Page 23 of Rebellious Royals

Ok, that was a pretty good answer. "But once I can do that, I can make it hold my sword like your necklace holds your armor?"

"That's the plan," she said. "But if you used yourreucito turn a hunter back to a normal fae? Rain, that's huge."

"Yeah, I got that impression."

"So I want you to try your hardest to remember everything you did," she told me. "Write it down. I'll have Liam pick up a journal for you, so you can keep track of what you do with your magic. Any detail, no matter how minor it seems, should be recorded. Then we can go over it together."

I nodded. "Ok, that makes sense. But what are we going to do about these people watching us? That's my real concern right now."

"I know," she assured me. "The truth is that quite a few teachers and staff have realized who Torian and Aspen really are. I'm sure they've mentioned it to students they work with. Nothing has been confirmed, but the hope of fae royalty being among us?"

"Problematic?" I guessed.

Ms. Rhodes sighed. "Yes and no. Plenty will think the gates are about to open. Dozens of traditionalists will do their best to position themselves well."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means," she warned, "they will try to impress you, Torian, and maybe even Aspen." She paused. "Or hurt you three."

And that was the problem. The entire court was getting a bad feeling lately. None of the information coming out was reassuring. Oh, maybe theymightwant to impress us, but the signs did not point that way.

I thought about what this could mean for the rest of my lesson. Harper's mom had called the Hunt on Aspen last month. She'd left a magical lure on campus just to get revenge for some perceived slight. Granted, they hadn't known Aspen was the Winter Princess back then, and the Winter Queen now. But would that have changed anything?

I had a bad feeling it would've only made their attacks worse, so once Ms. Rhodes released me from class, I hurried up the stairs. My goal was to meet up with Aspen before second period so we could talk. If I got there early enough, I should catch her coming up the hall.

I managed to reach the second floor just as the halls began to truly fill up. Leaning against the wall beside the hall to our class, I scanned the heads coming my way. Like in all schools, there was a clear flow to the traffic. Those coming this way were on my side. Those going away were on the other side of the hall, and the chatter of a few dozen conversations turned everything into an indecipherable roar.

Then I saw her. Aspen's silver pixie-cut hair stood out among the warmer tones around her. Lifting my hand, I tried to get her attention. "Aspen. Aspen!"

It took a couple of tries, but she heard me. I knew because she looked up. I started to smile, my hand caught halfway in a wave when someone behind Aspen moved. I barely registered a tablet smacking my girlfriend in the head, but the crack was loud. Immediately, two other people rushed in.

My girlfriend dropped.

"No!" I screamed - and my shadow streaked away.

"Court!" Jack cawed as he took flight, darting over the heads of students to get to Aspen.

Without thinking, I began to push magic. Dark fog rolled from my hands, across the floor, and toward Aspen with a speed that almost matched my crow, but it wasn't fast enough. She had to be at least twenty, maybe fifty feet from me, and I couldn't see her!

Someone screamed. A handful of students jumped away from my Wild magic. I took the chance and ran forward, hoping I could help. All I wanted was to stop the person who'd hit Aspen. Or people. Or make sure she was ok. Maybe put a shield around her?

I didn't know, and that wasn't good for magic. What mattered was a clear intention, and yet Wild magic had a mind of its own. Everyone in the hall was crying out. Some because of the dark fog rolling across the floor. Others were yelling like they were encouraging something, and that made my heart drop.

But I wasn't the only one running that way. A guy tackled someone, shoving them to the ground. Over there, another wrapped his arms around a girl from behind, lifting her feet off the floor even as she screamed for him to let her go. I was pretty sure she was the one who'd hit Aspen with the tablet.

And before me, Aspen lay sprawled on the floor, blinking as if confused, but she wasn't getting up! A guy was standing over her with his hands out like he was ready to fight. Belatedly, I realized it was Pascal, one of the sentinels from Bracken's weapons classes, but too much was happening too fast.

"Rain, he started it!" Pascal pointed at a guy fading back into the crowd.

"Hold him," I breathed, and my magic rushed after him.

"Morrigan!" Jack cawed, dropping down to wrap his talons in another girl's hair. "Rain-Jack!"

"And her," I said, commanding my magic.

It obeyed. The shadows turned into a wolf to chase the guy. A harpy grabbed the girl in its claws, forcing her to the ground. Once the wolf caught the guy, both shadow creatures turned into restraints, securing them in place - and everyone else was pushing as far away as they could.

"Don't let them get away!" I demanded, hoping someone would listen to me.