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Debatable about the fool part. “Knew?”
“Yeah. She died too.”
It doesn’t escape me that the important women in the prince’s life are dead. Coincidence? Doubtful. Either way, the new information only makes me surer than ever of one thing: I cannot let myself become his shadow.
25
After the Winter Prince embarrassed Rhaegar by pointing out my fatigue, he pays a lot more attention to me. He stashes his books in his locker so I don’t have to carry them, and he’s more attentive to my human needs. Things like having to pee, consuming the occasional nourishment, and staying hydrated.
There was even a beautiful, fur-lined baby-blue coat delivered to our dorm room a few nights ago. Bags of dried rowan berries are sewn into the hem, and steel-blue leather gloves with creamy opal fur trim were stashed in the pockets.
Considering their color, the items are probably from the Winter Prince and not Rhaegar, but my ego won’t get in the way of staying warm and unfrozen.
Basic human rights for the win. I’m feeling very spoiled.
Which is all a good thing since the weather has only seemed to worsen, my bladder is the size of a walnut, and my muscles feel like goo after my morning sessions with Eclipsa. Along with running laps until I collapse, we’ve moved on from strict weight lifting to fifteen minutes of martial arts.
Turns out, that’s just as strenuous on your body, and I finish every session close to puking.
Rhaegar also has other Seelie—usually Magus or Basil—meet me in the hallway when he can’t be there. I’m assuming the videos of Inara glamouring me and her shadow kicking my ass have already made the rounds, which explains why he’s taking extra precautions.
And why the other students snicker and stare when I pass. But after a few weeks of ignoring them and avoiding the spotlight, things start to die down. After classes, Mack and I mostly stay in our dorm to study. Sometimes Evelyn joins us, although she’s not one for “books and stuff.”
Boring, but it helps people forget I punched another student, called the Winter Prince a bitch, caught the attention of the most terrifying mean girl in school, and then got my butt kicked by her shadow.
I’ve also managed to stay out of the prince’s head, and that strange episode begins to feel like a bad dream. My bruises have even healed, the only reminder of that humiliating episode a tiny scar intersecting my blonde eyebrow.
Things are definitely looking up.
I’m lying on my bed, deep into a book on Elemental Magic and Its Many Uses, when Mack breezes into our dorm, followed by Evelyn. They’re both grinning like maniacs. I was so entrenched in reading that I didn’t even know Mack left.
“Find anything?” Mack asks, her gaze sliding to the book.
I shake my head. “There’s almost nothing on the Nocturus in this book or any of the history books.”
“Maybe try one of the old tomes in the library tomorrow? I think they’re open on the weekends.” She shrugs. “The Fae are methodical historians. There has to be something somewhere that can help you.”
Evelyn plops on the bed beside me. Bright swirls of green and gold paint decorate her cheeks—they must be doing face painting outside. The entire campus has exploded in excitement over the Samhain celebration tomorrow.
I, on the other hand, feel sick just thinking about it. Samhain means the day my fate is juggled by two bloodthirsty maniacs.
“What time do they fight tomorrow?” Evelyn asks, toying with a silky strand of her fiery red hair.
I sink my teeth into my lower lip. “I don’t know . . . maybe midnight? We’re not allowed to attend.”
I glare at the flyer I set on the desk stating all mortals have to be in by dusk for Samhain. It goes on to explain the Fae students’ magic will be heightened, along with their base desires. The words NOT SAFE are printed everywhere in bold, capital letters.
“I know of a fourth year boy who died during Samhain,” Evelyn says darkly. “They found him eviscerated.”
“Lovely.” I shut my book and stretch, wondering why Evelyn always has the macabre stories. My movement makes Ruby stir on my pillow. Her wings flutter, and she moans, flipping onto her side.
I found her earlier surrounded by empty Charm wrappers, white sticks, and puke.
She ate them all. The gum that didn’t make it to her stomach found its way into her lovely magenta locks.
Mack wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “My parents said Samhain is really just a giant orgy.”
“Oh, good. Another reason I’m not leaving this dorm until Monday,” I mutter.
