13

I blinked and it was time for school to start… And I was speaking at the all-school assembly.

And not just ours.

The colleges all had the same schedule and important dates since they were all supposed to be interchangeable. The high schools had something else, but it was arranged so they all had the same date and time for an all-school assembly just so I could speak to everyone. Live.

Fun.

"Now we will hear about the changes this school year from Princess Tamsin Vale, leader of the fairies," Headmaster Edelman introduced.

I let out a slow breath and walked out onto the stage, knowing I looked fierce and was ready. I was wearing a traditional fairy gown made of fae material.

It wasn't normally black though. Fairies wore color.

I wanted it deadly. Plus, my hair was enough color most days.

I had it down and wild, my curls running all over with nothing besides the tiara to hold some of them back. The dress was a halter without any back, so my wings were able to come out and I had full access to my magic if I needed. The front was super short, but I had layers that went to the floor and gave me a train.

It looked awesome though and showed off my toned and athletic legs when I walked. From the front on, people could tell the layers parted and the skirt under was short, but it wasn't obvious or over the top unless I was walking.

It made a statement for sure.

I thanked the headmaster and stopped at the microphone, wishing there was a podium for me to hold onto or fidget with.

Balls.

"For those of you who don't know me, my name is Tamsin Vale, and I am the future queen of Faerie and her people. Given there will be a change this year to the supe schools of this world and fairies will be in attendance at the college and high school levels, I insisted on addressing every student who will be learning with my people.

"I am a fair leader, and I believe people need to be told about and understand the consequences of their actions. I wanted everyone to hear it from my mouth and for nothing to get lost in the message as it was passed on." I looked around the auditorium and at the cameras for the broadcast plus the ones recording it. "I am not in charge of other species or how they handle issues.

"I won't get into details or speak on how things have been handled before. All of that doesn't matter to me. What matters is the future and people believe me when I say that if any student harms any of my people, I will make them regret it and pay for their sins. No teacher, parent, headmaster, Alpha, or council member will stop me. The gods themselves won't stop me."

I gave people a few moments with that and they seemed to need it.

Really? They hadn't seen this coming after it was announced fairies would be attending supe schools because our infrastructure wasn't ready to have our schools open yet?

Idiots.

"I made a pledge that there will be no more wars in Faerie while I am their leader," I continued. "Some people misunderstood that and have made assumptions instead of hearing my words. I would like to correct that mistake and hope people listen better." I looked around at all the frowns and smiled. "I said no more wars in Faerie. I never said fairies wouldn't go to war."

It was hard not to snort when people gasped or made shocked comments.

"Many have asked why only now am I allowing fairies to attend the schools at the high school and college level. Let me be clear the reason. It's because I'm of age to take over as queen. I have two of the three requirements and if need be, I can easily test out of my last year of college and finish the third one. I will if I have to and protect my people.

"And yes, I'm serious. I am always serious in my promises and threats. Do. Not. Push. Me." I paused and ignored that the commanders looked ready to faint. "When people thought I was an unknown, the way people treated me was disgusting, and too many people excused it or thought it no big deal. What has been forgiven or brushed off since people know is just as bad.

"This is your one warning that I will not allow the same to happen to any fairy. Not while I breathe. I'd say, ‘F around and find out,' but I want you to hear me that you shouldn't. Don't test me. You won't like your answer." Again, I gave people a moment. "There will be a squad of Faerie Guardians on every campus at all times.

"If there is any issue with one of my people, they will immediately be brought directly to me and I will hear with my telepathy exactly what happened. So don't think one slap on the butt will be missed or people are too busy to catch some bullying. I'm never too busy for my people or to punish crimes. Not ever."

Edelman opened his mouth like he was going to try and thank me for speaking or get me off the stage. I wasn't done yet though.

"And on the other side of this, I want every fairy to hear me that if you misbehave, you really won't like the punishment. I let nothing slide. If I find you harass or bully a student, you will be banned from leaving Faerie. You and your whole family for embarrassing us.

