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Chapter Four

RAIN

A t lunch, the court compared notes. For the most part, we'd all been noticing the same things.

Even worse, the jesters kept looking over at us like they were confused - and none of them tried to start shit.

To me, that meant something had definitely changed over spring break, but I couldn't go over and just ask.

But when we headed outside for our afternoon classes, Hawke made a point of walking with me. The guy smiled a few times, but he didn't say anything until we were both far enough away from the main building and not close enough to the Forge.

Then he stopped. "Wait up a sec?"

Expecting something like this, I turned to face him. "Ok, what?"

"I don't like you being in the Forge, ok?" He quickly shoved a hand over his mouth. "It's the one place none of us can come help you, and while I can tolerate more iron than them, because, um, you know..."

"Because you're special," I offered.

Which allowed the guy to relax a bit. "Yeah. We can call it that, but now I have visions of short buses."

"No buses intended," I assured him.

Which made him relax a little more. This time, a smile appeared. "This is me worrying about you, ok? You're headed to the one place on campus we can't go, and something's brewing. I know Tag will help if someone tries to jump you, but she's just human, and the kids in that class can handle iron."

"And I still have wild magic," I reminded him.

"But will you use it?"

On the ground beside us, something moved. Before me, Hawke staggered to the side. Both of us looked down in time to see my shadow yanking hard at his. The moment we were watching, it waved.

"Asshole," Hawke grumbled at it.

Shadow just pointed to itself. First at chest level, then over its head.

"I think it's trying to remind you that I also have it," I pointed out.

Shadow nodded and gestured at me, confirming my suspicion.

"But what can you do if someone fucks with her?" Hawke asked.

In response, a smile began to appear on its face. Two pinpricks of shadowless arcs formed the eyes, growing larger as I watched, and a thin seam spread out, quickly turning into some kind of emoji looking smiley face.

"That is creepy as fuck, Shadow," Hawke told it.

Shadow simply gave him a thumbs up.

"Ok, but I think it has a point," I said. "Plus, I have Jack. If things go sideways, I'll tell him to go get you, how's that?"

"Still can't help," Hawke said. "I mean, I can make it to the door, but that's a warehouse of iron, Rain. If someone wants to cause problems, locking you in there is a good way to do it."

"I'll talk to Tag about it," I conceded.

He nodded. "I think that's all I can ask. Look, I'm just worried. I have a bad feeling."

"Yeah," I agreed. "I think we're all feeling like something's off. But what?"

"Usually, we find out when we least expect it." Then he stepped in to cup my face. "Just be careful, ok? We're stronger when we're all together."

I shifted a half step closer to him and lifted my chin. "I've got Jack and Shadow. I'll be ok. You and Keir watch each other's backs. Wilder, Aspen, and Torian share classes in the afternoon. We got this."

Then his thumb swept across my cheek. "Ok." He paused for a little too long before pulling his hand away with a sigh. "Go play with iron, Rain."

I found my cheeks warming up as I turned away. On my shoulder, Jack ruffled his feathers, but he didn't say anything. At least not until we were out of sight.

Then, softly, he cawed, "Court."

"I like him," I admitted. "I also don't know if I like him because I can like him, or if I like him because he's kinda badass, or if I like him because he's a nice guy who I just like."

Jack nodded. "Rain."

"And that doesn't help at all," I said as I stepped into the Forge.

Fluorescent lights made the interior of this place bright, showing off the racks of power and hand tools. Rows of tables were set up like work benches, and all of them showed marks of use. Dents, scorch marks, and plenty of scuffs proved we actually did things in here.

I didn't even make it to my usual spot before Jack took off, aiming for a quiet spot in the corner. The sound of his wings made the instructor, Tag, look up. She saw it was Jack, then glanced over at me, jerking her chin in greeting.

"Afternoon, Master Tag," I said.

"Suck-up," someone grumbled.

"Shh, she's on our side."

I tried to figure out who'd said that, but too many people were trying hard not to look at me. I was pretty sure it had come from the group sitting right behind me, but I didn't know any of them well enough to recognize their voices. Yet when I claimed my seat, the girl beside me, Lina, leaned in.

"So, you're the talk of the school," she said.

I sighed. "Not surprised. Do I want to know why?" But I was honestly hoping she'd tell me everything.

She flashed me a devious little smirk. "Well, the jesters say you made it all up - "

"Which 'it?'" I asked, breaking in.

She gave me a confused look. "The whole thing with the Hunt."

"Lina," I whispered, "no one talks to me. I don't have a clue what thing with the Hunt."

"So what happened before spring break?" she asked.

"I threw my suitemate a birthday party outside, with the permission of Ms. Rhodes, and we did the whole cake thing. The Hunt showed up, Torian gated a bunch of people into our suite, and the teachers came out to help us fight them."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not fae enough to feel lies."

"No lies," I assured her, tilting my head back. "You can ask anyone in this room, because I'm sure a few can taste them."

"So what the fuck is everyone freaking out about?" she asked.

I just shrugged. "I was hoping you'd tell me."

The guy in front of us turned around, passing me a metal hammer. "If you get these nails out, I'll fill you in."

"Seriously, Heath?" Lina teased. "I don't know why you keep taking this class. You know the tools will make you itch!"

