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Chapter Six

RAIN

B racken worked me hard. Using two swords was very different from just one - and the man made me use the actual weapons. I started out tentative, worried about the sharp edges, but he quickly showed me they wouldn't be a problem.

Evidently, my zez was a badass. No matter how hard I tried, he always managed to block me.

Using one of those wooden practice sticks we were given in class, he moved like it was an extension of his will.

The man's eyes stayed locked on my sternum, and he was always at least one step ahead of me. Usually, more like ten.

Needless to say, it didn't take long before my arms were burning. And yet, he always stopped me before it got too bad so I could work through positions. Slow, stable work that strained my muscles in different ways. An hour of that and I felt like my body was made of mush.

The best part was I'd actually learned a lot. I'd improved enough to notice it myself! So, when he told me to put the swords away, I felt a little giddy. I couldn't tell if I was good at this yet, but I was definitely getting better.

"Sit," he ordered, pointing to one of the mats in the middle of the room.

"Ok?" I did, waiting for some lecture on how dangerous this sport could be or that I shouldn't use it when playing around.

That was what always came after getting something cool, wasn't it? First there was the fun, but then all the rules were heaped on so we wouldn't make a mistake. With something as dangerous as a real sword, I had a feeling there were going to be a ton of rules.

"Stretch," Bracken said, moving to claim the spot across from me. "If you don't, your muscles will lock up and you'll barely be able to move tomorrow."

"Ok?" I spread my legs and leaned into the center. "So do I suck at this?"

He matched my pose, stretching out his own body, and chuckled. "No. Kid, you're a natural."

My head jerked up at the "kid" part. Was it one of those parent things? I wasn't sure, but I'd never heard him call anyone else that, and I kinda liked it. When Bracken lifted his eyes and smiled at me, I realized my own face held a big shit-eating grin.

"What?" he asked.

"You called me 'kid,'" I explained, looking back down to hide my embarrassment.

He chuckled again, harder this time. "So I guess that makes up for the whole Zez thing, huh? And maybe you don't mind?"

"I kinda like it," I mumbled.

"Good," he said, his tone soft and warm. "That's something I'm allowed to use during class." He shifted to a new angle. "And speaking of classes starting again - in a roundabout way - I wanted to talk to you about family time."

"Ok?" I moved to lean over one leg. "What about family time?"

"I'd like some." He rocked his head from side to side. "It's not convenient with us living in the chaperone's apartment, but dinners? Maybe just visits? Liam and I don't want to intrude on your personal life, but we do want to spend time with our new daughter."

"Like, maybe weekly dinners?" I suggested.

"As many as you want," he promised. "I'd like the chance for us all to just sit and talk. I can tell you stories about Liam and me when we were younger and dumber, and you can tell us stories about when you were?"

"Like a getting to know each other thing?" I nodded, because that actually sounded pretty good. "Deal."

Bracken's mouth opened as he sat up - and then he laughed. "And now I'm bound. You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Mhm," I agreed, leaning back onto my hands. "I'm learning all about this fae stuff, so I'm practicing with the easy bits. Keir's been helping me, you know. He's kinda like the fae explainer. I mean, Aspen tries, but it's not as easy for her."

"It's not," he agreed. "Her ties to Faerie are too close."

"But she's been here since she was little," I countered. "See, that's the part I don't get. I mean, do fae just remember being babies better than humans do or something?"

"No," he assured me even as he pushed to his feet.

"The problem is the magic. You see, Keir isn't very strong.

Well, he is and he isn't. He has amazing defensive abilities, but they aren't dangerous.

" He paused to dust off his hands. "Aspen's power can be.

So, growing up among humans and accidentally tearing out walls?

It completely changed the experiences she went through.

Plus, Keir was raised by fae parents who could explain these things to him.

Aspen only had memories to guide her. Ones she likely replayed over and over, searing them into her mind. " Then he offered me a hand up.

I took it, thinking this made a lot more sense, because trying to go through life blind was basically what I'd done.

Trying to do it with magic that could destroy my foster parents' houses?

Yeah, I could easily see how hard it would be to deal with.

Then, having no one to explain how to stop it? Not fun.

"She doesn't talk about her fosters, you know." I smiled in appreciation for the hand, then moved to start rolling up the mats. "Is that also something I shouldn't ask about?"

"She spent a lot of time in a group home.

" He bent to help me. "She had a few, and some weren't too bad.

Often, the 'new age freak' types do well for our kind.

When we find those foster families, Liam tags them and checks in often to see if they have any kids with special abilities.

Some call it miracles, some call it ESP, and so on.

Doesn't matter how they explain away the powers we use, though.

The point is that if we can funnel the faelings to them, then they can have some stability before they're old enough to come here. "

"So there's not like a fae middle school?" I asked. "I mean, since the Advanced Placement thing here is the last two years of high school."

"Nope," he said. "Silver Oaks was designed for the age range where our powers can be trained.

Most don't even show up until the kids are nearly sixteen.

Granted, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the stronger one's power is, the earlier it will manifest. Think of it like fae puberty, in a way.

