Chapter 10

10

I’d made a mistake. I’d gambled and ended up in a car with a serial killer.

My thoughts circled down a dark drain until my anxiety spiked. Binge-watching too many true crime documentaries made me leery of Mike to the point where I kept one hand on the door ready to jump for the first ten miles of our trip. Especially considering I’d just agreed to let him drive us the whole way instead of dropping me off.

An hour in the car with Mike… I glanced over at him. Please don’t kill me.

There were some handsome serial killers out there, though.

He drove the rest of the way to the campus with light conversation and banter between us. I didn’t realize how close I’d truly been to the school when my car decided to break down.

“Are you a member of one of the courts?” I asked him cautiously. I knew about the courts, at least. Faerie was divided into Seelie and Unseelie, one considered dark and the other light. Then I remembered what Elfwaite had told me about shades of gray and wondered again where Mike fit into the picture.

He shook his head until strands of gold obscured the side of his face. “No, I’m not a member of any court. My family is older than the courts, older than most of the High Lords and Ladies of Faerie. We try to stay neutral.” Then he stopped as though unwilling to say more.

I chuckled to break up the tension. “And here I thought my family was something because my uncle is a lawyer.”

It wasn’t exactly giving anything away, but it was enough to keep the conversation rolling.

“Hey, being a lawyer is a big deal,” Mike answered with gravity.

“I guess it doesn’t extend to children though, does it?” I joked. “Or any kind of niece or nephew.”

He glanced over, studying me as much as he could without taking his attention from the road. “I don’t know. You seem like something to me.”

Oh, my word, was I flirting with a murderer? I highly doubted my initial impression of Mike was accurate, but still…

Lingering mortification over what I’d said took hold of me and I pressed a hand to my chest. “Well, good,” I replied, trying to ignore my embarrassment. “Nice of you to say.”

At least Mike appeared amused. “You’d have to be something to get the invite to the academy. Never forget.”

“Gotcha. I’ll try not to.” Another glance in his direction. I couldn’t stop looking at him. “Are you looking forward to starting?”

He mumbled some noncommittal response though laughter still danced on his face.

“Ah, the truth comes out! You aren’t excited to start at all. You were right about the nerves.” I started to laugh, the habitual snort airing at the end until I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop it.

He shrugged and shot me a devilish smile. “It’s school, isn’t it? If I told you I was excited for school, you’d think me either a liar or an asshole.”

I bit the inside of my cheek and wondered at the twists and turns the night had taken. We passed the time with conversation flowing from subject to subject without delay.

At last, Mike jerked his head toward the windshield. “Here we are.”

It still didn’t hit home, not really, not even as we drove up to the ancient metal gates with the academy logo welded into the wrought iron, a swirling design I couldn’t quite understand although I saw it clearly, even in the dark.

“We have reached our final destination,” Mike stated with cheerful ease. “The Fae Academy for Halflings and our new home, if we can make it through the probationary period.”

“It doesn’t look like they’re expecting anyone to come in at this hour.” I stared at the gates and felt my insides shift. Too bad I had no clue whether it was good or bad. “Are you sure we’re allowed to be here?”

Great wide tree trunks kept the majority of the place from view. Stars were bright overhead and I thought I saw the rising turrets of the castle through the night. Fifty acres, though…plenty of room to hide the magical occupants.

“Most new students don’t generally arrive past midnight, unless you’re us. I guess we are crazy after all.” Mike pulled to a stop and flipped up the parking brake to keep the car in place. When I lifted my brow in silent inquiry, he continued with, “Don’t worry though, there should always be someone up. I’ll try the intercom. There has to be a night guard on duty who can let us inside.”

The realization hit me like a wave at the beach when my back was turned. Mike slid out of the driver’s seat and I remembered I hadn’t taken my potion yet to hide my wolf shifter nature, and here we stood at the doorstep of the campus.

Dammit.

Thank goodness he hadn’t seen me in direct light. Maybe I should be grateful the conversation kept him distracted, otherwise his magic might have sensed something off about me.

I had to hurry.

