Page 24 of Bone Year

“Those are fae lights,” Lux says, nudging my shoulder.

I glance up again, watching the floating glow sway gently overhead as we weave deeper into the crowd. Purple must be intentional to celebrate bone year students’ arrival.

I spot a long wooden table buried beneath trays of bread, sliced meat, fruit, and hunks of cheese and remember with a wince that I slept straight through dinner. I snag a couple pieces of cheese as we pass, barely slowing, and shove them into my mouth, chewing fast while trying not to look feral.

A brunette man on my left laughs. “Rough first day?”

“You have no idea,” I mumble around a mouthful.

“Want to tell me about it?”

I turn toward him. He has dark-golden eyes and a stubbled jaw, the kind of face that looks better the longer you stare at it. There’s something about him that pulls at my attention, though I can’t quite place why.

“If I start listing everything, are you offering sympathy…or a distraction?”

One corner of his mouth lifts, his gaze flicking briefly to my lips before meeting mine again. “Definitely a distraction,” he says. “Sympathy costs extra.”

I laugh through my nose. “Bold strategy, considering you don’t even know my name.”

His eyes drift over my face then drops lower as he checks me out. “Mystery keeps things interesting.”

I roll my eyes, but Lux has disappeared into the crowd, and I decide to play along.

“What are you drinking?” I ask, nodding toward his glass.

He runs his tongue over his bottom lip before smirking. “Oh, you don’t want this, Red. But I think I can find something you’ll like.”

This guy must think he’s real cute, already handing out pet names.

I let him lead me toward the drink cart anyway. He grabs one of the premixed bottles, pours into a narrow glass, and passes it to me. The liquid looks clear, though it’s hard to tell under the purple glow drifting through the cavern.

He steers me toward one of the tall standing tables tucked into a back corner where the noise dulls.

I lift the glass, take a sip, and immediately regret my life choices. I cough, bringing the glass away from my mouth. Whatever it is burns straight down.

He grins like he was waiting for that.

“Strong,” I manage, setting the glass on the table between us.

“Builds character,” he says, taking an easy swallow of his own.

I squint at him. “So…what year are you?”

“Blood.”

Of course he is.

“You have any advice for surviving my bone year?” I ask mostly out of obligation, my attention drifting across the room. It catches on the man from the courtyard earlier, the one with the massive black wolf. He’s posted in a shadowed corner, shoulder to the wall, drink loose in his hand. Those honey-gold eyes don’t blink as they lock onto mine.

I hold the stare a second too long.

“Oh, Red,” the guy beside me says, leaning in, “I’ll give you all the tips you want…from my room tonight.” His mouth curves as his hand drops lower, gripping his crotch. “Got a pretty good one waiting for you here.”

Disgusting. Any interest I might’ve had dies instantly.

“I’ll pass,” I say, stepping away from the table.

He catches my waist, fingers digging in enough to make it clear he’s not giving up. “Don’t be rude. We were having a conversation.”