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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

NOVA

I ’m halfway through my bowl of chili in the dining hall when Tai slides onto the bench across from me. “I promise it’s foolproof.” He rests his forearms on the table. “That new enchantment I came up with? It works. No chance of accidental lip contact.”

A pang of relief mingles with leftover worry in my chest. “You’re sure?” We both remember how I jolted awake the other night to find him practically breathing against my mouth. Too close. Too risky, thanks to his fae deal with Bennett that’s become the bane of my existence.

I just want to kiss my boyfriend, is that too much to fucking ask?

He nods, fiddling with a saltshaker. “Slept with you three nights now. No near misses. No … temptations.” Something about the way he says that last word makes my pulse dip, but I let it pass.

My phone buzzes beside my napkin, and I tear my gaze from Tai, hoping for a message from Callum. All I see is a preview from an app.

Echo

What’s holding you back?

I snort, dropping my spoon back into the chili. Of course it’s Echo. Not the burner phone—I’ve got that stuffed at the bottom of my drawer—but my real cell phone. How the hell did they get this app installed on here without my noticing? I’ve got no clue.

I’m listening to the conversations around me as I stare at the screen, willing a text to appear from who I really want to hear from. It’s been weeks since we’ve been back from Earth, and he has completely cut me off. I don’t blame him but fuck if it doesn’t hurt. It probably never even crossed his mind that Tai is willing to share me with him. If I could just see him, get him to sit down and just talk to me, I know we’ll be able to clear things up.

Stifling the whine that wants to escape me, I shovel another spoonful in my mouth.

Tai scoots his tray down to me, handing me a slice of … cake? Or something.

“What’s this?” I take it from him.

“The label said cornbread.”

I shrug, taking a bite of it. “It’s sweet,” I mumble around a mouthful of food. “Good, though.”

With so many former inhabitants of Earth in Bedlam now, they’ve brought over a ton of new recipes. Our chef is a made fae from the southern United States, the country where my mom grew up. Some recipes take getting used to, but overall, the sentiment is good.

After wiping my hands on my napkin, I pick up my phone, thumbs flying over the keys.

1. I don’t know you.

2. I know nothing about what you’re about, so I can’t pledge my allegiance to some mystery cult with an identity crisis. Maybe if you sent a brochure?

I hit send, grinning, but the grin fades when Tai leans over, craning his neck to see the screen. “Who’re you texting?”

My stomach clenches as I quickly flip the phone over, setting it screen-down on the table. “Just someone from class,” I lie smoothly, grabbing my spoon and making a show of scooping up more chili. “They were asking about that last shapeshifting assignment.”

Do I feel bad for lying? Yes. But if I reveal the truth, then I’ll have to tell him I snuck out without him knowing, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings. Or piss him off.

He raises a brow, clearly unconvinced, but he doesn’t press. “Didn’t know your group chats came with snark.”

I shrug, keeping my expression casual. “Just mine.”

My phone buzzes against the table, and I resist the urge to glance at it. Tai doesn’t miss the vibration, though. His eyes flick to the phone, then back to me. “Must be a hell of a group project.”

“It’s a pain in the ass.” I take another bite of cornbread to avoid having to lie more.

He hums noncommittally, digging into his own food. I wait until his attention shifts to his tray before I sneak a peek at the screen.

Echo

If you’re not interested, why are you still talking to me?

I bite the inside of my cheek, fighting the impulse to toss my phone across the dining hall. This asshole is too smug for their own good. My thumbs hover over the keyboard, hesitating. I glance at Tai, who’s engrossed in what looks like a meatloaf situation, before typing my reply.

Maybe I’m bored.

I hesitate, then add:

Or maybe I just like annoying you.

The response comes almost instantly.

Echo

If you’re not careful, you might end up liking me.

I let out a snort loud enough to make Tai glance up. “Everything okay?” he asks, his fork halfway to his mouth.

