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Chapter Forty-One

KEIR

T orian's reaction to the jesters did not go over well. When we left the cafeteria to head to our next class, he got a few glares. That evening, someone threw a fruit cup at our table. Jack cleaned it up, but the sugary juice made everything sticky. The next morning was even worse.

As we headed down to the Never, people went out of their way to grumble about the duty of the crown, or how their prince wouldn't be so worried about another season.

Oddly, Torian took it all in stride. No, more than that.

The guy ignored it completely. He didn't even flinch, and I was sure he'd heard it.

But when I asked about it in our private room, he shrugged the whole thing off. "I'd rather they hate me." Then he started showing me the necessary steps to create a gate.

Supposedly, he wanted to see if my Earth magic would be able to do such a thing.

I tried to tell him I didn't have the power for it, but he actually scoffed in my face.

I had to rephrase that to not having the directional ability with my style of magic, and yet he refused to accept no for an answer.

I coasted through my next class thinking about him.

Aspen said he was into me, and Torian was definitely beautiful.

He was also a little sharp around the edges.

I couldn't quite decide if I was even interested in a relationship with someone like him.

A fling? Of course! Who wouldn't want to throw a hot body in their bed? But more than that?

Everything about Torian screamed red flags.

He wasn't my usual type, though. I happened to like my lovers to be strong-willed - ok, he was that.

I also had a weakness for dark hair. Well, crap.

He checked that box too, even if I'd been thinking about Rain.

But mostly, I was attracted to people who let me in, and Torian did not do that.

I was trying to decide how much of his abrasiveness was a defense mechanism when I headed to third period.

Torian was a complicated man with some serious baggage.

With that said, he'd been trying to open up, and I couldn't stop thinking about the way he'd looked up at me in the middle of his panic attack.

Those green eyes of his were not made to plead, but they had.

No, I definitely did not need to think about the way his shoulders felt when I clasped them, and I certainly did not need to relive the way he'd kissed me instead of punching me.

Fuck, but that'd been hot. Still, he always reminded me he wasn't into guys.

Usually right before he did something to make me think he was bending the truth as much as a fae could.

I rounded the corner, heading to my Fundamentals of Metallurgy class, when I saw Pascal shaking his tablet. Since he was in class with me, I veered over to check on him.

"Pas?"

His head snapped up too fast. "Oh, good. It's you."

"Why?" I asked, dragging out the word. "Are you avoiding someone?"

"Right now, our teacher," he said, giving his tablet another shake.

"Because?" I tried next.

With a heavy sigh, Pascal thrust his tablet at me. "I think it's fried."

"How?" Yep, I was getting good at the one-word questions.

But my friend's cheeks got brighter and he dropped his head. "Um, I was trying to open it and it sparked."

"The tablet had a short?"

He made a face. "Not exactly. I... It..." And he scrubbed at his mouth. "Keir, it was like a ball of lightning formed around it and then zapped the whole thing, but that's not possible, right?"

I eyed him again, looking across his expression, then his hands. "Not static?"

"It was a little more than static," he admitted. Then he rocked his head. "And I sorta blew up a lightbulb last night."

"More lightning?"

"I don't really think so."

As if that wasn't vague or anything. So, clasping his shoulder, I turned him toward our class, deciding we could walk and talk.

"Pas, if it wasn't electricity, then what was it?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I mean, I would've said it was just a bad bulb right up until this happened. Combined with the shit when I woke up?"

"What shit?" I asked, breaking in before he could skip over that.

Beside me, he swallowed. "I, um, had hot water come out of the tap."

"That's what happens when you use the knob with the red mark on it," I teased.

But Pascal just shook his head. "I was filling my cup to microwave it, Keir. It was the cold tap. But halfway across my room, I realized my hands were warm because of the cup, so I checked, and yeah. Perfectly warm tea."

I stopped at the doorway to our classroom. "Pas?"

"I'm crazy, right?" he asked.

"Sounds to me like you might be manifesting." And I slapped him on the shoulder. "Damn, man. Took you long enough, but you're finally doing it."

And his entire body relaxed. "You think so? It's not just a coincidence? I'm finally getting magic?"

"Well, Hawke said you have it, so I can't think of a reason you wouldn't be able to use it. So yeah," I told him. "I think you're manifesting!"

"But..." He laughed, sounding like he was caught between elation and disbelief. "I feel like I'm hitting puberty at the wrong time. Never mind that my homework's on that tablet!"

"I'll handle it," I assured him. "Just go sit. Save me a chair, ok?"

The guy almost skipped as he made his way to our normal chairs in the middle of the room. Holding his tablet beside mine, I angled my feet for our instructor. When he looked up, I gestured to Pascal's.

"I think Pascal's starting to manifest, and his tablet took the brunt of it. He said his homework's on there, but he's a bit distracted."

"Pascal?" There was a smile on the teacher's face. "Oh, I was worried he wouldn't. No, let me have that and I'll get someone to repair it. Keir, can you take notes for him today?"

"I will," I assured him. "I'll also make sure Ms. Rhodes knows, but if you'd like to give her a heads-up as well, that might make this easier for him."

"Will do," he said. "And if there are any rogue manifestations, I won't make a big deal out of it."

"That will make him feel better," I said before heading to my seat.

"And?" Pascal asked.

