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Summer

C onnor’s cheeks go bright red, and I pull my hand from his pants. “Headmaster, you’re early!” Connor says, sitting up hastily. Connor offers me his hand, and when I take it, he tugs me up next to him.

The headmaster throws him a disapproving, bored look, and then his silver eyes slide to me. “Miss Tuatha De Daanan, you should be ready.”

Holding his gaze, I refuse to back down. “I would have been ready.” I glance at the clock on the mantle, noting that I still have twenty minutes before he was supposed to arrive. “Had you arrived at the agreed-upon time.” I kiss Connor softly and whisper against his lips, “Sorry, big guy. Later.”

Connor nips my lower lip in a promise for more when I get home and then stands to help me up. I limp upstairs to get dressed. I’m secretly happy that I have to opt for my cute white sneakers today, thanks to my ankle. When I come back downstairs, the air is still heavy with tension. Connor is now leaning against the kitchen door, sipping a coffee while the headmaster still stands in the same position, his hands in his pockets. I walk toward him, trying to ignore the pain in my ankle, but sharp bolts shoot up my leg with every step.

“What happened?” he asks, looking pointedly at my bandaged ankle.

“Fell off a treadmill,” I say curtly.

The headmaster gives me an exasperated look before dropping to a knee in front of me. He starts to unwrap the bandage. “Sir, it’s just a torn tendon.”

He ignores me and slices his thumb before drawing an extremely intricate rune on my leg. It glows faintly, and the pain all but disappears. I frown down at the now translucent rune shimmering against my skin.

“Why don’t I know that rune?” I whisper mostly to myself. Watching him with curiosity, I tilt my head. I’ve researched healing runes for countless hours, but even from my vast reading and natural penchant for runes, I can’t place this one. I can’t even really translate it.

“There are many things you do not know, Miss Tuatha De Daanan,” the headmaster says as he pushes to his feet. I bristle again but unwrap the rest of the bandage, annoyed but glad for the relief from the pain.

When I look back at the headmaster, he has glamoured his face, and it’s Connor who looks back at me.

“This is my cue to leave. This is too weird,” the real Connor says at my back. I turn and kiss him goodbye before the headmaster and I leave.

“Foolish to hurt yourself,” the headmaster grumbles, his own voice leaving Connor’s lips.

“It wasn’t on purpose,” I snap back.

He gives me a dry look, and the expression looks foreign on Connor’s face. “So you fell by accident? You? A fae? Known for their dexterity?”

I growl and move away from him, but he yanks me back. “Play your role,” he grumbles under his breath.

“Play yours and pretend to actually like me,” I snarl softly.

“You are in mourning, and I am your supportive and doting boyfriend.”

“Fiancé,” I correct as we stop at the coffee cart.

This time, having learned from his mistakes, he orders the usual for me and then a black coffee for himself. The barista looks a little confused, and the headmaster puts a soft smile on Connor’s face. “Cutting down on sugar,” he says in Connor’s voice, and the barista nods, making the order.

Nice cover, dick. He walks me to my class, playing the role of a doting partner, but the lie between us is so apparent to me that I can’t figure out how no one else can see it.

Outside my class, he stops and pulls me against him. “You sure you want to go, babe? It’s only been two days.”

I nod. “It’s a good distraction.”

“Okay,” he says tenderly, cupping my cheek.

I place my hands on his chest and look up at him, leaning into my sadness and pretending I’m gazing at the male I love.

“You’ll text me?” he asks, playing the role somewhat perfectly. First time for everything, I guess.

I nod, and he pulls me closer. I swallow my surprise at the way his body feels against me. It is Connor’s body, but the touch feels oddly… electric.

He leans closer, a breath away from me. His voice is still Connor’s, even as the words and tone are those of the icy headmaster. “Stay out of trouble.”

I exhale shakily. “Will do, big guy.” He steps around me, tucking his hands into his pockets and walking toward Connor’s first class. I take a breath and then go into my morning class, sitting in my usual seat. Today is slightly better, though I’m unsure how I feel about the headmaster’s acting skills. Good or bad, both come with their own set of disadvantages.