"You will be punished and removed from the privilege I am allowing for your studies to continue when we have so much happening. Instead, you will have a work detail as I have punished others. I understand that you have been through a lot—all of Faerie has—but that doesn't forgive bad behavior. I have been through more than most, but I've never bullied anyone.

"If there is a situation or something wrong, you tell the Guardians. You report it to your parents and we will handle it. That is our job. Your job is to learn and study hard. We have fairy teachers at every school now and will be working with the curriculums and course loads to challenge you. Study hard and make your people proud—make yourself proud."

"Why state that you will test out of the last year of your schooling? What does that have to do with this threat?" a woman asked from somewhere in the audience, disdain for me dripping off of her words.

I chuckled darkly and glanced around, unable to lock on her. "Because I have to be queen to declare war. That's in our laws. So, if anyone hurts a fairy and someone tries to interfere with my punishing them, I will bump up the timeline of my coronation so I can declare war if need be. It's also not a threat. It's a promise."

I thanked the headmasters for giving me the chance to speak and wished the students luck in the coming year. I walked off the stage and let Edelman finish as all the headmasters were as well.

Then it was time for the horrible part… The luncheons. Neldor, Lageos, the commanders, and I were attending luncheons at every school. Some even moved theirs back to later hoping they'd get one of the royalty to attend since they heard we were hopping around.

It worked because I spent hours and hours nodding politely and being introduced to too many people. I stayed about twenty minutes at each one before I was escorted by guards to another.

And I never even got to fucking eat.

When it was over, I took off my heels and plopped on the stool in my kitchen, ready for the food I was promised. I swallowed a yelp when Lucca picked me up and sat me on his lap at the table. Darby lifted my foot and started rubbing it.

"Do you have any idea how many people told me you were too much woman for any sane man to handle?" Neldor bitched as he came through the door loaded with bags of food, his security each carrying just as many.

"I mean, they're not wrong," I chuckled darkly, smirking at him after he set everything down. "You are kinda nuts, Nel."

"You are…" He simply sighed, and Lageos chuckled as he opened bags.

"Lovely. I was craving the Italian beef from that place. Al's?" Lageos muttered as he brought them out.

"Glad our cravings can line up," I teased, thanking Neldor for getting them. I moaned as Darby worked the right spot of my foot. "Why does it hurt so much more to stand still instead of moving around?"

"I think I read it's a blood flow thing," Lucca muttered. "I'm not sure if that's in heels, but our bodies are built to move or relax. You're not doing either really when just standing in the same spot."

Fair enough.

"People are not happy with the speech you made, Your Highness," Stefanie told me as she grabbed a sandwich.

I snorted, thanking my dad when he gave me one. Darby started rubbing my other foot and I didn't want to move at the moment. "Which people?" I smirked at her. "Oh, come on, our people aren't pissed at me."

"No, they love you even more," she admitted.

"Well, that wasn't the goal, but I'll take the happy accident," I said easily with a shrug.

And I would. I liked good outcomes.

Who didn't?

We relaxed the rest of the day, and I had a night with Darby alone since he was going back to Yale the next day.

"We're going to be fine, agra," he whispered when he saw I was awake, staring at me with a bit of fear in his eyes.

"Yeah, I think we will be." I was glad I said it when relief filled his gaze, but I did believe it. Things had turned a corner for us over the summer and I felt like we could get back to being us—being better together than we had been.

Until we arrived at Yale and I felt like my world might crumble.

I had a weird vibe like something was off. I felt too much… Amusement? Like a predator was close and knew they would get their prey.

It was… Weird. That was all I could lock on. Something wasn't right.

I turned and locked gazes with the woman I'd hoped to never meet.

The woman who took everything from me.

There stood the vampire from my visions who mated Darby and I shattered, letting Faerie consume me.

