Page 23

Chapter Twenty

RAIN

M s. Rhodes ended up having questions for all of us, once we reached her office.

Most of them were the normal kind, but one surprised me.

She wanted to know what I'd done to that guy's hands.

The shadow-mittens were still encasing them, and I wasn't sure how it worked, but I knew they'd keep him from casting any spells.

I, on the other hand, had questions for Pascal. "Hey," I whispered when Ms. Rhodes was busy questioning Nevaeh and Poppy. "How do you always end up in the right place lately?"

"Shit," he chuckled under his breath. "Rain, I would not call this 'being in the right place.'"

"Nevaeh would."

And his shoulders slumped. "Oh. Yeah. I guess that changes things, huh?

" But he just shrugged again. "The truth is, a few of us have a class over by your second period.

Me, Bran, and Axel. That's why we were just behind Aspen when shit went down.

And my next class was the way we were going.

Theirs is the other way. I knew you were close and wanted to check on our mutual friend. .."

Hawke, he meant. I nodded to show that made sense, but something felt off.

Ok, maybe that was just paranoia, but still.

How many times had someone been attacked lately, and I'd been there?

Were they trying to make me out to be the bad guy somehow?

Were they testing me? I honestly didn't know. And who were "they?!"

But when Ms. Rhodes was satisfied that she knew what had happened, we were all released. Pascal, Poppy, and Nevaeh were allowed to head back to class. Ms. Rhodes told me to do the same, but when I turned, my dad was standing in the door of his office, watching me.

Knowing he'd let me leave if I wanted, I turned my feet straight for him. "You busy, Dad?"

That word still made Liam's mouth curl into a smile. "Nope, kiddo. Whatcha need?"

I marched into his office, waiting until he closed the door, then turned and stepped into his chest, hugging him hard. "That. Shit's going down, I feel like I don't know the rules, but I'm trying really hard to be a good Morrigan."

"Hey..." he breathed, tilting my head up so I had to look at him. "Ivy says you're doing great. She's proud of you, and that makes me feel the same. This fae shit is kinda hard, huh?"

I nodded emphatically. "Not the fae themselves," I clarified.

"They're easy. It's the bullshit, you know?

I mean, Nevaeh's magic is back, but it's not completely refueled - or refilled?

Whatever. Since Torian stripped her on the solstice, Aspen said she missed the best part, so she's kinda at half power for the rest of the year. "

"Which is probably the punishment Torian wanted," he told me.

"Yeah, but she's Winter ," I said. "That guy who got frozen? Winter. Aspen? Winter. See the pattern?"

"And the graffiti," he agreed. "It was clearly anti-Winter. Also, there've been a few more incidents you weren't around for. A girl shoved into the Forge with all that iron before seventh period, a teacher's room locked so they couldn't hold class - until Ivy fixed it. Things like that."

"All Winter?" I asked.

He nodded. "So be care..." He trailed off before finishing, then looked around in confusion. "Rain, where's Jack?"

A surprised giggle slipped out. "With Aspen, because we're being careful ," I teased.

And my dad relaxed visibly. "Good. Ivy and I've been trying to find a way to keep you kids safe - the court, I mean - but we can't do it without being too obvious."

"I know," I assured him. "I also know that would make everything worse, so we're managing. Ms. Rhodes said she won't kick me out, so I'm feeling a little brave about stepping up. Will you tell me if I go too far?"

"I promise," he said. "And don't be surprised if Ivy tells you, either. Brack said you have some sentinels helping out, so just trust yourself, Rain. So far, that seems to be working best."

"And adults usually don't trust kids, Dad."

"Yes, but most adults aren't living in a school for the fae." He opened his arms, offering another hug. "Now tell me you're going to be ok and get to class."

"I'm going to be ok," I said even as I squished myself against him again.

Surprisingly, Liam felt like a dad. He had just enough softness to him to make it nice when I leaned against him. He hugged in the most paternal way I'd ever experienced, too. It was surprisingly nice. Almost as nice as the trust my dads had been giving me.

But of course I ended up late for my third period class.

Only fifteen minutes late, but since it was the class Ms. Rhodes taught, it was fine.

What confused me was the substitute teacher in there.

Today, it was Tag. She dipped her head at me when I made my way in, but that was it.

Wilder and Hawke both gave me concerned looks, but I smiled to reassure them that everything was fine.

The rest of the day was completely and totally normal, though.

The court gathered together for lunch. Our afternoon classes were completely boring and predictable.

Even my detention class - well, all of ours now - wasn't too bad.

The four sentinels stayed to help again.

Bracken pushed us hard like always, and we made a tiny bit of progress.

But when that was finally over, we all headed back: the court and the sentinels. From the chatter between the guys, everything was fine. Hawke was even laughing with Pascal, so I shifted closer to Aspen, casually brushing my hand against hers.

"Hey," I whispered. "You look like you're getting better with a sword."

"And I saw you do magic while fighting," she said, giving me the most beautiful smile. "I think Ms. Rhodes was right. This really is helping, and I feel a lot less... I dunno. Weak? Helpless? Kinda both."

"Jack!" My crow said as he flew down to land on my shoulder. "Jack, court. Court, Jack. Rain. Morrigan! Jack, Jack, Jack."

"He was very upset in third period," Aspen explained. "I now know that's when you were fighting with someone."

So I turned to look at my bird. "Did you somehow know I was in the middle of that, Jack?"

He slung his bill up and down, a clear yes. "Jack-Rain. Morrigan. Rain-Jack. Morrigan."

"Uh-huh," I said, wishing he would learn a few more words. "So you knew. Magic?"

He ruffled his feathers showing that wasn't quite right.

