Free Recipe for Magic by Agatha Bird Page B

vegetables?”
    “I was in a rush,” Connor said. “Took longer than I thought to get my head out of my ass.”
    “Then I’ll chop, too.” Landyn smiled at him, his real smile, the one that made Connor think of warm firelight. Then Landyn’s mouth firmed and a determined look settled over his face. He darted in and pressed a quick, closemouthed kiss to Connor’s lips.
    “Do not burn the soup,” Landyn said seriously. Then his mouth twitched at the corners, and Connor couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed across his face.
    He grabbed Landyn and yanked him close, putting one arm under his shoulders and the other at the small of his back, and dipped Landyn toward the ground before placing a smacking kiss on his mouth. He made sure to bite at Landyn’s lower lip as he pulled away. “Don’t add too much salt,” he whispered against Landyn’s lips.
    “You’re a barbarian,” Landyn whispered back, his fingers gripping Connor’s arms, and ducked his face against Connor’s neck. Connor could feel the curve of Landyn’s smile.
    “Ahem” came a creaking voice. “Young men, are you thusly prepared for the Trial to commence?”
    They scrambled apart and attempted to make themselves presentable.
    Thank blazes for concealing robes , Connor thought. “Yes, Archmages,” he said loudly. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he caught two of them giving each other knowing looks.
    “And what will you show us to prove your understanding of magic?” asked Archmage Roumin, her dark eyes assessing.
    “Soup,” Connor said. He looked at Landyn and linked their hands together, Pairing Sigils pressed tight.
    There was a long pause from the Archmages.
    “Well,” said Archmage Graylin, “I believe that is a first.”
    “Yes,” agreed Archmage Yzri. “An unusual way to demonstrate your understanding.”
    “Very,” said Archmage Bruichee, steepling her fingers under her chin. “I, for one, am happy not to be faced with yet another set of dueling beasts. It does get tedious.” She flicked her gaze to the side, and Connor followed the look to find Elisa and Dugan standing red-faced in matching white robes at the front of the crowd.
    Archmage Graylin tutted. “Indeed. Especially when the dueling in question is altogether uninspired. What these young lads propose shows a certain imagination that I find lacking in the young mages we’ve seen so far today.”
    Elisa and Dugan went, if possible, even redder.
    Connor nudged Landyn and tipped his chin toward the crowd.
    Landyn’s lips twitched in the tiniest smirk. “Elisa and Dugan took their turn just before you arrived,” he whispered. “Conjured an air battle between two feathered dragons. Archmage Yzri fell asleep in the middle and Elisa got so flustered she couldn’t hold her dragon’s shape. It looked like a mangy weasel. They barely passed.”
    “Sorry I missed it,” Connor said, grinning.
    “Young men,” Archmage Roumin’s voice rang out, the sound causing everyone to fall silent. “Give us your statement.”
    Connor and Landyn exchanged a nervous glance. “The Oracle Paired us together,” Connor said. “A fire mage and a water mage. At first we wanted to impress you with a grand demonstration but—but magic isn’t always about what makes the biggest statement or who’s the most powerful.”
    Connor squeezed Landyn’s hand and felt him squeeze back. “Even the most opposite magics can be complementary, and the best magics work with each other, not against each other.”
    Laughter rippled through the air like quicksilver, and by the startled expressions on everyone’s face, this time Connor wasn’t the only one who heard it.
    You have learned well, Connor Roth. And you, Landyn Glendower. You have passed your Trial. Your future together begins now. You will do great things. Great things.
    There was a rush of wind that nearly bowled them over and sent the Archmages’ tall hats tumbling across the dais.
    “That bloody Oracle,” Archmage Graylin