Chapter 11

Aelia

"Aelia, wake up! We can't be late for our first class!"

I forced my heavy lids open and grumbled a curse as pain pounded across my temples. My chamber mate flitted across the room, dragging a pair of suede breeches up her slender legs.

"Oh, goddess, Rue, please remind me never to drink that blasted wine again."

She plopped down on her bed, the ivy curling across the headboard turning toward her as if it hadn't appreciated being jostled. "It's all my fault. I never should've let you have any. I just didn't think…"

"No, it's not." I pushed the silky coverlet back and forced myself to the edge of the mattress. "Like you said, you've never had a Kin as a friend. How would you know I'd have such a terrible reaction?"

A silly grin crossed her face despite her best attempts at hiding it. "You were really quite funny, Aelia. When I returned to the room, you told me all about the time you and that Kin boy, Edgert, ran off in the woods to bathe in the pond?—"

"Oh, no, I didn't!" Heat burned my cheeks as I recollected the embarrassing story of my first kiss. Why in all the courts would I have chosen that tale to share?

"Sometimes I forget how prudish non-Fae are." She smirked. "You had your first kiss at sixteen, and I'd already lain with three males by then."

"Three?" I squealed.

Goddess, I'd yet to have one. But now that the effects of the wine had worn off, I certainly would not be sharing that piece of private information with my new roommate.

"You forget, I had an older brother. Heaton's friends made for great company." She threw me a wink and a chuckle slid free despite the pounding in my skull. For a few glorious moments, I'd forgotten all about the blinding pain. "Enough about my conquests… you must get dressed!"

I forced myself off the bed and bypassed the bathing room all together. I'd have to enjoy the soothing sensations of the heated pools this evening. Assuming I survived the day.

As I yanked on a pair of new leathers from the closet, Rue darted over. "Don't forget that the rules of conduct come into play starting today."

Damn it, and I'd fallen asleep before reading a single page from the book of conduct last night.

"Can you give me a quick summary?" I speared my legs through the fine leather before dragging a light tunic over my head.

"The key is there aren't many rules, other than to survive. The other squads are permitted—nay, encouraged, to thin out the competition. If we can't stand up against other Light Fae, we'll never stand a chance against the Shadow Fae across the river. Only the strong survive."

"Wonderful." I gulped.

"Only our teammates are considered off limits."

"Then I suppose it's a good thing I chose Belmore to make an example of."

She grinned. "That cocky Fae lord deserved to be taken down a few notches."

"I only hope he sticks to the rules better than I did."

When Rue turned to the closet to search for her shoes, I tucked my daggers into each of my boots. I had a feeling I'd need these today.

A few minutes later, we were both dressed and meandering through the dormitory corridors. A swarm of bodies surrounded us, curious gazes swiveling in my direction. I wondered if the other students would ever tire of gawking. I wasn't certain I could endure it for my entire tenure at the Conservatory.

"There she is," someone whispered. "It's so unfortunate she's on your team."

"I know. How do they expect us to win with a powerless Kin?"

I canted my head over my shoulder to make out a female walking behind us with one of the members of Flare Squad. Ariadne, if memory served from roll call. The blonde had been the one standing next to me when Heaton gathered us all in the Hall of Luminescence.

"Just ignore them," said Rue, weaving an arm through mine in an unspoken gesture of reassurance as we reached the spiral glass staircase.

My fingers itched for my knives. I'd show Ariadne exactly how powerless I was. I didn't need rais or nox to prove myself to these arrogant ladies of court.

"Ariadne Bamberlight may seem all manners and sophistication, but don't be fooled, Aelia," Rue whispered. "She comes from an ancient line of powerful Light Fae. Her four older brothers have been through the Academy and Heaton says they're some of the best Royal Guardians he's seen."

I whirled to face my roommate and nearly stumbled on the last step. "How did you know I was even considering…" My words fell away.

"It's your aura. It's usually a bright gold with hints of silver. When you were staring at her, it grew dark like an impending thunderstorm."

Wonderful, so now even my enemies would know when an attack was imminent. "I wasn't going to?—"

She shrugged. "I don't blame you. Growing up on the outskirts, I've never quite fit in with the ladies of court myself, but just remember not to underestimate them."

"Noted." I heaved out a breath as we reached the immense, sunlit foyer in the Hall of Glory and paused in front of the sun-kissed fountain. "And thank you. You've been the only female here to show me a hint of kindness, and I appreciate it."

Rue giggled, her pale cheeks flushing a deep rosy hue. "Don't mention it. Like I said, I'm a bit of an outcast myself. And as for the aura reading, I'm sure you'll pick up on it quickly. It's typically one of the first abilities to manifest at maturity."

I certainly hoped so since our first class today was Illumination Sight. We would be harnessing our ability to see beyond the visible spectrum, allowing Light Fae to perceive things such as auras, energy patterns, and hidden magical forces. It seemed most of my fellow classmates had already mastered those skills, whereas I was hopelessly behind.

"Come on, through here." Rue led the way out of the grand hall and as we crossed the threshold, I couldn't help but remember that Fae male incinerated at the same threshold just two days ago. A chill skirted up my spine at the memory. How many lives had the Veil of Judgement claimed?

The moment we stepped outside, a temperate breeze flitted across my face, and I drew in a deep breath. The rush of waterfalls cascading into the river below soothed my churning nerves. It wasn't time to worry about that lost Fae soul, I needed to focus if I didn't want to join him in the afterlife.