“Yeah.” I wave him off. “Just a stupid meme someone sent.”

“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t sound convinced, but he goes back to his meal, thankfully not pushing further.

He totally knows I’m lying.

My phone buzzes again.

Echo

Let me make this simple. You’ve got potential, Novaleigh. Real potential. But you’re holding yourself back.

I roll my eyes, typing a quick reply. I’m shit at magic. Nothing like my siblings or parents.

You know what would really help with my “potential”? Telling me who you actually are.

The dots appear, showing they’re typing, then disappear, only to reappear again. Finally, the reply pops up.

Echo

Not yet. You’re not ready.

Not ready? I roll my eyes, frustration and intrigue riding me hard. Before I can fire back another sarcastic response, Tai nudges my arm.

“You’re awful quiet.” He watches me closely. “Who’s got you so distracted?”

I force a smile, tucking my phone into my pocket. “Nobody important.”

We finish our supper in silence, and as we leave the dining hall, he pulls me aside. He puts up a sound barrier before leaning in. “Keeping secrets, Princess?”

“I promise I’ll tell you when the time is right, just trust that now is not that time.” I grin up at him. “Okay?”

He narrows his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he’s debating whether to push further. His hand rests on the wall behind me, and his proximity sends my wolf into a quiet frenzy, the warmth of him soaking into my skin even through the cold air tunneling through the hallway every time someone opens the outside door.

“You’re asking a lot,” he murmurs, his voice dipping into that soft, teasing tone that always makes my stomach flip. “I don’t like not knowing what’s going on with you, Princess.”

“Don’t be so dramatic.” I poke him in the chest. “I’m not plotting to overthrow my parents or anything.”

His lips quirk into a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes as he shifts closer. “If you were, I’d expect an invitation. I look damn good in a rebellion.”

I huff, shoving him lightly. “You’d get yourself killed in the first five minutes.” My parents aren’t to be messed with.

He catches my hand before I can pull it away, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Good thing I’ve got you to keep me alive, then.”

The words send a flush creeping up my neck, and I jerk my hand free, rolling my eyes to hide how much the simple touch rattles me. “I don’t know how long I’ll be out, so don’t wait up for me, but you should sleep in my bed tonight.”

His pupils blow wide, and a smirk makes its way across his lips. “You’re avoiding my question.” He steps back, giving me space but keeping his eyes locked on mine. “But I’ll let it slide—for now.”

“Such a gentleman.” I lift my chin. “I’m heading to the courtyard to shift. You coming, or are you going to keep interrogating me?”

He glances around, his scrutiny sweeping over the emptying hall as he drops the sound barrier. “I’ll come. Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself into trouble.”

I grin, but don’t argue as we walk toward the plaza. The wind whips at my cheeks, the frigid mountain air blasting away what little warmth clung to me as the last sliver of sunlight disappears behind the treetops. The sky is a terrifying red as each of the moons takes their places on the horizon.

“You sure about this?”

I nod, my steps slowing as we reach the edge of the quad. “Yeah. It’s time. And, it’s homework.” I smirk. “Look at me, being all studious and shit.”

He gives me a long look before sighing and slipping his jacket off, draping it over my shoulders. “At least keep warm until you shift.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I mutter, earning a chuckle from him.

“Better me than no one,” he says, the teasing lilt back in his tone. He steps closer, leaning down until his nose brushes just behind my ear. “Try not to lose these clothes this time.”

Heat rises in my cheeks as I elbow him in the ribs, earning a dramatic grunt. “I thought you liked me naked?”

“More than I’m willing to admit.” He grins, stepping back and holding his hands up in mock surrender.

“You’d better be in my bed when I get back,” I warn, already pulling his jacket tighter around me as I turn toward the open space of the courtyard.

Behind me, I hear him sigh, and then the faint rustle of fabric as he folds his arms, waiting for me to start. “Whenever you’re ready.”