While I’m still having to endure people’s stares, the whispers have slowed. It’s annoying to think that within twenty-four hours, their concern for my dead best friend has already waned. On the plus side, I feel more stable today and as if I can concentrate more on finding the killer.

As I walk to lunch, I spot Aqua from the corner of my eye. She is writing frantically on a piece of paper. A rune glows brightly on her neck, but I can’t decipher it from this distance.

She lifts her head as if feeling my gaze, and I shift deeper into the crowd, dodging her sight. I walk to our table, where Luke and Zane are sitting with the headmaster as Connor. Sliding my hand onto his shoulder, I wait for him to glance at me before sitting on his lap. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable in my life, but I need to talk to him without anyone overhearing.

“How was class, babe?” he asks.

I bury my face against his neck, my shoulders shaking as if I’m crying. “What do you know of Aqua Tuatha De Daanan?”

“The third year?” he asks, dropping his voice to a dark rumble that penetrates my core.

I nod, keeping my face in his neck.

“Little. Average student. Cloistered with the fae,” he answers.

I move my lips to his ear, whispering, “She’s always around when I’m hurt.”

The headmaster tightens his arms around me as if comforting me. “She brought you to my office after the wild mist.”

I nod against his neck again. “And she was there this morning when I was walking home from the gym.”

He thinks for a moment. “You think she’s involved?”

I shrug.

“I think I uncovered something, too. We should meet in my office.”

Without another word, I slip from his lap. I can feel Luke and Zane watching as I slide my hand into his and lead him from the cafeteria. The headmaster summons a portal once we are out of sight behind the building, and we step through it into his office. At first, the room is exactly as it always looks, but then he waves his hand. The messages appear on the wall alongside several student profiles, with pieces of string connecting them.

“I’m not convinced this is regarding the rebellion,” the headmaster says, touching the line, From the mountains to the sky, I’ll make their blood run down her face . “We’ve been saying the killer is toying with us, and here it is again.” He points to the first part. “From the mountains, meaning Dr?culea. The killer told us Alice was next.” He points to the second part. “To the sky.”

My heart stops, and my stomach twists in fear. “Connor…” I whisper.

The headmaster nods, looking at the wall. “They’re playing with us, giving us clues. He is next.”

I place my hand on my chest, unable to breathe. My heart, which felt like it had stopped beating, is now thundering hard in my chest. The headmaster steps in front of me, shielding me from the words. The only thing I can see is his molten silver eyes. “I will not let that happen, Miss Tuatha De Daanan.”

I look down, tears welling in my eyes. “I should just let them have me. Then everyone would be safe.”

“That is not the answer, and you know it.” The headmaster’s fists clench. “Killers don’t just stop. Once they have a taste, it never ends,” he says, his face thunderous. “This is a game to them. If it weren’t you, it would be someone else.” His lips curl slightly. “It is good that I am wearing his face.”

He turns and walks to one of the many bookshelves. Choosing a handful of books, he dumps them on his desk and starts flicking through them. He slices his finger and begins drawing runes on his arms, the blood turning inky black as they take shape. I watch him, frozen with an odd mix of fear and fascination.

“The more I am seen as Mister Morningstar, the more likely they take me instead.”

“But, sir, I-I don’t want you to be hurt either.” It’s true. Enough people have been harmed at my expense. It needs to end now.

“Those runes?—”

“Time-stopping runes,” he answers before the question is even complete. “Time is difficult to halt even for a breath. You don’t hold just the place frozen but all the realms. There is only…” He pauses, thinking about his words. “It is not something that should ever be taken lightly.” He looks up at me. “Dangerous things should be approached with caution. A deadly viper can look as docile as a piece of driftwood until it’s too late.”

“But so much fun to play with when tamed,” I blurt out. Where had that come from? It’s like the words have surged from my darkness into the light, tainting it as it goes.

His eyes flash to that swirling silver. “Some things only appear tamed.” He glances away as the sound of students moving past his door seeps into his office. “We should go.”