Chapter 12

12

I’d let them get to me without making an effort to defend myself, and although I tried to remind myself their reactions had nothing to do with me personally, it still stung. I tried not to actually run away from the awful foursome, following the rest of the mass exodus out of the dormitory and toward the auditorium.

There were so many girls like me. There had to be at least twenty-five others in my dorm alone, not counting the number in the boys’ dorms. I’d have competition to stay here. More competition than I’d bargained for.

All part of the game, I reasoned, tugging my t-shirt lower. I was still wearing the same sweat-soaked clothing from my drive yesterday. At least I’d managed to put my shoes on. But I didn’t have time to waste on worry or self-consciousness. The assembly would start soon enough and orientation after.

Mike had said we didn’t have anything to do until after luncheon. But it seems he hadn’t gotten his times right. The introductory welcome was scheduled for nine.

I didn’t need my map to know where we were headed. The rest of the girls led the way, chatting easily with each other on the walk to the auditorium. We moved down a grand staircase toward the main floor of the castle and turned left. Soon the hallway widened, opening up into a large room with great acoustics. The seats were done in red velvet similar to what you might see in an old opera house. I noted some of the same details in the plaster designs covering the walls and ceiling.

Wow. I’d thought the place grand from the photos on the website but it was nothing compared to what I saw in person. Rubbing the rest of the sleep from my eyes, I took it all in.

So many students, all so different. All here for the same reason I was. Well, probably not the exact same reason, but we had the same end goals in mind. To make it through to senior year and earn our place in Faerie.

I managed to find a seat in the assembly along with my dormmates, watching the rest of the students pour in before the welcome began.

At nine on the dot, the headmaster, a man I recognized from his picture on the website, strode across the stage and took his place behind a podium. Lean and fair, he possessed classic Fae features including pointed ears breaking through his hair. His eyes were like two lumps of burning coal.

“Welcome, new students,” he began, his voice magically amplified to reach every seat in the auditorium. “Welcome to the Fae Academy for Halflings. Congratulations on making it through the application process. On behalf of the staff, I want to say we are very proud of you all and happy to have you here with us. As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m Headmaster Leaves.”

The assembly responded with perfunctory applause. I leaned forward, needing to catch every word. Exhaustion rode hard on me but I had a feeling this was important.

Headmaster Leaves continued. “No, the Academy does offer scholarships to all our new students, to allow you an environment to compete at the highest level. If you make it through to graduation, you will be expected to participate in a work study, your duties providing for others the way we have provided for you, serving in whatever capacity the Elder Council feels you are able. If you fail out, then you simply leave. End of story.”

Wow, that was a great opportunity, to be honest. No other college would offer the same scholarships to regular kids.

“As you all should know, your first year here at the academy is probationary based on your performance. You will be scrutinized on your participation in class as well as your interactions with your classmates and professors. Your every move will be noted and recorded by staff and compiled as part of your overall scores. Every student who comes through our doors begins with one thousand points. Teachers and staff can subtract points for any infraction, large or small. Written grades and test grades add points to this number. Any student who dips below five hundred is automatically expelled.”

Expelled.

The word echoed in my head.

I swallowed over the lump suddenly growing in my throat. One thousand points might seem like a lot, but if we had to watch our steps here, literally, then the number could drop easily. Did they have a written manifesto on etiquette and expectations? Something I should memorize? I’d have to find out.

“This is a cutthroat system for a reason,” Headmaster Leaves continued to explain, and the smile on his face was anything but reassuring, “and that is because only the best of the best are accepted into Faerie. We want to make sure you show your best. Nothing less will be tolerated.”

I’m a fraud.

I was starting out on this path hiding my true nature. I was already doomed to fail.

I’m a liar.

But I was already as good as dead to everyone back home. They would have discovered my absence by now. I had nothing to return to if I couldn’t hack it here.

Headmaster Leaves went on with the welcome information, going over class structure and what would be expected from us during our time at the school. My mind went blank listening to the rest of the assembly.

Afterward, everyone was shuffled out of the auditorium and back toward the hall I’d only glimpsed the night before. The tables from our earlier check-in had been reassembled and piled high with syllabi and other supplies for classes. This in addition to the literature I’d already received.

Guess my blood test did the trick and ensured my place. For the present, at least. No one had spoken about payment, which led me to wonder if we’d be expected to work to stay or what. Hopefully this wasn’t another “payment at the end for an unspecified price” type of deal.

