INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page A

biological phenomenon. That’s what it is, right?”
    “Yes. But it’s not just
some
paranormal biological phenomenon. I suggest you do what you have to do to resolve it. I won’t interfere as long as it doesn’t affect your work.” She yanked open the door to the hallway and ushered me through with a slight push. She was clearly pissed off at me.
    I guessed she’d assumed I was issue-free when she invited me to apprentice. I could understand her frustration. I knew that the only reason she’d invited me back was because I had mentored Faustine during Initiation and been very involved in the initiation process, which was far from complete. Professor Bern wanted me there for the rest of it. She needed my full attention; any distractions on my part were unacceptable. I shoved all thoughts of Jagger and Quinn out of my mind as we walked through a second door into Lab dOME. That was what the metal sign on the door said, anyway. This was a brand new addition to the lab complex.
    As somewhat expected from the name, Lab dOME was dome shaped, a bit like a mini planetarium. I looked up in awe, mesmerized by the lights playing off into every which direction, bouncing off the solid crystal walls that enclosed the entire area. I spun around, the cavernous space totally blowing my mind.
    “Amazing, isn’t it?” Professor Bern asked, sounding very pleased. “This is where you will be spending most of your time.”
    I turned around, slowly this time, and looked around the room again, taking it all in. In the center of the dome was another, smaller dome—a glass one. The new containment chamber suite was an amazing upgrade on the makeshift one in the basement that we’d used last year. Fit for a princess, especially for Princess Faustine. “Is this a gift from King Sebastian, Faustine’s father?” I couldn’t help but ask.
    “Actually, no. Mason Darley’s father donated the funds used to build this.”
    I stared at her, rubbing my chin. “Mason’s father? Why would he donate money for this?”
    “During Mason’s Initiation sessions at Boone Academy, it was determined that a containment chamber was needed to explore his powers.”
    “Why? He disappears?”
    “They wouldn’t tell me—confidentiality—but I would assume so. Since they didn’t have one, not even a makeshift one like ours, they decided to build one. Their budget didn’t cover the costs, so they had to look at fundraising options. Boone Academy reached out to Mason’s father to explore the possibility of a donation toward building one at their facility and—”
    “So why is it here?” I interrupted. “I mean, he was sent to Boone Academy to keep him away from this place, from me and Faustine. I bet Faustine’s dad is furious.”
    “I expect you’re angry, and I don’t blame you. I was getting to the ‘Why here?’ before you interrupted me. When Mason’s dad was contacted, he called Frau Schmelder and offered to have the chamber built here in exchange for Mason being readmitted. The Academy trustees didn’t feel that they could turn down the offer. This was a huge investment. Plus he donated money for the new skydiving facility.”
    “I’m pretty sure Faustine’s dad would have forked over the money—”
    “Yes, I’m sure he would have. But the offer was made in confidence. No such unsolicited offer came from anywhere else, so we had to consider the offer on the table. I’m sorry, Cordelia. I realize that it’s not ideal that Mason is—”
    “Ideal?” I spluttered, having a hard time not transforming. I couldn’t get any other words out, so I just glared at her.
    She shook her head. “Stop acting like a baby faery. Look around. This is
your
lab. Who cares who paid for it? I know that’s not what you’re angry about, anyway. However, more money went into this lab than the entire rest of the school. The walls are made from reinforced crystal. This will take our research to a whole new level. And now, instead of just one