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"I see," Ms. Rhodes said wisely.

Which seemed to be all Jack wanted. The bird slung his head in what could only be described as a definitive nod, then settled patiently onto my shoulder.

"Rain," Ms. Rhodes said, "I'd like you to come with me. Bracken ? Liam? Pearl? Please handle the students? The rest of you, make sure all Wild magic is dispelled from the atrium?"

"Can do," Liam assured her. The rest simply nodded.

Then, with an arm pointing towards the front of the building, Ms. Rhodes made it clear I was to walk with her.

I turned that way, falling in at her side.

When we reached the front of the atrium, I glanced back, hoping my friends weren't in too much trouble.

That was when Ms. Rhodes turned for a door beside the main entrance.

"This," she said, pulling it open, "leads down to the Never."

"Where kids learn magic?" I asked, because I'd heard of it before.

"Where they practice it," she corrected, stepping in.

Obediently, I followed, but Jack crouched lower on my shoulder. Once I was inside, Ms. Rhodes closed the door behind us.

"This door has a core of iron inside the wood," she explained even as she began descending the stairs.

"It's the only opening that isn't somehow 'grounded' from the rest of the world by the silver oak.

The rest of this..." She gestured to the walls beside her.

"...is entangled with the tree's roots, giving the basement both stability and the ability to consume and repurpose the magic we use in lessons. "

"So this is some kind of magic-eating basement?"

That made her laugh. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose it is." Yet once we reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned to face me. "Rain, what really happened? Please remember that I can feel your lies."

I grimaced. "Um, I had some of the nectar, right?"

"I'm sure," she said, making it sound as if there was nothing wrong with that.

"I mean, I did last semester too, but it hit me hard this time, and I was kinda, um..."

"Inebriated is a good word," she suggested, a little smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah," I mumbled, sure I was about to get in trouble. "But I didn't mean to!"

"Ok."

I paused, because that felt too easy. "Really?"

"It's the truth, so really," she assured me.

Which actually allowed me to relax. "I couldn't even read my phone. I was checking the time. And then it was midnight, and I kissed Keir - "

"Keir?" she asked.

My eyes jumped up .

Her smile grew.

I just groaned and dragged a hand down my face. "Yes, Keir. Never mind how weird that is, but the fae keep saying it's normal - "

"It is," she promised, making me think she knew far more than she should.

So I stopped and lifted my chin. "What? You can't make me spill my guts, act like you know all my secrets, and then think I'm going to just keep giving you more!"

Ms. Rhodes calmly lifted a hand. "Both of your fathers have spoken to me about your recent magical quandaries, Rain.

Included in that discussion was a mention of your friendship with Aspen Fox.

I'm also very well aware of Aspen's sexuality, that she's told you, and that your friendship is complicated. "

"Because my dads told you?" I asked.

She tilted her head. "And because I'm the headmistress, and I'm not a young woman, nor am I a stupid one."

"Oh."

"And I can only hear the truth. So if I do not ask questions, anything else would be a guess, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled.

"Good. So what really happened, Rain?"

Pulling in a breath, I decided to just lay it all out there, skipping over the parts she'd made it clear she didn't want to know. "Torian was being a dick again," I started. And I didn't stop until I got to, "Which is when it all went dark."

The whole time, Ms. Rhodes listened, but her answer wasn't at all what I'd expected.

"I think we're going to need to change your schedule for next semester.

First period, instead of Literature, you'll be down here with me.

Your magic is stronger than you know, Rain le Fae.

Strong enough that we can't risk it - or your shadow - getting out of control, because the one thing no one has bothered to tell you yet?

Wild magic can be fatal to my kind. Fae are magical.

We're made of it, but Wild magic is the exact opposite. Too much could kill us."

"Oh," I breathed. "That's why Keir's the only one who doesn't mind standing in it?"

"You mean willing to risk his life," she clarified. "And I think you might want to spend some time figuring out why."

I just swallowed, reaching up to pet my bird. "I think I maybe know why."

"Then you're smarter than most girls your age," she said, gesturing back towards the stairs. "When school starts, I'll meet you here. We'll find a room for your daily sessions. What do you think, Jack?"

He just pressed into my neck a little more. "Jack..." he whimpered.

"What, bud?" I asked him.

Ms. Rhodes just chuckled. "I don't think birds like being underground. Will you help me anyway, Jack?"

"Rain!" he agreed. "Jack-Rain. Jack-Morrigan!"

So far as I cared, that sounded like a yes. It also made me realize there was one more "person" who wouldn't ditch me if I got into too much shit. Sadly, I hadn't even thought to count him, but Bracken said he'd been with me for years.

Which meant Jack was the one I should be relying on the most.