Page 188 of Pixie Problems

"I..."

"I stopped it," Keir said. "Rain doesn't know how to do that yet."

"Then you can join her in my office," Ms. Rhodes snapped. "And Aspen?"

"He attacked me!" she shot back. "Oh, you're so sure we were wrong, but the only difference is that we protect our own! Heattackedme, Ms. Rhodes. Sealed my lips shut so he could taunt Rain about picking sides. Well, you know what? She has! She picked those of us who need help, not the ones who try to shame us."

"I don't tolerate bullies," I said. "And I still have a promise to uphold about that."

"Fine! Both of you, go join the rest." She then turned on Jayden. "You know what the best part of being the headmistress of a school for the fae is? My pupils cannot lie to me, Jayden. You are hereby suspended to your room for the remainder of the week. Learn to adapt with whatever power you have left, and be thankful our season is rising. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind!"

"But..." Jayden held up his hands. "I can't get into my room without magic."

"That is why we have keys, young man." Ms. Rhodes grumbled like she wanted to start pulling heads off. "I suggest you find a janitor and ask very,verynicely for some help. If I hear another complaint about you today..."

"Yes, ma'am," Jayden muttered before hurrying off.

But my feet were stuck in place. "I did nothing wrong." And I lifted my chin, daring her to deny it.

"No, you let the wrong happen on your watch," she said instead. "And you are not getting out of punishment that easily." Her eyes shifted to my shoulder. "Nor you, Highness."

"Rain-Jack," he said, sounding much too pleased with himself.

Chapter Fifty-Five

KEIR

I'd been in the bathroom, taking a piss, when Rain's shadow had appeared on the wall before me. Yep, I knew it was hers from the crazy shadowless eyes it had. Then it had waved, gesturing for me to follow it. Needless to say, I'd finished quickly, then followed it out.

The sounds in the hall had made it clear shit was going down. When I'd felt the concussion of magic in the air, I'd had a bad feeling my friends were involved. I'd been just a bit too far away to get trapped in the slowing conjuration, but I'd watched as the chaos in the halls had changed pace, moving like everyone was trapped in molasses.

Gates. The concussion had been magical gates opening up! The slow-magic had been white, which could be most of the court. The shadows were clearly from Rain, but the green? Everything from the atrium beside me to the clothes people were wearing had all been just too intense. When I'd rounded the corner to see Torian sucking the magic from the same idiot who'd already picked a fight with the court once?

For a moment, I'd almost done nothing. Theonlyreason I finally blocked Torian's drain on the guy was simply because I was starting to figure him out - and I didn't exactly disagree. Sure, he was heavy-handed with his justice, but he'd come from a world where that had clearly been the only way to survive. My hope was that somehow, I could help soften him.

But as I followed the rest into Ms. Rhodes' office, I dared to hope we'd get out of this with nothing worse than the extra work we already had.Sadly, when the headmistress stormed in behind us and slammed the door, I realized that was not going to be the case.

"You're all confined to your rooms for the rest of the day!" she snapped before dropping down into her chair.

And Torian just couldn't help himself. "Oh, we get a day off from school? Is that supposed to be punishment?"

"Your exams and homework will not be made up," Ms Rhodes told him. "You, Mr. Hunt, are no longer the top of your class." Her eyes jumped to Rain next. "I expected more from you." Then to Wilder. "If you alter time again, I will make you spend a day at half speed. Do not push me, Mr. Reed."

"They were right," I said, claiming one of the couch-like benches and spreading my arms across the back. "You know they were, because the court doesn't start shit. They close ranks, keep each other safe, and will tear down this entire school to do it. So why are you punishing them when Jayden clearly started it?"

"Because just like everyone else here at Silver Oaks, they have tolearn." She lifted a brow. "That is my job, Keir. Yours is to stop him from causing bigger problems!"

"No," I corrected. "That is not what I agreed to. I said I would contain his power, and I did. I told Liam I would keep him from tearing this school apart, and I have. In no way, shape, or form did I say I would keep Torian from protecting his sister or her friends when they need it." I lifted my own brow, mimicking her. "Or do you think the jesters should be allowed to torment any and all users of Winter magic?"

"And that's what started it," Rain said. "That guy sealed Aspen's mouth shut!"

"How did you break it?" Wilder asked, all but ignoring Ms. Rhodes.

"I, uh, touched her," Rain said. "I mean, it was mostly an accident, but it worked."

"Wild magic," Hawke said. "The conjuration must've been on Aspen's skin, not inside her."

"It was my mouth!" Aspen said. "My lips were super-glued together, and I couldn't make them open. I was just about to freak out when Rain grabbed me, and then the glue just sorta gave up."