Conrad Edison and the Anchored World (Overworld Arcanum Book 2) by John Corwin Page B

an office with a wide oak desk. She sorted through a stack of tests on her desk and reached one with Max's name sloppily scrawled across the top. She laid Max's original test and the fake side-by-side then handed Max a quill.
    "Write your name, please," she said and handed him a sheet of parchment.
    Max obliged. His handwriting looked nothing like Baxter's forged version.
    Professor Trask studied the two, then said, "Copy the answer to the first question."
    Once again, my friend did as instructed.
    The professor made a thoughtful sound. "Wait outside, please."
    We stepped into the hallway.
    "Do you think she believed me?" Max whispered.
    Ambria nodded. "I hope you passed the test, Max, or I'm going to be vexed with you."
    He held up his hands. "I'm sure I did."
    Blue snickered. "It would be kind of funny if he failed again."
    Max's eyes hardened. "No, it wouldn't."
    "Maxwell, come inside," the professor commanded.
    He gulped and stepped into the office. I peered around the corner as the professor studied a separate sheet of parchment. She looked up and stared at Max. "I've taught your brothers and your sisters, Mr. Tiberius. I certainly hope you're nothing like them."
    He shook his head. "No, Professor. I don't like them much."
    Professor Trask raised an eyebrow, then wrote something on a card and stuffed it into an envelope. Max watched as she sealed the envelope with wax and stamped it, then blew on it. She stood and handed him the envelope. "Good day, Maxwell."
    Max stepped outside the door, holding the envelope in trembling hands.
    "Well, are you going to open it?" Ambria said impatiently.
    "I can't bear to look." He held it out to her. "You open it."
    Ambria sighed and took the envelope. Blue snickered and watched with bright eyes. Max and I held our breaths as Ambria broke the seal and looked at the card inside. She frowned and gave Max a disappointed look. "How could you?"
    Max's shoulders slumped. "I failed?" he asked in a miserable voice.
    Ambria snorted and grinned then flipped the card toward us. Passed .
    "I'm going to kill you, Ambria!" Instead of attacking, Max burst into laughter and jumped up and down. "I did it! I passed!"
    "Quiet yourselves, children, and clear the hall," Professor Trask said in a stern voice.
    Giggling, we dashed away and back to the front entrance.
    "Do you think she'll take action against Baxter?" I asked.
    Max stopped laughing and shook his head. "I doubt it."
    "Just be glad you're in," Ambria said. "I'm sure Baxter will get what he deserves eventually."
    "When do classes start?" I asked.
    Ambria pointed to a large schedule posted on the wall. "We start in two weeks." She ran a finger down the calendar. "We have to come back tomorrow to get our school uniforms."
    "Um, there's one thing I didn't think of," I said.
    The others looked at me.
    I felt a little dumb asking at this point, but I hadn't given it much thought. "How much does it cost to go to school here?"
    Max laughed. "It's free."
    Blue hugged me. "You're so cute when you're confused, Conrad."
    Ambria gave her a sharp look. "Did you pass your entrance exam, Blue?"
    "Of course I did." The lycan girl smirked. "It was easy."
    "Well," Max said, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry."
    "I was invited to eat with another pack," Blue gave me a sad look. "I'll see you all later."
    "Why do you look sad?" I asked. "Isn't the invitation a good thing?"
    "Oh, yes," she said. "But it would be nice eating with you."
    I shrugged. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances."
    She leaned uncomfortably close and nudged my nose with hers, then giggled and sprinted away.
    "She's a bit odd," Max said after she was gone. "I guess being alone without a pack must make a lycan mental."
    "I suppose." I touched my nose and wondered if her nudge was a lycan thing, kind of like dogs sniffing each other's bums.
    Ambria took my arm. "Let's go get some food so we don't have to listen to Max's belly grumble."
    We retrieved our brooms and flew back into town. I