"Told him you might be manifesting," I explained. "He won't embarrass you, and said he'll handle the tablet. Just expect this to be erratic for a few days. It really is a lot like puberty, but instead of random hard-ons, you'll pop flowers."

Pascal smiled down at his hands. "I'm so far behind."

"I know some people who can catch you up," I pointed out. "I think they also owe you a bit."

"Aspen?" he asked.

I made a face. "More like Torian and Hawke."

And that made his head twitch. "Hawke?"

"Believe it or not, he's very skilled with Summer magic, Pas." And I held his eyes, hoping he wouldn't say too much with so many around us.

Pascal just nodded. "Makes sense. I can't say I've ever noticed his power before, but he is a duke."

"Exactly," I agreed.

But all during the lecture on various metals and their benefits and problems for the fae, Pascal kept jittering. I couldn't think of a better word for it than that. His leg bounced for a bit, then he was picking at his nails. When that didn't help, he began tapping on his desk.

Unable to take that, I slid a pen and paper over to him. When he gave me a confused look, I whispered, "Draw. Don't care. Just do it quietly."

Which made him nod quickly in agreement. His mind was not on the lecture at all. Granted, I couldn't blame him. I'd known I would get power, but how much and what kind had been a mystery. All fae manifested with something, and we purebreds tended to do it young. For the faelings, it was different.

About twenty percent of them never manifested any meaningful power.

Others got skills that were terrifying in their intensity, but the range was so narrow, they were basically one-trick-ponies.

Fin had been like that. He'd manifested the ability to manipulate minds, and most protections couldn't block him.

I'd always been able to, but that had resulted in me babysitting him for years.

Right up until he'd died.

Which made me look over at Pascal again. I would not let him make a mess of this. I didn't really care if he ever manifested. Pascal was a good guy, and the kind of friend who didn't ask for much. He was easy to spend time with, and usually had a smile on his face and a laugh waiting to jump out.

To him, it mattered, though. Everyone wanted to be special.

All of us hoped we'd have something to make us stand out - but in a good way.

Being a Legacy in a school filled with temperamental and powerful fae was not the place to constantly feel helpless.

He probably didn't think his combat abilities made up for it either.

Rain did. I knew I did. I had a feeling Aspen was happy with him lately, but telling him that would feel like a platitude. Nope, he was finally getting a magical ability, so we'd find a way to help him. I would, at least, but I hoped my friends would be willing to join in.

Yet the moment class was over, Pascal wanted to jump up and hurry out. I caught his shoulder, all but making him wait for me.

"You need to go see Ms. Rhodes," I told him.

He shook his head. "No, I think I want to keep this to myself until I'm sure it's not just a coincidence."

"It sure doesn't sound like one," I said, hoping to reassure him a bit.

So he sighed and turned to face me. "Look, if I say I'm manifesting, and then nothing happens?

Do you know how stupid I'll feel? Keir, I just want to figure out what it is.

I'm late, so that means it won't be powerful, but I don't care.

If I can only make glamours of shadows on walls, I'll figure out a way to make the best shadow glamours ever, ok?

I just want to know what it is before people start getting expectations. "

"I'll also point out that shadows aren't exactly a weak thing." And I turned him for the door. "At least tell me you'll skip practice this evening and rest a bit? Manifesting will wear you out."

"Is that why I'm so twitchy?" he asked. "I only had one cup of tea, but I feel like I just drank a gallon of espresso!"

"Part of magical puberty," I joked. "Seriously, sleep through gym. I'll tell Bracken."

Pascal stopped in his tracks, a little smile taking over. "What if it's Earth?"

"Then I'll teach you."

"Maybe I'll get healing!" He looked like a boy about to open his holiday gifts. "Oh, healing would be so good. Even if it's just first aid. I could help more when the Hunt comes."

"Pas," I chided. "Man, you are a badass out there. Please do not give up swinging a sword because you can apply band-aids, ok? Believe it or not, it's possible to do both."

"Well, yeah."

"And sleep tends to help the body acclimate," I told him. "At least it did for me. Avoid electronic devices if you're shooting sparks - which makes me think you won't have a minor skill. Have more tea, since it's nice and warm. Just be careful for a bit."

"How long?" he asked.

I hummed and rocked my head, trying to remember back to when my own power had come in. "The first few days tend to be the worst. Three, maybe five at most? It's been a while, Pas."

He chuckled at that. "Rub it in." And then he looked up at me with the biggest grin I'd ever seen. "Am I really getting magic?"

"Yeah," I said. "I mean, I haven't felt any yet, but it sure sounds like you are."

He nodded almost like he couldn't figure out what else to do. "I think I will go to the office. Ms. Rhodes should be able to tell, right?"

"Or Robin, the nurse," I told him. "She might also give you something to dull it for a bit so you can stop tweaking like some teenage druggie."

"Yep, you talked me into it," he said, pausing to clasp my arm. "I didn't think this day would ever come. I..."

"Go," I told him, understanding completely. "And congratulations, my friend."

He just smiled for a little too long before turning and meandering away.

That was when I realized I was smiling too.

Of all the people I knew, Pascal and Rain were the ones who deserved magic the most. They'd both gotten it.

I was pretty sure they both felt like they'd just stepped into a faerie tale.

I only hoped they both also got the happy endings they deserved.