Chapter 17

Aelia

I squirmed nervously on the settee in Heaton's dormitory, an exact replica of our own. Only instead of two beds, the commander of Flare Squad only had one massive one in the center of the space. Gauzy lace curtains and climbing verdant vines hung from the four-poster bed. Brilliant light streamed in from the arched windows, casting light on the ensuing debauchery. Even if I hadn't promised myself not to partake in any suspect Fae beverages this evening, I wasn't certain I could have relaxed beneath the relentless sunshine. There was something about getting inebriated in the daytime that seemed wrong.

Perhaps it was just my delicate Kin sensibilities. Goddess, why did Reign affect me so? I shouldn't give two gildings about what he thought of me. And I didn't.

"Aelia!" Rue staggered over with a tankard of laegar in her hand. The immense mug was bigger than her head and already nearly empty. "Come dance with us." She tugged Silvan by the collar and wiggled her cute little body against his.

At some point, a dark corner of Heaton's chamber had become a raging mini dancefloor. The ivy curled over the tangle of bodies writhing to the hypnotic beats.

"I don't think so," I finally murmured.

"Oh, come on!" Rue leaned over the settee, her mouth only a few inches from my own, and the pungent scent of hops and alcohol made my nose twitch. "Sy is on the dancefloor too."

I glanced over her shoulder to see our friend grinding against one of Heaton's fourth-year classmates. The male was huge with glowing runes tattooed up and down his bare arms. Symon must have felt my curious gaze because he threw me a wink over the massive male's shoulder. Then he beckoned me over with a curl of his finger.

My head whipped back and forth, and I swiveled my gaze back to Rue. Silvan was rubbing up behind her, dancing to the intoxicating beats. Good goddess, what was in this laegar?

A tiny part of me was jealous of my new friends, of their uninhibitedness and the freedom it brought. I had to remind myself I didn't have that luxury. If I had any hopes of surviving at the Conservatory, I had to always be on top of my game. Which meant not giving into seductive nights like these.

"Go have fun," I whisper-shouted to my friend. "I'm having a great time watching you all."

Silvan tugged on Rue's arm, and with one last pouting glance, she scampered off toward the dancefloor.

It wasn't a complete lie, I really did enjoy watching my friends' drunken antics. It reminded me of another lifetime when I was just a young Kin gathering with a group of friends after we'd finished our schooling. It was nowhere near this luxury, of course, but we had fun all the same.

"Aelia, what are you doing just sitting there?" Heaton's warm breath danced across the shell of my ear. His long, blonde hair was tied back neatly at his nape, as he often wore it, blue eyes sparkling with the effects of the laegar. He held a tankard in one hand and a smaller stein in the other.

"I'm Fae-watching."

He leapt over the back of the sofa and folded down beside me before handing me the stein. "It's just water. Rue told me you weren't drinking tonight."

I took the offered mug, sniffing it before indulging in a big swallow. My throat was parched. After days of intense training, my entire body felt depleted.

He loosely hung his arm across my shoulders while I sipped the cool water and pierced me with a questioning glance.

"What?" I finally blurted when the silence became too thick.

"You've really impressed me, Aelia."

My cheeks burned at the compliment.

"I'll be very honest with you, I didn't think you'd make it past the first week."

"And here we are at day ten." I clinked my mug against his.

A rueful chuckle vibrated his broad chest. "It's better than many full-blooded Light Fae have fared."

My brows quirked at his word choice, and I placed my mug down on the gilded side table. "Full-blooded?"

His lips pinched as he regarded me. "Please don't take that as an insult. I only assumed that perhaps you were of mixed blood. Half-kin, half-Light Fae. I presumed that was why your rais hadn't manifested yet." His gaze lifted to my rounded appendages.

"And why my ears aren't pointed like yours."

He shrugged. "It's simply a thought."

It was a good one. I was surprised I hadn't even considered it sooner myself. Perhaps, it was because it was so rare for Fae and Kin to mix at all.

Heaton's warm hand landed on my thigh, distracting me from my swirling thoughts. "I apologize, I shouldn't have brought it up. Tonight is supposed to be an evening of fun and distractions." He leaned in closer and twirled a dark lock of hair around his finger. "I've never seen hair so beautiful," he whispered.

"Th—cheers."

His smile broadened. "I see you're learning quickly."

"I am. The last thing I need is to be indebted to my team leader." I reached for my mug and took a long pull to hide my smirk.

Another chuckle tumbled free. "I'm not the worst Fae to owe a debt to."

"Oh, I'm sure you're right about that." I scanned the room filled with my squad mates and a dozen other fourth-years I didn't recognize. Though Rue had assured me I'd be safe, I knew better than to ever let my guard down around these Fae.

"Come on, then, dance with me." His bright eyes lit up with excitement as he extended his hand, and I couldn't deny the faint stirring in my chest. Heaton was an extremely attractive male, and even my inexperienced lady parts could appreciate that.

"Fine, but just one dance."

"Challenge accepted." He smirked and took the drink from my hand, depositing it onto the table. He wrapped his hand around mine and led me to the impromptu dancefloor. A handful of jealous gazes flickered in my direction. I tried to ignore them and focused on Rue and Sy wiggling their behinds with their respective dance partners.