I stopped walking, which Darby didn't catch at first, jerking back and almost tripping since we were holding hands. He looked up from his book list and did a double take at whatever he saw on my face.

"Agra, what's wrong?" he worried, making me realize that he'd already said something. When I couldn't make my mouth work, he followed my gaze and frowned.

"So you do know her," I breathed, my heart aching.

"No, but I feel like I've seen her before," he muttered. "Who is she?" He moved in front of me to block my view of her. "Tams, who is she?"

"Oh, don't play coy, Darby," the woman purred as she was suddenly right by us.

No, not suddenly. She'd been moving while I was freaking out inside.

I flipped on my telepathy—or my magic did—and thankfully I caught Darby's confusion. He turned so we could both face the elegant beauty, but he was frowning.

"The lunches we had last semester were—" she started to say but recognition filled his eyes and he cut her off.

"One. You sat with a group I was eating with because of a project once," he corrected.

"I have had lunch in the—"

"Maybe, but not with me, so do not misrepresent yourself to my fiancée," he snapped. "We felt another vampire a few times but ignored it."

"But you did have lunch with her?" I checked, my heart beating too fast.

He focused on me. "Yes, she was friends with one of the women in my group. She joined us." He did a double take. "Tams, I don't even know her name."

The woman scoffed. "Of course, you do—"

"No, I don't," he argued, turning me to look at him. "I don't. Who is she?"

I finally looked away from her piercing eyes and focused on him. "I've seen her before too. With you."

He was confused but slowly horror filled his gaze as he put the pieces together. I practically watched his brain short-circuit as he understood what I was talking about.

And then he moved us away from the woman. "Don't ever speak to either of us again," he warned her before hurrying us along.

"Well, since I'm a student here now, I'm sure we'll see each other lots, Darby," she purred.

I felt his panic and heard his thoughts that he wanted to put her in the ground before I ever worried he would cheat on me. My sanity returned hearing that and knowing he was scared of this development. Not because he'd done anything wrong but because of the crazy.

Crazy because they were targeting me.

I pulled away from him and spun around to face her, no longer on the defense. I walked right up to her and moved into her space, smirking when she flinched and looked like prey instead of trying to fake being a predator.

"You're pathetic," I chuckled darkly. "You thought you'd come here a few times and bat your eyelashes at him and he'd fall at your feet just like all the other men you've wanted. But he didn't. He didn't even give you a second look and months later couldn't even recognize you."

Thick rage filled her eyes. "You have no—"

"I'm a telepath, sweetheart," I purred, leaning in like I was going to whisper in her ear, but she jumped away from me. "I'm getting it all from your own fucking mind. Your tiny, tiny brain is telling me everything."

"She's jealous," Darby muttered as he moved up behind me.

"Yes," I confirmed for our security. "She wants to be me. She wants to be a pretty, pretty princess and the one people focus on always. She wants the vampire talked about most and to be a queen one day." The smile I gave her was mocking. "Too bad vamps aren't a monarchy, sweetheart. Too bad he doesn't want you."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Only because of your magic and obsession with—"

I snorted, eyeing her over like she was shit. "Yeah, you know all about obsession, don't you? You kept trying to show up to where I was seen this summer to catch him and me to get on our radar. How long did it take your tiny brain to figure out it wasn't really us and just for show?" I threw back my head and laughed when she froze.

She hadn't figured it out. She'd had no clue until I just said it.

"Oh, sweetheart, you're so out of your fucking league it's depressing." I gave her another once-over. "Good luck. Really, you're going to fucking need it."

I gave another laugh and took Darby's hand before leading him off. I was squeezing it too tight and my heart raced in my throat until we reached the bookstore.

"Please, please don't let her derail us," he begged me as he hugged me from behind.

I let out a slow breath and nodded. "You will tell me every time you see her or interact with her. You will report it to the school if she goes—"

"I will, agra. I swear I will. I get this is an attack on us. I won't—I hid things because you were overwhelmed. We're the team and you don't hide things from the team."