“I’m just going to grab something out of my bag,” I called out to Mike, stopping short on the other side of the car.

“Yeah, go ahead. I’m still trying to figure out how to get the gate to open. Do you think the whole campus is protected by magic? It wasn’t part of my reading. They’ve got to have wards in place. Right?”

I had no clue, and ignored this line of questioning.

The case was buried in my large case under the rest of my things. Hands shaking, I pulled at the zipper and tossed my clothes to the side, sparing a look over my shoulder to make sure Mike’s attention remained on the gate.

Hurry.

I had to move fast before he saw me.

I had the lid open, vial in hand, box locked within seconds before I popped the cork. Ducking, I chugged the entire contents in a single gulp. The potion slid down my throat like mud. It stung my tongue, stomach heaving and threatening to toss its contents, gagging.

It was absolutely disgusting. Worse than the most horrible combination of ingredients my mind could conjure. Maybe Barbara had poisoned me.

But it worked immediately, turning my skin molten and making my eyes water. A wrench of pain jolted through my entire body. Dear God, what had I gotten myself into? My gorge rose and I swallowed hard to keep my insides where they belonged.

I am not going to lose it.

My vision went blurry.

“Hey, Tavi, you okay?”

I am not going to lose it.

I was vaguely aware of Mike circling back around the car to check on me when I didn’t answer him. Wheezing, I tried to wave and get him to walk away, my limbs no longer belonging to me. They were attached, sure, but outside of my control.

“Dizzy spell,” I managed to get out. Please don’t puke. “Go on without me. I need a minute.”

His hands were on my back too close to where my skin rippled. “I’m not going to leave you alone. Are you sure you’re all right? Try to breathe. You’re okay.”

The concern in his voice almost made me lose it for real. Of course, the guy had to be a total knight in shining armor when I needed him to just walk away and not look back.

Cool fingers moved on the back of my neck and Mike helped me to stand upright. The world swam in front of me like I viewed it through the reflection of a funhouse mirror. The back of his hand brushed my forehead.

“Not a dizzy spell,” Mike said. “You feel feverish. You’re burning up!”

“I’m fine.” The insistence came out weak. He was too close to me. Surely, he’d see the way my skin had loosened and morphed. He’d notice something was wrong and report me to the council. I was just the crazy chick he’d picked up on the side of the road.

Shrugging him off, I tried to reach in the backseat and grab my duffel bag and purse. The wheeled luggage I’d have to grab later. If later came for me. I might not survive ingesting the sludge Barbara had made for me.

I slammed the door and winced at the sound, too loud and echoing when it shouldn’t have. Stumbled until I hit the gate.

“You’re not going anywhere, I’m sorry.” Mike wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me into the front seat. “Let’s get inside and find a parking spot. Hold on.”

I didn’t want his help. I didn’t want him scrutinizing me, caring about me, especially not when I had to fool him and everyone else to be here. Pressing a hand against my stomach to steady it, I closed my eyes as the car moved forward.

“Almost there, Tavi. Hold on.”

I didn’t deserve his help. Maybe that’s what bothered me more than anything. This guy had stopped to help a stranger when he didn’t have to, and now he was going above and beyond. For me. For a liar.

Definitely not a serial killer.

The gates opened for us without further delay. Mike pressed the gas and zipped up the curling macadam drive into the darkness of the trees. I thought I saw the driveway branching off into two directions but he continued straight. Soon the forest opened up and the whole of the castle loomed ahead of us. I couldn’t see much. Everything shifted and blurred. I groaned, leaning forward before my stomach lost everything.

He parked near the front doors, helping me out of the car and into the front hall, the doors opening automatically to allow us entry. Like magic. The sound of them closing behind us echoed through the large space, with cathedral ceilings soaring toward a peak and a great golden chandelier shedding light. The rest of the entry hall stood empty save for a few folding tables and chairs.

“Hello?” Mike called out. “Anyone home? We need some help!”

I leaned into him when my strength failed. He tightened his hold on me. “It’s too early in the morning—”

Heels clicked along the tile floor and a voice cried out, “What’s going on? What’s all the commotion about?”