"An inherent wildling ability?" Aspen guessed.

Jack nodded. "Jack!" he said proudly. "Jack, Jack."

"Because," Torian said as he walked up from behind us, dropping a hand on both mine and Aspen's shoulders to lean between us.

"The Crow King is responsible for managing the wildlings.

The Wild Hunt's magic is a gift from the wildlings to the sidhe.

I have a feeling that means Jack has some inherent ability to keep track of them.

It would only make sense that he could also keep track of the Morrigan he made.

Same concept of magical responsibility, after all. "

"Jack!" the bird agreed, nodding.

Torian glanced over to that shoulder. "And you're doing an amazing job of protecting my sister. I was thinking I could bring you a sweet treat up tonight."

"Up where?" I asked.

"Why, your rooms," he said, glancing over to Aspen to make it clear why he'd pluralized that. "Rain, we all need to talk."

"Tor, I had plans," Aspen whined.

"Fuck your girlfriend afterwards," he told her. "I want to make sure the crown's ok."

"It's fine," I grumbled. "Spike's proud to be guarding it."

"She really is," Aspen agreed. "I mean, I think her vines have grown at least three more feet!"

"We still need to talk," Torian said, looking at me this time as if hoping for a little back up. "I'll pick up dinner for both of you so you ladies have time to change. How's that?"

And a devious little smile took over. "Deal, Torian."

He tensed, slowing just enough that he was no longer hanging on the pair of us. "No!" he huffed, stretching his long legs to catch up. "That was not an offer."

"Oh, you thought it was a demand," I pointed out. "I'm just making sure I get something out of this."

"You trained her well," Aspen teased.

"No, that was Keir," Torian grumbled before lifting his voice. "Keir! I have a bone to pick with you!"

He wandered off towards Keir. The sentinels angled their feet to the door that led into the boys' side of the atrium. Aspen and I turned to the girls' side, closer to the elevator we used to get to our rooms. Just as everyone started to spread apart, Keir looked over.

"Burger, Rain?"

"I don't want to be rude," I admitted.

"Burger," Hawke told Keir.

"She deserves one," Wilder agreed.

"And Torian won't even complain," Aspen said. "I mean, you did trap him into that deal nicely. It was rather fae of you."

"Mm, I've been learning."

Then as we headed up to our room, the guys went around to the cafeteria to get some meals to go.

I knew that wouldn't take long, so I decided not to have a whole shower.

Instead, I just cleaned up quickly and put on some comfortable clothes.

Aspen, however, used the shower. She'd just finished dressing when Jack cawed in warning.

"Court!" he announced.

"It's open!" I yelled at my door.

A moment later, Torian opened it. "You really shouldn't - " And he paused as Spike woke up, stretching out her vines to inspect the cluster of people waiting to get in.

"I'll use the other door," Hawke tried.

But Wilder grabbed his arm and pushed him past the plant. "She's a Monarch's Assassin. You're a fucking duke."

"Those things kill people," Hawke countered.

"Not nobility," Keir said as he dipped his head politely to the plant. "Evening, Spike."

The plants trailed a tendril across his arm as if petting him, and as a group, the rest of the guys made their way in. Wilder claimed the chair he'd made. Keir took the bed, sitting beside me and Aspen. Torian claimed the other chair, so Hawke sank down to sit on the floor between Wilder's knees.

"So can I see the crown?" Torian asked, but his words weren't for Aspen. They were to the plant.

Instantly, Spike curled up, pulling her long, spike-filled vines close around her pot. With one hand, Torian gestured at her as if that proved his point. Aspen rolled her eyes, but leaned toward the plant.

"Spike, it's ok. He just wants to see it."

So the vine lifted its root ball from the pot and revealed a very impressive, very jewel-covered crown at the bottom.

"You're doing an excellent job, Spike," Torian told her before looking back at me. "Rain, I'd like you to check on that every day."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because Nevaeh was attacked today," he said. "The victims are Winter users, every one. There's something going on, and I don't know what it is, but I do not want to get complacent and lose the Winter Crown."

"You can lose a crown?" I asked.

He tilted his head giving me a very unimpressed look. "The Mad Queen just lost it, so yes. Without a crown, there's no way for Aspen to prove her position."

"I'll check every night and morning," I told him. "Unless something else comes up."

"No," he growled.

"Yes," I said, cutting him off. "And by more important, I meant a fire, the Hunt, or a threat to our lives. I don't mean forgetting. I'm just being honest here, Torian, so deal with it."

"She has your number," Keir said, jerking his chin at Torian.

"Mhm," Torian said. "I'm also impressed, not offended, but - "

"Bitch!" Jack cawed, cutting him off.

Immediately, we all looked around in confusion, but a knock at the door proved what he meant. Grumbling, I pushed myself off the bed and headed that way, catching a whiff of the food the guys had brought but hadn't handed out yet.

"God, I'm starving," I said as I opened the door. Then I paused. "Ms. Rhodes?"

"Good, you're back," she said. "May I come in, Rain?"

I opened the door a little wider. "Um, I have company."

Her eyes scanned the group and a smile curled her mouth. "Then it seems I'm right on time. I need to talk to all of you."

"Come in," I said, making way. "Just watch the plant."

"Good evening, my lady," Ms. Rhodes said as she walked past Spike. "You look to be in impressive health."

Then she looked right at Torian while waiting for me to close the door. Once the latch clicked, Ms. Rhodes flicked her hand and all sounds from the hall vanished.

"Majesties, the latest attacker was also beholden to say nothing. This is the third one, and it seems we have a problem I don't know how to fix."

"Shit," I breathed.

"Exactly," Ms. Rhodes said.