Chapter 2

2

Isaid my goodbyes to Nora in a hurry, stuffing the rest of my almost inedible sandwich in my bag and racing toward the front yard of the school fast enough for the breath to leave my lungs. Heart racing. Throat dry.

Clingy much?

It doesn’t matter, I thought. I pulled a light sweater from my bag on the way outside to fight against the cold.

Mike was back.

Mike was back!

My brain repeated the statement until my heart began to spin cartwheels faster than a second-grader at recess.

I’d missed him; three weeks was way too long since the last time we’d seen each other. He’d been at home in Faerie with his parents for the holidays. At the palace. I tried hard not to get stuck on those kinds of thoughts and the world of differences between Mike and me. The royal Michael Thornwood who was so far above my league I had to be crazy for continuing this.

He was a good guy and a good friend. He’d been there to help me when I couldn’t help myself, finding me on the side of the road in a broken-down piece of junk car and offering me a ride to the school our first day with no questions asked.

Was it any wonder I was more than halfway in love with him?

Yeah, I’d thought him a murderer. Little did I know how my feelings would change drastically.

Pushing aside the large wooden front doors of the castle, I bolted down the steps and over the crunchy grass. My breath exploded from my mouth in a puff of white. January already and we’d yet to have a heavy snow.

The only lights shining were those of the stars with their crystal radiance. Rays of light spilled down from those stars to illuminate the hillside; my lungs breathed in the scents of wood smoke and frost. A new moon and mostly cloudy; I was safe outside for now.

Behind me the castle loomed straight out of a fairy tale, multiple stories of stone and brick with English ivy crawling up the sides, with enough wards and enchantments to make it invisible, keeping it safe from the public eye. An army trying to force their way through our front gates would find very quickly they had other places to be. The security was one thing I appreciated about the place. You couldn’t be too careful when there were this many students who called the place home.

The Fae Academy for Halflings.

A familiar blond head popped into view rounding the cement walkway from the parking area and I couldn’t stop myself. I ran for him. Truly happy for the first time since he’d left.

“Mike!”

He caught sight of me and his smile was bright enough to light up the night. He greeted me with a big hug, arms coming around my waist, drawing me close when I jumped on him. Literally jumped until he had no choice but to keep hold of me.

“Tavi, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Mike told me on a groan. Then squeezed me tight enough to force the breath from my lungs. “It’s so good to see your pretty face.”

For someone like Mike—High Fae, used to breathtaking and flawless beauty—to compliment me meant he either had serious reality issues or was used to lying because of court protocol. Either way, I’d take the kind words.

I didn’t mind his crushing hold either, even though I was struggling to breathe. Something inside of me settled with him this close, a knot of tension I hadn’t been aware of carrying in my chest.

Boy, I was in trouble. So much trouble.

I rested my cheek against his shoulder for a moment longer before he released me only enough for me to lean back, looping my arms on either side of his neck and staring at him.

At first, I hadn’t thought him conventionally handsome. His nose was a bit too long and his face too narrow for him to fit into a proscribed little box. But he had those intense eyes and shiny golden hair ruffled around his face and…mmm.

His skin gleamed with a slight bronze sheen, his hair like a ray of sunshine itself. His eyes were a vibrant green with gold around the irises, like the personification of a spring forest. Young, sure, but devastatingly beautiful and captivating in a way I had never seen before. Not to mention those adorable pointed ears.

“Where are the rest of your things?” I asked him, noticing how he didn’t have any luggage with him.

He shrugged and took a step back, his arms at his sides with thumbs hanging on the pockets of his jeans. “I didn’t take anything with me this time. I mean, the palace has everything I need. And then some.”

Something in his tone sounded off. Not angry, just resigned.

I took him in from head to toe. Same height, same lean muscles, same clothes I was used to seeing him wear outside of our school uniform. Yet he seemed different to me.

“Are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Of course I’m okay. I’m here, aren’t I?” He flashed me a smile. “I’m better than ever and happy to be back. How are you?”

I was happier to have him here, with me. The best I’d felt in three weeks, but I wasn’t about to tell him because I had a feeling he wouldn’t understand.

Instead, I drew him down in another hug because I needed the closeness. “I’m doing well,” I murmured against his chest. “But not exactly ready to get back to work.”

Mike glanced up at the sky, his eyes narrowed and his lips pursed in thought. “I don’t want to go inside just yet. I know it’s a little chilly, though. Do you want to take a walk?”

“Sure thing,” I agreed without hesitation. Whatever I could do to spend time with him before the rest of the students arrived back, I would happily do, despite the goose bumps rising on my arms.

