression softening. "My apologies, Healer Vanessa. I''ve been remiss in my manners. May I ask your full name?"


    Vanessa straightens in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. "Vanessa Thorn, Healer of the Westwood Pack."


    Right. Thorn. I feel like there was someone else with that name, but I can''t remember who.


    Your mate''s delta. Delta Ryder Thorn. You''ve met him a time or two.


    Shit. She must be his sister. Maybe a cousin.


    I shovel more meat into my mouth, grateful for them both for asking the questions my sluggish brain can''t come up with, too over-awed by the knowledge tossed in my direction.


    Everything he''s saying is interesting, but my eyelids threaten to droop and leave me asleep on my plate.


    It''s a struggle to stay awake.


    "And that is why I am the Grand Sorcerer," Magister Orion says with a smile. "I have manifested human magic. It isn''t impossible for Fae, as we already have a core of magic within us. But it is incredibly rare. There are those who believe that I have human blood within my veins. It''s always possible, though I have yet to find where in my family tree such an impurity occurred."


    He waves a hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned. "While my magic is not terribly powerful, I''ve spent my entire life trying to gather as much knowledge as possible about the magic taught by humans. And thus I am also a Magister. A teacher of magic. As a Grand Sorcerer, I am the bridge between the human and Fae worlds for magical affairs. As Magister, I am the bridge between humans and their magic."


    Then he laughs, a big, booming sound that startles me so much I jump in my seat.


    The drooping eyelid problem is solved—for the moment.


    "Unfortunately, the lack of human magic means there''s little use for me these days. The title is little more than window dressing."


    There''s something missing here, Selene says suddenly. I clearly remember that Sister Miriam spoke of a woman when she was seeking out your teacher. Magister Orion is not the only one with knowledge of human magic in this city.


    She pauses. Though, I suppose she can be from outside the city.


    "Is there anyone else you know who has also manifested human magic?" I ask, trying to sound casual.


    Not knowing how people really feel about each other in this town is awful. I really need to question him more about things outside of my training. It''s clear that vampires are not necessarily best friends with the Fae, and yet they''ve been coexisting for so long in the Unregistered City. And Sister Miriam seems to be highly regarded, even if she is denied access to the Fae Ward.


    It''s weird.


    Though, I guess packs seem weird to people who aren''t used to them, either. Especially when it comes to men and their mates.


    "No." Magister Orion shifts in his seat, suddenly leaning forward to place food on his own plate. "No one."


    But I don''t believe him.


    And, judging from the way Vanessa and Marcus share a glance, I think they don''t, either.