The purpose of this college is to train fae to control that magic.

Even the magicless ones need to know how to work around it, and how to fit into our societies without getting hurt because of it. " He lifted a brow at me pointedly.

"Gotcha," I said, because I was basically one of those magicless ones.

Or I had been, before shadows started spilling out of me on the Winter Solstice.

Still, that magic was Jack's. I had a feeling he could take it away any time he wanted, but I wasn't sure.

I needed to ask him, but I kept forgetting.

With everything else that kept popping up, I was just impressed I was doing as well as I was!

But Bracken was still explaining. "Ivy and Liam have been working to create a group of foster parents who are faelings.

Many are graduates of Silver Oaks. Our hope is more of these kids will become safe havens when they're older.

Fae communities to protect fae children as they stumble upon what they are, and ultimately, a way of life for the fae on your world. "

I nodded, thinking that was a pretty decent plan, while we set the rolled mats to the side. A glance around showed we were basically done. "But what about going back? I mean, I get the impression a lot of people are hoping for that."

Bracken gestured towards the door, but paused.

"Be careful with that," he said. "Rain, a lot of these kids think that if they could just get back to Faerie, they would be real fae.

It's true, too. Faelings aren't less powerful there.

At least not the ones who've inherited the ability to use magic.

However, in their daydreams, a few have convinced themselves that since they use Summer magic, the Mad Queen would welcome them into her court.

Instant nobility, and a power boost because of it. " Then he reached for his coat.

I grabbed mine, looking back to locate Jack. "But she wouldn't?"

"She would not," he confirmed just as Jack swooped across the room to land on my shoulder.

Then Bracken opened the door, gesturing for me to go first. "Granted, no one knows her mind but her, yet the woman is willing to kill children.

The whole reason there aren't many who use Winter magic?

It's because she killed the entire court.

Every noble who'd sworn loyalty to the Winter King was destroyed, Rain. Most of their families too."

"Damn," I breathed.

He nodded. "When I left Faerie, she wasn't close to stopping her slaughter, and she was working her way through the minor nobility, all the way down to the peasants. She wanted to eradicate all Winter power to ensure that she - and only she - was the most powerful thing in the realm."

"Bitch be cray-cray," I muttered.

Caw! Jack agreed .

Together, the pair of us - and Jack - stepped outside into the winter wonderland.

I paused as Bracken locked the doors, securing the gym for the night.

Out here, it was both dark and white, yet once we stepped away, the trees around us erupted in a cacophony of birds cawing, muffling the sound of snow crunching under our feet.

"Evening, guys!" I called out, and the noise faded.

Bracken chuckled. "We appreciate you watching over us!" he added loudly.

"Is that what they're doing?" I asked.

He dropped his arm over my shoulder. "Mostly, they're watching over you. You see, Jack is their prince, and if they want to impress him, then protecting you and what you care about is a good way to do it."

"Gotcha," I said. "So, is that like what the faelings are doing with Summer magic? Watching over the Mad Queen's interests?"

He murmured as he thought. "I'm not actually sure. I do know that's why Aspen has had such a hard time. Wilder too, if I'm honest - although he hides it better. He also has Torian and Hawke, both of whom can use Winter magic. That means he's not alone in the dorms."

"But Aspen is," I realized. "Is that why she didn't have a suitemate?"

"It is," he agreed, angling me towards the main building. "But since you had no knowledge of fae politics, Liam thought you might end up as a friend for her." He flashed me a grin. "Or more, but we didn't even consider that."

"Oh, because you didn't pick up Dad while you were in school?"

"I never dated a suitemate," he countered. "Liam didn't go to Silver Oaks. So, no. I didn't date someone I was living with."

"Yeah, that's a good point."

He just rubbed my shoulder. "And speaking of dating... I do believe that's Keir headed this way."

I looked up to see a silhouette in the darkness. "Crap."

"Crap?" Bracken asked, sounding confused.

"I'm supposed to ask him to this New Year's Eve party." My feet slowed. "Aspen said I need a fake date."

"Hey, Keir!" Bracken called, getting the guy's attention.

When Keir looked up, Bracken waved him towards us. "Over here!"

"Yep!" Keir yelled back, changing his direction slightly.

Then Bracken lowered his voice. "He'll say yes. You've got this, kid. Trust me. Just ask - rambling, if you have to - and he'll be thrilled. And if you want to talk about it later, you know where to find me." Then he turned and just... Left!

"Brack!" I huffed after him.

"Same time tomorrow!" he yelled back.

"Zez!" I tried next, feeling my anxiety rising.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit! I should've known better than to say anything to Bracken. I should've just kept my mouth shut. Now, I was stuck, and I had a feeling my zez would expect to know how this went. That meant the next time he saw me - tomorrow - he'd ask.

How had the asshole managed to corner me into this when I'd been hoping for a little support? The first day as my official dad, and he was already failing me! He was supposed to get me out of this, because I'd never asked a guy out before. I didn't know how!

But instead, Bracken had left, making sure I had to do this. Fuck. Maybe he was a good father after all.