We headed for the rear lawn in pensive silence for the first few minutes. The extensive property included the castle and vast woods, all surrounded by an iron fence embedded with enough amulets and protective spells to keep the masses from looking too closely. From here I could look back at the castle and see it in its entirety, from the ancient foundation to the balustrades encircling the upper floors

Mike and I had spent a lot of time together our first semester. In fact, he’d been instrumental in getting me to the school in the first place, and I like to think we’d helped each other with studying once classes started. He had also been present the first time I took the potion to suppress my shifter nature and nearly killed myself.

It wasn’t an experience I wanted to repeat and I was pretty sure he’d agree.

Among my tiny list of friends, Mike stood as one of the best, and although neither of us had made a move toward being anything more than study partners…I’d lost a piece of my heart to him.

Against all logic and better judgment.

I was smitten no matter how different we were. Full-blooded fae—and a royal to boot—versus a halfling who shouldn’t exist… Yeah, the odds of us ending up together weren’t good.

I don’t care.

Although I didn’t think he felt the same way about me. Which sucked. It was enough to drive a girl a little bonkers. Most days I tried not to think about the future and simply focus on each day as it came. Easier said than done!

“How was your trip home?” I asked him with forced cheer. I didn’t have to force it much but the silence was getting to me, crawling under my skin with distinct discomfort. “I’m sure it was nice to get away for a little bit. Did you do anything exciting?”

Mike shrugged and kept his focus ahead. “It was fine. Things at the palace are the same as ever. Nothing changes. I didn’t go anywhere. Barely saw my parents.”

Hmm, that didn’t sound good. At all. “I can tell you didn’t really have a fun time,” I said.

“Well, it’s hard to have fun when there are people breathing down your neck and watching every move you make,” he clarified. “No one cares what you have to say and no one listens when you open your mouth. I spent three weeks of my break trying to make sure I didn’t put my foot in my mouth, Tavi, that’s what I did. And I barely saw anyone who mattered.”

Was he talking about his father? I wasn’t sure and I didn’t want to ask him outright, but I had a suspicious tingle in my gut.

The flatness in which he told me about his time at home said enough about how he felt. About the king, his title, and why Mike never seemed excited to hear anyone speak about either.

But it was a little too personal, a little too much like prying to ask him for details. Or why things with his dad were never good.

I cleared my throat and said, “I understand how you feel. My family acted the same way. Like no matter what I did, there were a thousand eyes on me making sure I did it right. Or better.”

I’d never told Mike anything major about my past because if he knew I was half shifter, and if he told anyone, I would be kicked out of the Academy. Not to mention it would change how he thought about me and hurt our friendship.

It was one thing I didn’t want to lose. His friendship. It meant too much to me.

Our feet crunched over the frozen grass as we approached the pitch-black line of the forest. The trees grew close together and although the canopy was bare, the thickness of their limbs and trunks did not allow the starlight to penetrate. We turned at the edge of the trees and continued around the lawn like we were both unwilling to step into those dark depths.

“You know what? I’m not sure I want to go home for our next break,” Mike suddenly said.

How surprising. “Really?”

Were things bad for him at home? I didn’t know; he rarely spoke to me about his personal life.

“Yeah, I mean, I know my mom would like to see me, but beyond that, I don’t know of a good reason to go back. What about you? Will you go anywhere for spring break?”

I prodded the side of my leg through my pants pocket, digging short nails into my skin against a swell of anxiety. “There’s nowhere for me to go, really. I don’t have a family waiting for me. And even if I did, I think I’d rather stay here anyway.” I couldn’t reveal much more to him.

Mike didn’t comment. After a rather long pause, he asked, “What happened to them? Your family.” When I lifted my brows at the question, he said, “You never told me how they died.”

Thank goodness I didn’t hear any pity in his voice. “Both my parents died a long time ago. I don’t remember them, and my uncle wasn’t really forthcoming on details. I only know that people hated them being together. My uncle raised me after they died.”

“Tavi,” Mike said, and I half turned to him, watching his expression soften. “You know you can tell me anything. Right?” He shook his head at my empty expression. “Seems like neither one of us has the best home situation.”

I tried to keep from grimacing. At least he still had his mom and dad.

“You could stay here with me during the breaks. I mean, we can use all the extra studying time.” I mimed knocking him on the arm. “Try to get you into the top ten.”

He pretended outrage when he spoke again. “Are you poking fun at my barely making it into the top one hundred for the first-year class? You ass! We can’t all be number one, you know.”

I laughed at his joking tone, the sound turning into a snort. “That’s what I’m saying. The extra studying would do you good.” And give us more alone time.

A secondary benefit, my mind hastily qualified. Yeah, right.