I glance back at him one last time, something passing between us before I take a deep breath and let my wolf take over. The shift comes easier now, smoother, the magic rippling through me like a river finding its course.

The warmth of the shift envelops me, and when I open my eyes again, the world looks brighter, clearer. My senses explode with vivid detail: the crisp bite of snow beneath my paws, the scent of evergreens in the air, and, most distracting of all, the heady mix of leather, magic, and Tai wafting toward me.

Do you smell him? My wolf purrs, her voice dripping with delight. He smells good enough to eat.

Knock it off , I snap, trying to tamp down the heat blooming in my chest. My paws dig into the snow as I glare in Tai’s direction, but he’s watching me with amusement.

Why should I? she challenges, her tone sly. He’s right there. Strong. Our beta.

He’s not ours , I hiss. He’s just ... Tai.

But that’s a lie. Because Tai is mine. From the moment I picked him out of a lineup of potential guards, I knew I’d make him mine. Perhaps I need to stop being so contrarian with my wolf.

Exactly. She practically wags her tail in my head. Tai. Our Tai. He smells like home. He feels like home.

I groan internally, pacing in a tight circle as I wrestle with her relentless enthusiasm. We’re not tackling him. We’re not doing anything stupid.

You mean we’re not doing anything fun, she counters. What’s the harm in a little fun?

The harm is that he’s going to think we’ve lost our damn minds, I argue, but it’s weak, and we both know it.

Her laughter ripples through me, playful, daring. He already thinks that. What’s one more thing?

Before I can stop her, she surges forward, taking over with alarming ease. My body moves on instinct, muscles coiling as I launch myself through the snow. Tai barely has time to react before I crash into him, knocking him off his feet and into the snow with a surprised grunt.

“Nova!” His arms flail briefly before he’s pinned beneath me. I stand over him, tail wagging, my wolf radiating smug satisfaction.

This is mortifying , I grumble, though I can’t deny the rush of exhilaration coursing through me.

You love it, she teases, lowering our head until our nose brushes his cheek. Let me just ? —

Before I can argue, my tongue darts out, dragging a long, wet lick across his face.

He freezes, his wide eyes locking on mine as I pull back, my wolf all but cackling in my head. See? Told you it’d be fun.

You’re insane , I groan, but there’s no stopping her now. She’s in full control, her tail wagging as she leans in for another lick.

“Alright, alright!” Tai laughs, his voice somewhere between exasperated and amused as he tries to fend me off. “I get it! You’re a menace.”

I hop back, giving him just enough space to sit up, snow clinging to his hair and jacket. He wipes his face with his sleeve, glaring at me half-heartedly. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

My wolf puffs up with pride, her smugness practically radiating off of us. He likes it, she says, her tone singsong.

He’s laughing at us , I point out, though my heart skips at the way his grin softens as he looks at me.

Tai leans back on his hands, his head tilting as he watches me with something I can’t quite name. “You know,” he teases, “if you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask.”

He’s flirting, my wolf practically sings, her tail wagging furiously.

Shut up , I huff, but even I can’t deny the way my chest tightens at his words.

We love him.

Yes, yes we do.

It’s one of the few things I’m willing to admit to her.

He rises to his feet, brushing snow off his pants as he shakes his head. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he mutters, though there’s no real heat behind it. He points a finger at me, his grin widening. “But next time, you’re the one going down in the snow.”

Promises, promises, my wolf purrs, and I can’t help the low, playful growl that escapes me. He just laughs, shaking his head as he grabs my clothes from the ground.

“Alright, troublemaker.” He slings my clothes over his shoulder. “I’ll take these back to the dorm. Try not to cause too much chaos while you’re running, yeah?”

I watch him go, my wolf practically vibrating with energy. You’re welcome, she says, her voice smug and satisfied.

I hate you , I mutter, though a small, reluctant smile tugs at the corners of my mind.

Love you, too.