By the time I walked out of the hall, I had a second folder full of paperwork handed out to me by teachers and a massive headache brewing behind my eyes. I tried to ask about breakfast to see if I’d missed it, received no answer, and continued down the hallway pushed along by the crowd, without an exit in sight.

I’d been assigned an upperclassman mentor meant to help me acclimate and would be meeting her shortly. Great. Another pair of eyes ready to examine me, someone else to find me wanting. Acid reflux threatened to eat away at me and if I didn’t get something to eat soon, I was going to faint.

“Can someone tell me where to find the cafeteria?” I called out.

No answer.

If I hadn’t taken the potion then my nose would have led me there easily. As it was, my senses were dulled and I wasn’t sure how to react. I had left my map in the room.

“The cafeteria is on the floor below us. Pretty easy to find. My map must be working because here you are again,” a voice said from behind me.

Mike popped from out of nowhere with an identical folder in his arms and an easy grin at the sight of me. It was an effort to keep the surprise from showing on my face. Or to keep my fingers from my hair when I wanted to fidget. Ugh, I looked utterly gross next to him.

How did he manage to look so dang handsome after only a few hours of sleep? No one could say the same about me. I’d caught my reflection in a window, eyes tired and puffy and skin slack and dull from stress. The few wisps of dark auburn hair escaping my braid were lackluster but at least they weren’t greasy.

And yeah, no makeup.

The shadow inside of me hadn’t lightened with a few hours of sleep. If anything, it had grown. I couldn’t let Mike see it.

“You’re going to spoil me if you keep showing up when I need help,” I told him, smiling, digging my nails into my palms as he stopped at my side. Get it together, Tavi.

“How did you sleep?” he asked, stepping closer to avoid the rest of the crowd knocking against him. “I got a few decent hours in myself. One thing I can say about the school, the mattresses are top-notch.”

I stared at the ground without really seeing. “I didn’t sleep well. It seems I’m having some major delays acclimating.”

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it. Sometimes it takes a while. Is your head feeling better?”

“Barely.” I tapped against my temple. “Headache. My stomach is growling, too.” But I didn’t want to keep complaining in front of him. He’d already seen me at my worst. Any more and he might decide it wasn’t worth being my friend.

“You just need a little something to eat and then you’ll feel better. I snuck in a chocolate bar and it’s the only reason why I’m standing here right now.” Mike glanced around us at the rest of the students as though someone would overhear and come attacking for a piece.

I scoffed, mouth rounded. “And you didn’t think to share? I love chocolate.”

He shook his head. “Sorry. I can be greedy with my sweets. It’s nothing personal, Tavi, let me assure you.”

“I understand.” I forced a shrug as we walked. “If the roles had been reversed then I wouldn’t want to share with you, either.”

“You wouldn’t share your chocolate with me? Then why am I even here?”

Yeah, I didn’t know either. “Your guess is as good as mine,” I teased in return.

Mike let his head drop back on his neck, raising his face to the sunlit window and letting the sunshine bathe him. Honest to goodness, it did something to him, brought a radiance to his skin I could never hope to match. It was…magic. “Look, I think I have a few free minutes this afternoon. Why don’t you meet me back here to get the rest of your things?” He winked.

Oh. Oh my. “Sounds good. I—”

A male student stepped between us and Mike cleared his throat at the intrusion. “Hey Tavi, allow me to introduce my closest friend, Roman Bantam. Roman, this is Tavi Alderidge. We met last night when I gave her a ride to the school.”

It was kind of Mike not to mention the circumstances of said ride.

I forced a grin. “Hi Roman, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, staring at him. Why hadn’t I at least tried to shower? I looked like I’d just run a marathon in Sahara-level heat, and here was another handsome Fae boy probably thinking where did Mike find this one?

It made me wonder if Mike had a habit of finding the lost and distressed.

But Roman’s handshake was strong, his palm warm, and his face was open, easy. Pleasant. “How’s it going?” he asked.

This drop-dead half-Fae was the polar opposite of Mike. Roman stood a few inches taller with less muscle, a leaner frame, and darker hair. Chestnut-colored eyes sparked with a kind of inherent intelligence.

I tugged a bit at my t-shirt, wishing I’d insisted on getting my luggage from Mike earlier. Wishing I’d had time to throw a little makeup on my face or do a few other things differently. But then I would have missed the assembly.

“It’s a big change from what I’m used to,” I answered Roman, making sure to keep my answer vague. “I think I’m going to like it here once I get used to all the people.”

Another lie.