No, you didn't. I let him turn me around and kiss me. "Her father is feeding her crazy. He's told her that she would be queen of their social circles if she steals you from me. It would be a hit I couldn't come back from and weaken fairies so vamps will be top dog with her as their queen."

He searched my eyes and nodded. "And I bet he was one of the vamps who came to talk to me, right? I didn't bite and this is their next ploy?"

Relief flooded me that he immediately understood the game and how dangerous it could be. "Yes."

"I got it, but I need you to hear me on one thing." He waited until I nodded. "Tams, she's not someone I would go for even if you weren't in the picture." He nodded when I simply stared at him. "She's a vapid tool of a woman, talking bags and luxury brands to broke law students. That was the group. I only remembered her at all because I thought it was a weird match."

I read between the lines. "Do you know the person that's her friend?"

"Yes, and I think someone needs to make sure her mind wasn't messed with."

"I will handle it quietly," Rafe promised. "We need you not close to this situation so it doesn't seem like a lovers' quarrel or give air to the rumors she will undoubtedly start that she's stealing Darby."

"Please trust us to handle it," Wyn agreed.

"I'm on the right team," Darby swore to me.

I nodded, blinking back tears. "Don't give me reason to doubt you anymore. Please?"

"I swear I won't, agra," he whispered before kissing my forehead. "Can you stay tonight? Or let's sneak out and go have dinner."

"I'd like that." I'd have to change around my schedule but yeah, I wanted that with him.

I needed it after this hiccup.

We went inside the bookstore so they could get what they needed and I texted Julian to cancel plans. He was understanding but disappointed. We were going to have a quiet night as well with just the two of us. I told him what happened and he asked the woman's name to dig into her. He had connections and could get some answers through back channels.

It was smart if the vampires were going to try and make another move. I told Rafe and found the fairy had already gotten her name. Alicia. He didn't have a last name yet, but he'd gotten her picture so he could run it through Yale's systems and find her.

Good. We could burn her then.

I'd feel bad if she was just being used by her family or vampires, but she was fucking giddy at the idea of taking me down a peg and taking my place.

Fuck her hard.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt that way about the situation though. After they bought the books they needed, my security picked up a ton of fried chicken and we had a nice calm picnic in their apartment. Everyone simply ate and let the situation settle.

Except whoever they reported in to.

Wyn burst out laughing and I realized he was listening to his earbuds and watching something on his phone. He noticed we were all watching him and hurried to take out his earbuds and went over to the TV. He shared the video there and loaded it.

My eyes went bug wide as I watched Stefanie interrupt her scheduled interview on supe news giving updates. She couldn't contain her annoyance and elegantly went off about the vampires starting more problems with fairies instead of working towards peace and prosperity like the shifters, witches, and warlocks.

Of course, the newscaster asked what she was talking about and she narced on the situation.

She narced hard and said that apparently there would always be some female vampire who was obsessed with me. That if Blake Ward wasn't enough of a warning for vampires to leave me alone and not try to take my place in the world, she was worried about their species.

The newscaster pressed and Stefanie gave specifics that a woman used a human student at Yale to try and get close to Darby and now she'd been accepted to their law school when that didn't work. That we had the confirmation that she'd used powers on the human to force a friendship.

Rafe nodded when I glanced at him. Apparently, someone had jumped right on the problem and they already had spoken with the human.

Darby gave me a look and I turned on my telepathy.

"I thought nothing would upset me more than you having a vision that I mated someone else but that she's a fucking nutfuck—I'm freaking out here, Tams. You know I didn't—I don't want—"

"I know,"I promised him. I scooted closer and let him hug me to him while we ate like I was his comfort pillow.

Or he was mine because I needed it too.

It was also comforting the way Stefanie went to the mat about this and people weren't brushing off how I was treated or the crazy around me. It helped.

But not enough to make me feel like this wasn't a storm I would have to brace for. Nothing in my life ever went that well.