"Where to?" I scanned the immense campus, trying to remember the map scrawled on the parchment this morning that would lead us to the Hall of Ether. I refused to remove the scroll from my satchel, which would only draw attention to my lowly, first-year status. As I'd assumed, no one else needed to carry them around to orient themselves.

Nodding her head in the direction we needed to go, Rue jerked me toward the pathway on the right around the Conservatory's main building, the Hall of Glory. The cobblestone road meandered through arched trellises of snaking vines and colorful blooms. I'd never seen such vibrant, lush flora. Beside the main hall, three domed buildings looped around the circle, each a dazzling spectacle of alabaster walls and endlessly climbing vines. "Don't you remember anything from our tour yesterday?"

I stared back at her, gaping, before finally shaking my head. It had all been such a whirlwind, I truly couldn't. Growing up in Feywood, where my entire home would fit into the dormitory we shared, this sort of sprawling grandeur was unheard of.

"Okay, the campus is simply a series of concentric circles. The pathways all eventually circle around to the main building. Even if you get lost, sooner or later you'll find your way back to the Hall of Glory."

"Which is where we came in, right?"

She nodded.

"And where our dormitories are located."

"You're getting it." Then she ticked her head at Ariadne and the silver-haired female who'd been whispering about me earlier. "And remember, all of Flare Squad has the same schedule so worst-case scenario, just follow us."

"Right." A scowl twisted my lips as I regarded the beautiful blonde. "I think I'd rather be hopelessly lost than ask Ariadne for anything."

"Well, there's always Belmore."

The Fae male with the blonde plaited hair darted after Ariadne and swung his arm around her shoulder. If I could just manage to steer clear of both of them today, I'd be happy.

Rue stopped in front of a towering white stone building. The domed ceiling and elaborate columns reminded me of the great temple to Raysa in Feywood. It was the only structure that remotely compared in grandeur to the majestic edifices across the campus. "This is it. Are you ready?"

I swallowed hard, staring up at the magnificent structure. A tiny voice in my head surged to the surface. What are you doing here? You don't belong with these Fae… I shoved back the doubt and pinned my shoulders back. I could and would survive because I deserved to be here. I'd worked harder than any other Fae here, I was certain, and today, I would prove it to everyone.

* * *

I'd been wrong, terribly wrong. So much for Illumination Sight being the easy class. Not a spark of awareness flitted to the surface as I stared blankly at each of my teammates, trying to discern their aura.

Ariadne didn't neglect to point out that she'd been reading auras since she was only fifteen years old. In fact, every single member of Flare Squad could do it but me.

"Don't get discouraged, Aelia," said Rue as she speared her arm through mine again. "It's only your first day."

"Even Professor Gleamer thought I was defective."

"No, she didn't."

"She pulled me aside and asked if I was certain I was Light Fae. I had to show her my mark in order for her to believe me."

"Oh, Aelia." My roommate released a rueful chuckle. "Surely, things will only get better from here."

As I scanned the floral pathway for the next building, I muttered an oath. "Oh, curses, I forgot my scroll in the auditorium." I'd pulled it out of my satchel to glimpse a sneak peek of the Hall of Rais and, of course, I'd forgotten it.

"Do you want me to go back with you to fetch it?" Rue offered.

"No, you go ahead, I'll meet you at Shadow Arts."

"Are you sure?" She eyed my skeptically.

The last thing I wanted was to become a burden for my one and only friend. "I'll be fine. I'll see you in a few minutes, save me a seat."

"Will do."

Spinning back toward the Hall of Ether, I quickened my pace as the crowd of students thinned out. Just my luck to be late to Reign's class on the first day. He'd likely blame it on the honeyed wine. Goddess, I couldn't remember much of anything of our encounter. I only prayed I hadn't said anything embarrassing.

What if I'd told him the Edgert story too?

Heat flushed my cheeks with shame. I'd never live that one down. And if what Rue said was true about the Fae's liberal ideals of sex, I couldn't imagine how many females the Shadow Fae must have claimed in his lifetime. A swirl of irritation pressed down on my shoulders at the idea of another female's hands on that firm chest, those strong arms—stop it! Realms what is wrong with me? I squeezed my eyes shut to dispel the vivid images, but those piercing midnight orbs flashed across my vision and my heart staggered on a beat.

I was so distracted, I nearly tripped over the first step leading up to the Hall of Ether. I threw my hands out and somehow managed to remain on my feet.

"Aww, the poor little Kin can't even walk." A male voice rasped behind me.

I spun around to find Belmore with two other males.

"How is she ever expected to fly?" said the silver-haired male.

"Can one even fly with those rounded ears?" The third Fae smirked.

Steeling my nerves, I glared at the three males as they walked toward me. With the hall at my back and perched precariously on the second step of the building, I wasn't exactly in a great position to take on a trio of attackers.

A group of females hurried down the steps, and I glanced over, my gaze pleading. "Um, excuse me—" They completely ignored me, rushing along to their next class.

"No one's going to help you now, little Kin," Belmore barked.

Clearly, I was on my own. "I don't see wings on any of you," I bit back.

"You were right, Belmore, she does have a quick tongue." The silver-haired male inched closer. "I wonder what else she can do with it." A slimy grin slid across his face.

"Take her and let us know, Kian." A wicked sneer curled the corners of Belmore's mouth. "I've never been with a Kin before, I'm sure they're feral in the bedroom."

Nausea crawled up my throat as I stared from one male to the other.

"I wish I could stay and watch this play out, but I cannot be late for Professor Darkthorn's class. He's quite the stickler for the rules I've heard." Belmore smirked as he sauntered past me before turning to his friends. "Show the Kin how we welcome fellow first-years to the Conservatory."