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Creepy, but rad.
As soon as night falls, a fourth year comes in dragging an old television on a cart and places the TV in the front of the room. The movie has just barely started when another fourth year comes in and says someone wants to talk with me outside.
The fact they can’t come inside means they’re Fae. The way the fourth year looks close to crapping his pants means they’re important. And by his armband, the fourth year is an Unseelie shadow, meaning the Fae is probably Unseelie as well.
The prince. My heart wobbles in my chest.
Everyone’s attention is on me as I stretch out my legs on the bed and shake my head. “Tell him I’m busy.”
The fourth year, a tall boy with thin lips, big ears, and sandy blond hair, tugs at his shirt. “He said you’d say that, and to tell you that you owe him.”
“Well tell him I don’t want to distract him from his battle tonight.”
Beads of sweat trickle down his temples, his eyes tight with fear. I almost feel sorry for the boy, but not enough to give in.
“He said you’d say that too, and to tell you if you want the book, you’ll meet him.”
My breath hitches. The book? As in the book I nearly died for?
Finally convinced, I ignore the stares of literally everyone as I throw my coat over my pajamas. I insist Mack and Ruby go too, and the fourth year nods, looking so relieved that he’d probably agree to anything at this point.
Technically, I don’t need Ruby or Mack to face the prince. But I’ve learned the hard way that Ruby can’t be left alone. I’d likely come back to her having started a brawl with the Unseelie sprites or stolen something.
And Mack . . . Mack is coming because a part of me no longer trusts myself around the prince.
Not when he saved me. Not when the parts of my skin where he touched still tingles. When my cheek still remembers the sensation of his flesh, cold and hard, as I rested my head against his chest.
There was so much pain and relief flooding my body that I hadn’t thought about it then, but ever since, that’s all I can think about.
Him. How I want to hate him—how I should hate him—but I can’t.
Not after last night.
Not after discovering how being in his arms felt like the rightest thing in the world.
Somewhere deep down I know that my hatred is the only wall of defense I have against the magnetic pull he exudes. Once that defense is gone, I’ll be powerless.
And that scares me.
29
Outside, two shadow guardians stand by the heavy metal doors. Weapons drip from their black and red uniforms, the sight reminding me of the dangers outside these doors. At first they try to stop us, but the fourth year whispers into their ears and they let us pass.
The bonfire must be twice the size of last night because it lights up the entire campus, an angry sun surrounded by dark shapes. A primal energy swells the frigid, smoky air, and strange, animalistic noises carry with the wind, sending Ruby diving into the breast pocket of my coat. llow, my mouth suddenly dry. Currently, our laws allow the Fae visas for temporary living status. But if they became permanent residences . . . I can’t even imagine such a thing.
She arches a severe eyebrow. “I take it you’re not a supporter of integration, then?”
“You have a home,” I point out, trying and failing to keep the anger from my voice. “Why come to ours?”
The furrows along her forehead deepen. “Because our lands are infested with darklings while our enemies, like the orc and the troll, grow stronger every day. Even with the human soldiers, the scourge continues to eat away at our homes, our territories. The court borders grow smaller, meaning more wars between themselves as they fight for land. Unless something changes, it is unsustainable.”
Mr. Willis steps forward. His mouth is stern, but there’s a kindness in his voice as he speaks. “The creature that nearly killed you was a Cave Orc from the scourge lands outside the wards. They’re powerful but incredibly stupid. You were lucky. Had it been a darkling . . . ”
“Pfft, nearly killed us?” Ruby shouts, darting from wherever spot she’s been hiding. “You have that backwards, Mustache.”
I cut my eyes to Ruby before meeting Mr. Willis’s amused gaze.
“I thought the wards were strong enough to keep everything out,” I say.
