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Why did it sound like she’d never considered this before?

“Of course not.” This was it! Our fingers had stopped shaking now—I’d finally found something that resonated with her. “Men are awful most of the time anyway. Instead of wasting your time and energy, let them come to you while you go out there and live your best life.”

“But…” She still seemed doubtful. “What should I do all day?”

“Whatever you want! After your schoolwork, of course.” Lord knew I had plans. I still had to learn to ride in a sidecar, and maybe drive a motorcycle, and skydiving was beginning to sound appealing—

Wait, maybe not skydiving. That seemed oddly foreboding.

“The important thing is never to let anyone, including me, tell you what to do. But—” And now here comes the kicker. “—if you love Miles, you’ll let him go. Everyone will, for your own sake and his. You’re in college. It’s the time to work onyouand have fun, and to let Miles focus on himself so he can make the world a better place.”

“I love you.” Hailey’s face was completely red now, and as soon as she spoke, she pulled her hands back and covered her cheeks, dropping the shirt to the floor. “I mean—” She shook her head. “—you’re totally right. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. It’s so obvious.”

“Soobvious!” Her friend, who’d been next to us the whole time, was also staring at me with abject fascination.

As was the rest of the room.

A pressure slammed against my chest as realization struck me, and I backed away from the girls, swaying slightly. I felt sick as the true horror of what just happened raced in circles in my head.

What the hell was that? My mind screamed, but in my heart, I knew.

I’d just given a completely cheesy speech in front of almost a million witnesses.

All without fainting.

I bumped against something warm and solid, and a rough hand closed down over my shoulder. I twisted my upper body, glancing up.

Miles.

“Time to go,” he said, taking one look at my face. His shy nature had disappeared. He was all stoic seriousness and concern as his fingers wrapped around my left elbow. “And stop laughing,” he hissed at Anthony.

The necromancer was, indeed, failing terribly in concealing his amusement. His shoulders were hunched forward, and though he’d held his hand over his mouth, he couldn’t hide the smile.

“Relax.” Anthony looked up, wiping the corner of his eye with a crooked finger. “It worked; they’re gone now anyway,andthey’ll leave you alone. You should thank me.”

It was only at his statement that I realized it was true, the gymnasium had emptied beside the three of us.

“It’s not like anyone is going to think enough to be suspicious.” Anthony shrugged. “No one was even aware enough to argue. She was so pissed she entranced the whole room.”

Entranced?I glanced between the two of them, my head still spinning.

“You moron!” Miles’s touch dropped from my arm and he brushed past me, grabbing the front of Anthony’s hoodie as he shook the necromancer. “There’s a fae on my team!”

“What?” Anthony’s mirth vanished within a breath, and he glanced past Miles, around the empty room, without fear of the witch’s threatening hold. “Who?”

“Kent.”

Anthony’s brows drew together, seemingly unimpressed by Miles’s answer. “Kent… who?”

“Kent…” Miles’s forehead wrinkled as his face reddened. “Kent… I don’t know his last name! The water boy!”

“What do you need a water boy for?” Anthony pushed at Miles’s fist. “That’s on you then. You could have stopped her at any time. Besides, stop stressing. If he’s not skilled enough to be on the team, he wouldn’t be strong enough to withstand it. I’m sure he’s as taken as the rest of them.”

“I couldn’t stop her without causing a scene! And I’m not going to assume he was unaffected; he’sfae.” Miles shook Anthony once more and then let him go with a push, causing the necromancer to stumble. “Go take care of him.”

“But you don’t even know his last name!” Anthony was rubbing at his chest and, for the first time, seemed mildly panicked. “How am I supposed to—”

“I don’t care. If you need help, get Bryce or Brayden. They know the fae here.” I’d rarely heard this firmer, more unforgiving side of Miles. He stood, arms crossed, an unmovable and thunderous expression over his face. “Just make sure he doesn’t talk.”