"Aelia!" Rue abandoned Silvan and threw her arms around my neck as I approached. "Finally!"

Symon rushed up behind me, pressing me into a Light Fae sandwich and a giggle burst free.

"Hey, you two," Heaton grumbled, "I was the one that did all the work of getting her on the dancefloor and now you get to reap the benefits?"

"Tough luck, brother." Rue tossed him a cheeky grin.

My two friends surrounded me, and the initial awkwardness started to dwindle. As the music blared on, my body began to move to the rhythm. I recognized a few of the other members of the squad: Phoebia, Jacarta, and Ariadne. The females were among those who'd been staring as Heaton led me to the dancefloor. Besides them, Zephyr, Manon, and Dinan danced with a pair of females I didn't recognize, likely fourth-years and friends of Heaton.

After a few minutes, all the faces and bodies began to blur together as I wiggled and moved to the beats. My muscles felt looser and my hips swayed more easily, the time swimming by. The laegar flowed freely and more than once I wondered how my friends would survive class tomorrow morning. At least Combat wasn't on the schedule.

Sweat coated my brow and trickled down my spine as the night wore on and on. I was suddenly thankful that Rue had insisted I wore the light sheath dress with leggings as opposed to the thick tunic and leathers I'd originally planned on wearing.

"Isn't this the best?" Rue bounced on her tiptoes, grabbing my hands.

"It is!" I took another long pull from the tankard filled with water.

Heaton appeared behind me, enveloping me in his strong arms. "Finally, I found you," he whispered, the scent of laegar heavy on his breath. He'd clearly had too much to drink, which explained his sudden boldness, but I leaned into him despite myself. Rue's brother had been the first Fae to show even the slightest bit of interest in me—besides Symon, of course, but he simply had a rounded-ear fetish. A silly smile spread my lips at the thought of my friend. Heaton's hand drifted down to my waist and his firm fingers dug into my hip. A flare of heat kindled below, and all thoughts of Sy flew out the window.

"Heaton!" A shrill cry jerked me from the sultry song and the feel of my squad leader behind me.

He peeled himself off and turned to the irate silver-haired female.

"What are you doing with her?" she snarled, nostrils flared.

A rosy hue blanketed Heaton's cheeks as he faced off with the girl. "Oriah, calm down, we were only dancing."

"I won't calm down. Is this Kin the reason you broke up with me?"

Oh, Raysa. I staggered back a step, wishing I could disappear into the thick wall of ivy coiling behind me.

Rue stepped between her brother and the female, hands lifted palms up. "Oriah, I'm sure that's not what happened."

"Oh, Rue, stop defending him. You have no idea what he's like."

Her light eyes tapered at the edges, and a hint of the ruthless Fae I'd seen on the training mat surged to the surface. "Maybe I don't, but he's still my brother, and I won't simply stand here and watch you insult him or my friend." Her gaze swiveled toward me, and that unfamiliar warmth kindled in my chest.

"I can't believe this." Oriah lifted her perky little nose in the air, grabbed one of the other females and marched to the door. The sharp slam echoed across the chamber, cracking over the hum of music.

The moment she was gone, Heaton appeared by my side. "I'm sorry about that, Aelia."

I waved a dismissive hand. "No, please, there's nothing to be sorry about. You don't owe me anything." I was beyond stupid to think that just for one night I could be seen as one of them. I would not make that mistake again. "I—I have to go."

"No, don't leave." Rue bounded up beside me and squeezed my hand. "Oriah is a terribly jealous little thing. She and Heaton haven't been together for a while."

I glanced between both siblings, a whisper of embarrassment rearing up. "It's not that, I swear. I'm simply exhausted."

"I'll go back with you then," Rue offered.

"No, that is completely unnecessary; stay and have fun."

Silvan still lingered beside my friend, an eager look in his eye. He clearly was hoping to bed my roommate this evening, even I could see that.

"At least let me walk you to your room. As your squad leader, of course." Heaton's warm smile eased some of the awkwardness.

"Okay," I finally mumbled. With my luck, Oriah and her friend would be waiting to ambush me on the spiral staircase of death.

Heaton ushered me through the tangle of bodies littering his chamber. As soon as we reached the quiet hallway, I heaved in a breath of fresh air. I hadn't even noticed how suffocating it had gotten inside with so many people.

"I hope you had some fun this evening," Heaton whispered. The corridors were silent, and it only just occurred to me that his chamber must have been encased in some sort of silencing spell.

"I did." I glanced at Heaton who watched me with a hopeful smile. "It was certainly the most fun I've had since I arrived at the Conservatory."

"Well, that doesn't say much." A rueful grin parted his lips.

I wondered if he knew about the attack. Had Rue shared the embarrassing truth with her brother? I'd hate for him to pity me.

We reached the glass staircase and he offered his hand. "I've had more than my share of laegar tonight, Aelia, do you mind?" A playful smirk curved his lips and brightened the turquoise of his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe." I threw him back a grin.

The sharp crack of glass shattering sent my heart leaping up my throat and my eyes to the glass dome above. Dozens of dark shadows streaked through the gaping hole in the atrium.

"Shit," Heaton hissed. "Get down!"