He paused, waiting for me to catch up. “I could use the boost,” he agreed. Then his voice dropped. “It might help things. Besides, it feels like my mind is clearer when I’m…here.”

My heart twisted. Maybe Mike was at the Academy not to learn more about the Fae people, as I’d initially thought, but to prove something to his father.

It made sense, in a way. And I understood the desire to prove yourself worthy to someone.

I’d been in his shoes with my Uncle Will, who took me in after my parents died, where nothing I did or said was good enough and I’d constantly felt like I walked on eggshells. Trying to look the best, be the best.

I had even started working for him at his law firm as an intern. Mostly because he needed help, but underneath it all, because I thought it would improve how he felt about me. How he saw me. I knew my uncle loved me or else he wouldn’t have raised me the way he had, but did he like me? Did he see me as a strong and capable young woman or as a bargaining chip?

I guess it didn’t matter anymore. “I’ll be happy to crack the whip on you,” I told Mike with a sly smile. Ooh, it would be my pleasure, actually.

He raised a hand to his chest as though I’d wounded him. “Ouch! I never thought you’d be a whip wielder, Tavi! How cruel. You think I deserve a beating?”

“Not cruel. Necessary. I’m going to make sure you get into the top ten this semester, I promise. Mark my words, Mr. Thornwood.”

“Whatever you say, Miss Alderidge.”

At least the teasing brought identical grins to our faces, and his smile changed everything about him. It brought a lightness to his entire being. My stomach twisted at the look.

I’d do whatever I could to make him feel better, to help him know he was worth something, if his father had ever made him think otherwise. My inner wolf, always present just under the surface, bared her teeth at the thought of anyone putting Mike down.

Good thing she wasn’t out in the open right now or else she’d mark her claim on him.

“How have things been at the Academy?” Mike asked.

Now it was my turn to shrug. “Nothing spectacularly exciting to report either, I’m afraid. Mostly I hung out in the library with my new friend Nora. Do you remember her from last semester?”

I could see him trying. “Nora? I’m not sure I know her.”

“She’s quiet but sweet. Asian descent, short black hair, glasses. When I wasn’t with her, then I was trying to get ahead on my reading. You know what? I actually enjoy the quiet. It’s a nice change from having everyone around,” I admitted.

We continued around the rear yard keeping to the tree line but not going into the forest. The castle stood ahead on a small hill, mullioned windows illuminated with a golden glow from lamps inside. Three floors, turrets, and towers. I’d never seen a place of its equal before. Not surprising. It belonged in a fairy tale rather than the Massachusetts countryside.

Uncle Will and I had lived in the suburbs outside of the city in a gated community made up of wolf shifters down in Virginia. Here, the shifter side of me was unwelcome. Not just unwelcome, but anathema. The Fae and the wolves hated each other, so much that murder was not off the table.

“Uh oh, looks like the school sent a welcoming committee,” I said under my breath. Although I couldn’t make out the face of the stranger striding across the lawn toward us, I knew our privacy was gone.

Then a familiar blond head attached to a skinny body came into view. Everything inside of me dropped as I recognized the girl, and it was work not to groan. I knew the walk. I knew the attitude that slapped you in the face from a mile away.

“Persephone is back from vacation,” Mike stated unnecessarily.

My palms began to sweat at the name. Yes, she was here. She must have slunk back from the pits of Hell sometime while I was eating. Crawled her way out, more than likely. I swallowed a retort about the Devil needing to come collect her.

When she was finally close enough to talk without shouting, Persephone called out, “Mike! How are you?”

Like I wasn’t even there. I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t say it surprised me.

She sidled up to the prince with arms extended for a hug, her features lit with an inner smugness. I bit my lip and refused to say anything in response. To me, over his shoulder, she scowled, the expression flashing across her face before she forced it aside and her usual simpering smile was in place.

“It’s good to see you again,” Mike told her. Too friendly for his own good, but what could I do? He was royalty, and being friendly came with the title. Court protocol. “What are you doing out here? Aren’t you cold?”

She certainly didn’t look cold in tight pants and a low-cut purple sweater. “I just came to tell you we’re all getting together for a game of Capture the Scroll at ten tonight,” she replied happily. “Why don’t you come play with us too, Tavi? It’s your favorite.”

I didn’t miss the slight growl at the end of her statement, her usual high-pitched voice dropping into gremlin territory. Whatever I’d done to make her hate me—and I still had no idea what that was—it was getting harder and harder for her to pretend otherwise.

She wanted a chance to embarrass me, no matter how well she’d seen me play during our first game. Maybe this time around she thought she had new tricks up her sleeve?

I flashed Persephone an answering smile holding no warmth and every bit of venom she’d given me. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”