I couldn’t see the speaker. My eyes were swollen and at once it was hard to breathe, the pain never-ending. I heard Mike ask for a nurse, his grip on my waist tightening further. A wave of agony shook me and I jerked against him. Panting.

The idea of someone scrutinizing me before the potion took full effect…I couldn’t allow the risk.

I tried to tell whoever stood in front of us: I was fine, it was girl problems and nothing to worry about. No one believed me. In a heartbeat, Mike and I were led down a side hallway. Once they felt my forehead and the fever raging, there was no room for argument. Every hair on my body stood upright as they flung open the door to a fluorescent-lit room reeking of sterile chemicals.

The infirmary.

“Oh my, what do we have going on? Someone isn’t feeling well, is she? We’ve got some light sweating…nope, heavy sweating. I can feel the heat coming off of her skin from here. Yowzah, we’ve either got the magical influenza or someone is going through early menopause. Just kidding! I’m kidding, of course.”

I blinked at the nurse with the sweet voice, her image solidifying into two solid presences instead of five. Another species of Fae, with gangly limbs, pointed ears, and shiny wings protruding from her shoulder blades in a blue only a shade lighter than her skin.

Blue skin?

She clucked her tongue to get Mike’s attention. “Keep hold of her, young man. Don’t let her sag to the floor. Get her over to the table and help her sit up,” the nurse said brusquely.

“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Mike was saying. His hands moved to my shoulders to steady me. “We pulled up to the gate and she said she felt dizzy. Then she almost knocked her head on the car when she went down. It came out of nowhere.”

He helped situate me on the examination table but kept his hands on my knees until I steadied. “I’m fine,” I told them both again, my words only slurring slightly.

An improvement!

This time, I meant it. The wave of pain at last ebbed, the effects of the potion beginning to wear off. I drew in a breath and didn’t feel needles piercing my lungs, and when I opened my eyes again, the world swam into view after a few breaths.

Mike stood at my side with his arms crossed over his chest and concern coloring his every feature.

The nurse was on his right. Her name tag read Julie.

She had a stethoscope in hand, startling amethyst-colored eyes darting over me and flashing in warning. Warning? A muscle feathered in her jaw and I regretted letting Mike bring me to her, if only for the scrutiny flickering in her gaze. As though she saw right through me.

“What?” I choked out. What did she see when she looked at me?

Her gaze widened as she stared. My fingers clutched the edge of the table. If I had to make a run for it, I wouldn’t get far. Still…

“I just had a weird hot flash and dizzy spell,” I insisted. “Everyone overreacted. It’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m absolutely fine. See? The fever is already fading.”

“It’s not nothing,” Mike said. His golden skin flushed. “You went from fine to sick in seconds. Worrisome.”

“I’m not so sure…” Nurse Julie trailed off, bending in front of me. Examining me.

I sucked on my teeth for a moment.

Finally, she chuckled, a soft and gentle sound breaking the tension immediately. “I think it should be girls only for a little bit. If you’ll excuse us, young man, I need to speak to my patient alone. You can wait out in the hall until we’re done here. Go on, now. Shoo! Shoo!”

She pushed Mike out the door with a cluck of her tongue, flicked the lock behind him, then walked over to the sink and picked up a piece of gauze to run under the faucet. “The teachers here can’t keep their noses out of students’ business,” she told me without looking over her shoulder. “They are inherentlyinvested in the goings-on around campus. It’s always best to keep yourself to yourself at all times. Get me?”

Whoever this nurse was, I wasn’t sure I could trust her, and the ominous tone of her words had the breath whooshing from my chest.

“I don’t need anyonein my business,” I muttered.

“Who does? Now let me just check a few things with you and you’ll be good to go. Your color is already coming back.” She turned around and smiled, holding the gauze up to my forehead to wipe away the rapidly drying beads of sweat. Her wings flickered. “A few more minutes and you should be back to normal, although I recommend getting a little sleep. Okay, a lot of sleep. You’re up late tonight. Have you been eating?”

