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The door of the containment room slams shut after Bailey and the Acheron brothers walk out, leaving me in silence. I stumble back, hitting the wall and sliding down until my ass hits the floor. Composure was easy while they were here, but now that they’re gone? Shame makes my face burn over what I’ve done.

Things used to be easy for Sunshine. She didn’t have a care in the world, and she was learning. Thriving even.

Now, because of my impulsive actions against Veronica—the callous bitch—she’s being targeted as a homewrecker. A whore. A mistress. And she’s anything but.

I know these assholes know it too, because a lot of them were there that night and witnessed why I sent her ass packing back to Faerie.

But they don’t give a shit. Now that they know Bailey’s true origin, they know the moment she retaliates, she’s done for. The showdown at the gala has left Bailey at a huge disadvantage, unable to fight back against those who threaten her. It’s only her first day back in classes, and fuck. Somebody has already talked about casually raping her.

No wonder Bailey’s always been scared of supernaturals.

Getting to my feet, I drag my hands through my hair as I head toward the door. The hall of the containment rooms is dead silent, along with every other hallway I pass through on my way back to my room. There’s more than enough food there to avoid the dining hall.

Not that I want to. But I hope without my presence there, Bailey will be able to eat in relative peace instead of taunting whispers assaulting her ears.

After taking the steps two at a time, I emerge into the hallway of the staff dorms, my eyes immediately going to Bailey’s room. She’s not in there, I know that, but I wish we could go back to right before the gala.

She was so damn happy. Always smiling. Care-free.

Now it’s like darkness has overtaken any happiness she once had.

The distance she’s put between us since the scene in the gala, her more formal words, all of it points to her no longer being comfortable in my presence. And here we are, stuck together for classes every day of the week. But there’s no one else I would trust with teaching her. I don’t even want those brothers in the room when she’s learning, not that I can do anything about it.

Council sanctioned bodyguards. I blow a raspberry, thankful to be alone. I don’t believe that bullshit for a second. There must be another reason. One I’m determined to find out.

Lunch goes by quicker than I’d like with my mind focused on all things Bailey-related. The food I pulled out to eat remains untouched on my coffee table, and the new snowflake charm I ordered after the gala sits in its protective packaging, just waiting for a use.

The plan was to make her a new glamour charm, but the unexpected call from my sister stopped that idea. She was very adamant that Bailey continues her journey without hiding who she is. It was useful in the beginning when she was first learning, but now Talia swears it’s time for Bailey to own it. Whatever the hell that means.

She’s the one with the seer abilities, so I’ll have to trust what she says.

The alarm on my phone chimes, knocking me from my thoughts and alerting me that it’s almost time for classes to resume. Third period is my last class of the day, and the one with the most troublemakers. If I could call out, I would in a heartbeat.

But being a winter fae, I don’t contract the common ailments that humans do. Other supers may, but me? Never once have I had a cold or a fever.

So that leaves me without reason to miss any of my classes during the week.

I take one last look around my apartment, then leave my room, the door snicking shut behind me. It would be simple—easy even—to portal down to my classroom, but I find myself enjoying the simple action of walking where I need to go.

In Faerie, everyone pops in and out of where they need to be, never really enjoying the scenery because every fae has a go, go, go mentality. I’ve always been the opposite, though when I visit home, there’s always so much to be done that I don’t have any other choice but to go, go go.

Now that I think about it, there’s a human saying that fits what I like to do perfectly.

Stop and smell the roses.

It’s something I’ve seen Bailey do also. Take things leisurely, not wanting to rush to get them done. She applies it to learning her runes, and a lot of the time, I wish others would follow that same mentality. Everyone wants to learn as fast as possible so they can flee the academy sooner rather than later, but I’ve seen, more often than not, that they are sent back to relearn certain things because they’ve messed up somewhere down the line.

A few students here now have gotten themselves in trouble and have returned to the academy for a refresher. Not by their own choice. Council sanctioned. One of the very few sanctions they’ve made that I actually agree with. But being a prince of Faerie, I don’t have any say in what they do, no matter how much I wish I did.

Students trickle into my classroom the moment I step over the threshold, but I pause as an idea hits me. They weave around me, some grumbling their displeasure, but a quick look silences their protests. As the idea solidifies, I could kick my own ass for not thinking of it sooner. It would have saved so much time, and Bailey could have learned so much more if I’d thought of it sooner. I pull out my phone and fire off a text to the headmaster, determined to get this done.

Me

Can we put up wards in Miss Matthews’ room so she can practice her magic there, too?

Jasper

Why?

Seriously? Fucking council prick. Where the hell did the headmaster that cared go? He wouldn’t question anything that benefited a student.

Me

Because she needs more time to learn and always going to a containment room isn’t feasible. Plus, all the other students have the opportunity to use their magic whenever they want. She should be afforded the same chance.

Jasper

Point taken. I’ll make a call.

Me

No need. I can put them up myself if you agree.

Jasper

Do it.

Thank the gods. I was going to do it regardless of whether he agreed or not.

She needs this. A place that’s her own where she can sit after classes and use her magic without worry. It’s the only way for her to gain any fluency over her runes. This here and there of being able to use them isn’t teaching her a damn thing. If anything, it’s hindering her, and that’s the last thing she needs.

Hopefully I can get in there sooner rather than later and get them up. I’m confident that with a quick phone call to Axel and Luka, they’ll be more than willing to help me with that. Those two will do anything for her.

Just like you, my mind whispers.

Nope. Not going there. Ronnie and I just broke up, and Bailey, well, she already has enough going on. Any lingering idea of feelings I may or may not have are not her problem.

The bell tolls right as I pocket my phone, reminding me that I need to focus on the here and now. On the students that are in my care to learn their own portalling abilities.

With that thought and a smile on my face that I hope looks genuine, I jump right into molding my students’ minds and magic.

“Let’s get started.”