He blew out a breath, pushing dark hair away from his eyes. Yes, a perfect contrast to Mike’s lightness, I saw, like two different sides of the same coin. “I can understand. I’m not used to being around crowds either and it’s a little intimidating. Hey, at least we’re here together.”

“How long have you two known each other?” I asked.

“Years,” Mike supplied. “We were friends before applying to the academy. It was our luck to get in together.”

The conversation continued as we made our way down the hall toward the cafeteria. Roman seemed like a personable guy, his jokes charming, his manner easy. It might be the exhaustion, or it might be a sense I hadn’t realized I had, but he almost seemed insincere in his charm. I shrugged off the observation. I was used to guys like him in the pack, fully familiar with the behavior. They wanted to make a good impression with the ladies even if it meant laying the charm on thick.

“Anyway, we’ve gotta get going. Full day.” Mike tapped his folder. “I’ll meet you here around three to go get your luggage, okay? Go eat, Tavi!”

We said our goodbyes and I watched Mike walk away, leaving me at the entrance to the cafeteria. I’d gotten lucky; that was my only thought. Having someone like him in my corner, while less than ideal in some ways, meant I wasn’t really alone here. His devastatingly handsome looks didn’t hurt but they sure did leave a girl wondering where and how she fit in.

“Oh my God. Were you seriously just talking to Michael Thornwood? You have to be kidding me.”

The melodic tone took me by surprise and my breath caught a bit. I turned around quick enough to feel lightheaded, staring at the caramel-skinned upperclassman who’d spoken. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

Okay, it came out a littler harsher than I wanted. Food just bumped up to priority number one.

The older girl didn’t seem to take offense at the statement. She kept her attention focused on Mike and Roman’s retreating backsides with a cluck of her tongue. “I’m the person freaking out about you talking to the Michael Thornwood,” she said. “Do you have any idea who he is?”

“Apparently I have no clue who anyone is at this point. My car broke down on the side of the road last night and Mike stopped to give me a ride.” Why was I telling her these things? “I’m not sure what the big deal is.”

Finally, Mike disappeared in the crowd and I lost sight of him. The girl let loose a sigh at his disappearance. “Pure gorgeousness.” She’d been watching Mike as well, her mouth rounded in an O of surprise. “Goodness, just when I thought I’d seen everything. Tavi Alderidge, you are one lucky girl. A hell of a lucky girl. You are Tavi Alderidge, right? I had your picture in my files but I left them on my desk. Jeez, I’m sorry. Melia Haversham.” The girl made the introduction as more of an afterthought, too wrapped up in Mike’s presence to remember her manners.

I could understand.

Shrugging, I reached out to shake her hand. “Are you my mentor?”

“Girl, yes. I’ve been assigned to you for the duration of your stay at the academy. Well, until I graduate, of course.” Then she broke off on another sigh. “I still can’t believe you rode here with Michael. No big deal, you say. Yeah, it’s a big deal because he’s a big deal. Oh damn, we’re going to be late. Okay, let’s hurry. I’ve got something to show you first.”

She pulled me away from the cafeteria doors and I cast a glance over my shoulder filled with wistful desire. No snacks for me.

If Melia was flabbergasted at my interaction with Mike, I felt the same way trying to follow her in conversation. She didn’t make it easy as she led me back the way I came.

“Come on, come on. You’re going to want to see this, Tavi. Can I call you Tavi? Is it short for anything? Like, would you prefer I call you by your full name?”

“Tavi is my full name,” I told her.

She hurried me up the staircase and along a small hallway off the main entryway. The space opened up into a grand ballroom with oil portraits hung on three of the walls. The fourth wall was cut through with floor to ceiling sliding glass doors leading out onto a pretty garden patio. Beyond the patio was extensive greenspace perfect for games and lounging in the summer.

“Look.” Melia gestured dramatically to an oil painting dominating the wall to my left, hung centered over a marble fireplace. “Now you’ll see why I’m acting a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”

I stepped closer, rubbing my eyes to clear them. The painting showed a handsome gray-haired gentleman in regal navy-and-red clothes with his arm around the shoulder of a smiling woman sitting on a velvet chair before him. To the woman’s right, a young man stood, one hand curved around the lapel of his suit jacket. A man who looked suspiciously like Mike.

I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Why are you showing me this? Who are these people?”

Melia laughed, the sound rich and honeyed. “Oh Tavi, you are sweet. You don’t know a thing about Faerie, do you? That’s King Tywin and Queen Laina with their son Michael. Michael Thornwood, the crownprince of Faerie.”