“Then we have a deal, witch.” Farris produced a scroll and a pen. One quick signature and we were done.
I’d made a deal with a fae, and from the sinking feeling in my gut, I had a strong suspicion I’d regret it sooner rather than later.
“Classes begin again in three days, so you must be back before then!”
Glynda wrung her hands nervously as the guys made plans to leave with Farris. The asshole fae was lounging on Maverick’s small sofa while watching a video on his phone.
“If you’re not back, the headmaster will start asking questions. I read earlier that Tiberius Vane is pushing for curfews since demon and feral shifter attacks have increased.”
“Have they, though? Or have people just become more aware of them?”
Glynda frowned. “Huh. You make a good point.”
“I’m not sure that a curfew will make much of a difference. Being inside won’t stop a demon from attacking.” The ones that showed up at the solstice ball could easily have busted down doors and broken windows.
“True. Plus, such measures disproportionately impact the lesser magicals, who are more likely to work in lower-paid jobs at night.”
I wondered how much Alaric knew about his father’s plans. From what little he’d said, he didn’t appear to share his father’s elitist views. But since he’d disappeared earlier, I couldn’t quiz him on the subject.
After some more dire warnings about what might happen if I missed my first classes, Glynda left. She ignored Farris as she passed through the living room, and he pretended to ignore her, but I wasn’t buying his nonchalance.
The fae might act like he thought my witchy friend was beneath him, but the way he watched her suggested something about her interested him.
I hoped for her sake his interest waned because the fae was an asshole who didn’t deserve a sweet witch like Glynda, and if he made a move on her, I’d blast him into the demon realm.
“Time to go, pet!” Zane called. He spotted me at the top of the stairs and dashed up. “You ready for your trip to the mer kingdom?”
“No?” Drowning wasn’t fun. I’d tried it already. “What if we’re too late?” My lip wobbled as a wave of emotion hit me hard. The tether was still intact, but every second wasted could mean the end for Kai.
“Don’t be sad, pet. Fish boy is fine.” Tears leaked down my cheeks and I quickly brushed them away.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. If the bond had broken, I’d have felt it snap. We all would. As your mates, we’re linked to each other as well as you, just not in the same way.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. So when you get your freak on with one of them, we all feel it.” He smirked. “Speaking of… I need to be there the next time you get naked with the bloodsucker.”
“Don’t call him that; it’s offensive.” I glared at him. Silly nicknames were amusing when aimed at Alaric, but calling Rasmus a bloodsucker wasn’t nice.
“Fiiine. How about fangs?” I rolled my eyes. “Dracula?”
Ignoring him, I pulled my coat on. Something told me it would be cold at the bottom of the ocean, and given we weren’t exactly on the mer queen’s VIP guest list, I doubted she’d care if we all froze to death in her home.
Zane blinked me downstairs to where the others were waiting. Adam had left after making me promise I’d call him the minute I got back. I looked around for Kenji, but he was missing.
“Where are you?”
“Here.”He blinked into view with a mouth full of ham.“Needed to eat before we left. Fish gives me IBS.”
“Seriously? You eat literally everything.”
“Apart from fish, which, as a caring witch mommy, you should have spotted.”Goddess, he was such a drama queen.“I fear for your future offspring.”
We walked through the forest until we’d crossed the academy’s wards.
“Hold on to each other,” Farris instructed. “I’d hate to lose anyone in the portal.”