I answered her questions to the best of my ability. They were perfunctory, going over my personal habits, my pulse, et cetera. She no longer looked at me with the same discretion she had earlier. No longer appeared as though she saw everything I wanted to hide.

“Okay, Miss Alderidge. Off with younow. Go check in and get situated in your dorm. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow and you are going to need your strength. You look fine to me.”

The nurse clearly had her own agenda and soon sent me on my way with a warning to drink more fluids.

I expected Mike to be long gone by the time I left the infirmary, ibuprofen in hand and orange juice helping to settle my stomach. He had no reason to wait around for me.

He stood up from a chair in the lobby and flashed me a smile, one I’d almost come to expect on his face. No, stupid. I couldn’t expect something from a guy I’d known less than a day.

“You waited,” I said in surprise.

“Of course I waited,” he replied, blinking. “I couldn’t let you walk out alone. Plus, I have your bags.”

I stepped up to him, hissing when I expected pain and found none, my potion now in place. “I definitely appreciate it. You’ve been so kind to me.”

“New kids have to stick together, right?” He leaned closer and knocked me lightly on the arm, a gesture of camaraderie. Not hard enough to knock me off my feet in any way.

Why did it make my skin prickle deliciously?

With soft light pouring down from a crystal chandelier overhead, I saw Mike in full light for the first time since meeting, and I wondered how I’d ever thought him merely unconventionally handsome. No, his looks went way beyond handsome.

My heart cracked open a bit the longer I stared.

His skin gleamed with a slight bronze sheen, his hair the color of sunshine itself. His eyes were a vibrant green with gold around the iris, like the personification of a summer forest. Young, sure, but devastatingly beautiful and captivating in a way I had never seen before.

I drew toward him not because of his looks alone, but the inherent kindness he’d shown me. The way he’d offered to lend a hand to a stranger. Then I stopped myself when I took a literal step toward him.

His brows, slightly arched, brought out the color of his eyes.

My breath caught in my throat and I slid my hands behind me to keep from reaching out to touch him. This powerful Fae male. I had to remember that above all else.

What species was he? Half-human? I’d put human on my admission application if quizzed.

Or maybe half-Fae and half-elf?

His head quirked to the side, adorable to the point where I had to draw in a breath to center myself. “Come on, Tavi. Let’s get back to the entry hall and see if they will let us check in before orientation tomorrow. Our kind never sleep! I saw some tables set up where I guess the professors have prepared for early arrivals. We can get signed in, grab our paperwork, and then they’ll administer the blood tests.”

I started and felt my face go pale. “The blood test.”

I’d known it was coming, even as my heart clutched and I followed Mike back the way we’d come. They’d need to make sure the students fell into the acceptable half-breed categories. They couldn’t simply take us at our word.

“Are you afraid of needles?” Mike asked over his shoulder. “You can tell me if you are. I won’t make fun of you.”

Struggling to swallow, I said, “Yes, totally afraid.” It made more sense for me to fear the needle rather than fear the result.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. You won’t even see the needle, from what I understand. It’s a machine analyzing magic in your white and red blood cells. It should only take a few seconds.”

“I appreciate your trying to spin this around for me,” I told him with a mouth gone dry.

This was it. If the potion didn’t work, then I would not be able to hide the truth from anyone, and they would turn on me.

“Come on, don’t be scared,” Mike teased. He stood beside me with a calm and steady presence. I tried not to lean on him. “It’s a little blood test and then we can get settled. No worries. See? There are already people here.”

Scared?No, I wouldn’t say scared. I was terrified. I wondered when I’d grown so bold as to think I could pull this off and get away with it.

Enough time had passed that a line had formed while I was in the nurse’s office. I stared around at the crowd, the beautiful men and women who were all like me. Maybe everyone else had the same idea Mike had, to check in early and save themselves the hassle of doing it in the morning.

Yet I stood alone in the crowd.

My turn in line came up faster than I wanted. The woman in front of me maneuvered my finger into the device as I stood statue-still.

The needle shot out and sliced into my skin.

The moment of truth. If they could see the shifter inside of me…then I was done.