Unleashed: The Deepest Fears Lie Within (Secrets of the Makai) by Toni Kerr

out?”
    Tristan shrugged. “I actually didn’t know he could play.”
    “You didn’t? I thought...well, I guess I assumed you guys were pretty tight—you, Victor, and that long-haired guy. What was his name again?”
    “Landon.” Tristan tensed, guessing the gig was up if he couldn’t pretend to be someone he wasn’t. “Like I said, I’m really new. They’re helping me get settled.”
    “With your family?”
    “No, just me.”
    “Lucky you!”
    “Yeah. Lucky.” Tristan straightened when he spotted Landon weaving through the crowd.
    Victor went off key and the music stopped. Tristan searched for the cause. All night, he’d been waiting for something more to go wrong.
    A young man dressed in a solid black suit stood behind Victor. The crowd froze with a suffocating silence. Shaely gripped Tristan’s arm as the man handed Victor a narrow satchel.
    People around the fire started moving after he dissolved into darkness.
    “Holy crap! Do you know who that was?” Shaely glanced behind her, searching anxiously for something. Or someone.
    Everyone swarmed around Victor and Alvi, chattering excitedly while Victor removed a bundle of white envelopes, each sealed with different wax colors. Alvi called out names.
    Tristan frowned with concentration. He’d seen the man before, hadn’t he? When? He watched curiously as Victor called out names, shuffling through the envelopes.
    “Got a minute?” Landon asked, showing Tristan two envelopes. “I have your classes.”
    Tristan glanced at Shaely—so unlike Dorian, and so incredibly easy to get along with.
    “Go ahead,” she said. “I need to find my brothers, but I can wait a few minutes if you promise to come back.”
    Tristan smiled his thanks, then followed Landon toward the firelight where most of the crowd gathered, comparing schedules. Both envelopes had his name printed in block letters.
    “Open it and see what they gave you.”
    Tristan opened the first envelope and handed the notice to Landon for translation.
    “Perfect. Angelina is very nice, you’ll like her.” Landon refolded the paper and handed it back. “Introductory to Basic Principles.”
    “Hey! I have that too!” said a young girl, who couldn’t be older than five.
    Tristan noticed a wave of strange looks from surrounding people who’d overheard.
    “Come on,” Landon said, taking him by the shoulder, away from the crowd.
    “So, it’ll be like kindergarten with a bunch of five-year-olds?” Tristan glanced back at Shaely, who grinned in return.
    “In a way,” Landon said, following Tristan’s attention to Shaely. “She likes you. But there’s guilt, too. And your class won’t be like kindergarten, it’s more of a starting point. Everyone starts somewhere. You’ll be seen as Angelina’s assistant.”
    “Guilt as in, maybe she already has a boyfriend? I don’t think I asked....”
    “I only get the emotions, not the motives.” Landon held out his hand and a small lantern appeared, casting a tiny circle of amber light. Tristan accepted the lantern while Landon opened both of his envelopes. “I’m sure you’ll move through the classes quickly and let’s face it, you really do need to start at the beginning. You can barely control what you do know, and you didn’t even try to prevent yourself from sailing off the cliff.”
    “I did try!” Tristan lowered his voice so as not to cause a scene. “But it’s not like magic was the first thing that entered my mind.” His anger resurfaced and he glanced at the trees to make sure they were alone. “Fine. I admit it. The thought never occurred to me.” Tristan examined his fingertips and forearms and noticed they’d almost healed completely. Way faster than he would have expected.
    “It’s not magic, but my point exactly. And try not to be so mad about it, you just need to learn basic fundamentals to acquire some instincts. Let me see your other notice.”
    Tristan handed over the second envelope.
    Landon held the colored