He smiled at her just a little too nicely. "Hush. I don't have a Jack for magic, and I really don't want to swing sticks like the sentinels, so here I am. I also know there will always be someone willing to grip that damned iron for me."

So I picked up the hammer and started removing the three nails in a rather boring piece of wood. In truth, this looked more like an excuse to talk to us than a real project, but what did I know? In here, we had a lot of freedom to make whatever we wanted.

"So?" I asked as I set the first nail on the table beside the wood.

"Ok," Heath said, leaning in. "The way I heard it, the Huntsman yelled that Aspen Fox was 'the princess,' and that pissed her off so much she kicked the shit out of them. One of the hunters was killed - which should be impossible, and Torian's trying to claim he did it."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Not... no."

Heath just jerked his chin at me. "She might not be able to taste lies, but I can."

"Ok," I said, leaning forward and lowering my voice. "Here's how it went. We did cake and presents. Everything was good, and then fog started rolling in. Jack called out that the Hunt was coming, so we got everyone back inside."

"With a gate?" Lina asked. "Rain, that's not easy to do!"

"Ms. Rhodes gave Torian permission earlier, so one was open to make taking the presents back easier," I explained, glancing over to Heath. "How'm I doing so far?"

"Complete truth," he assured me.

I nodded, because I was making sure I was only speaking facts. "But Keir, Hawke, and I are all sentinels. So we got some weapons." I lifted a hand. "I say got, because Torian made some, I made some with Wild magic, and it was a clusterfuck."

"Ok, I'm with ya," Heath agreed.

"Then we beat the shit out of the hunters.

Teachers were heading toward us, we were trying to hold them off, and it got crazy.

There was so much fog, though. I think that was what saved us, if I'm honest. But Torian, Wilder, and Aspen aren't exactly weak in magic, so we kept bouncing spells around, and watching each other's backs. "

"And the dead hunter?" Lina asked.

My guts clenched. I didn't want them to, but I could still remember that moment. "I stuck an iron sword into him. I was pulling Wild magic, so I don't know if that had something to do with it, but yeah. Um, he turned normal and died."

"Fuck," Heath breathed. "You have to figure out how to do that again."

"Trust me, I've been trying to remember everything," I assured him, "but there was a lot going on.

But yeah, that's how we killed a hunter.

And everyone was casting - er, conjuring - everything they could.

The Huntsman had me by the throat, and then lightning hit, and they left.

I thought I was about to die, Keir tried to heal me, and then we realized I have to heal myself because of the whole Wild magic thing. "

"And that's it?" Heath asked.

"Nightmares?" I offered. "I mean, that's the short version, but yeah."

"Where did the princess thing come from?" Lina wanted to know.

I blew out a lazy raspberry and shrugged. "I don't know who's been saying that."

"Is Aspen the Winter Princess?" Heath asked.

I laughed once. "She is not."

"Truth," he told Lina.

"Wait, wait, wait," the guy behind me said, proving he was listening in. "But everyone's saying she is."

"Everyone says a lot of things," I told them. "All I know is the jesters started calling our little group 'the court.' We embraced it, and now this? Tell me someone's not stretching the truth just as far as they can?"

"That's a good point," Lina said.

But Tag pointedly cleared her throat. "Rain, what are you supposed to be making?"

"Uh..." I quickly pulled out another nail. "I'm helping Heath!"

But the guy's eyes narrowed. "Truth," he breathed.

"And your project?" Tag pressed. "Miss le Fae, come here."

I grunted, knowing I was busted, but did head that way.

Behind me, the students who'd been listening in all turned to discuss the "truths" I'd just laid on them.

Tag, on the other hand, leaned against the cabinet where Jack was resting.

Her muscular arms were crossed under her breasts, and she glowered at me like I was about to get in trouble.

"I'm supposed to be filing glass knives for botany," I said when I was close enough, "but I have to wait for them to cool. You know, since we just had spring break."

"I know," she said, turning me so my back was to the class. "I mostly just want you to remember to be careful. Anything and everything you say will be spread around right now."

"Yeah, but why?" I asked. "Tag, what the hell changed? I mean, why are we all feeling like something big is out there?"

"Mm." She looked across the classroom for a moment, then barked out, "Anyone who should be sharpening glass knives? Spend this class cleaning and sharpening your tools. Glass blowers, stop dawdling. Miss le Fae? Outside!"

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled, hurrying forward, trying to figure out what I'd done, because Tag sounded like she'd just reached the end of her patience.

But we were barely outside before she turned to me and lifted her finger to her lips. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, Rain, but I don't agree with Ivy this time. Coming from here, you have no clue what you kids just stepped in."

"So tell me?" I begged.

She glanced at the closed door to the Forge, then back to me.

"Half the kids at this school have no family.

They were foundlings, kinda like you. Of the other half, the vast majority are from the Summer Court.

Maybe not nobility, and certainly not royalty, but that doesn't matter.

You see, for everyone trapped here, all that matters is here .

Some think that if there's no more Winter, then Summer will have power all the time.

It would just become sidhe and wildling, not Summer, Winter, and Wild. "

"So they want to kill Aspen?" I asked.

"And Wilder, and anyone else with Winter magic," she said gently.

"Rain, most of these kids grew up being told Summer is better than Winter.

They're stronger, prettier, more powerful, and everything else you can imagine.

It was a parent's way of coddling their child, never realizing that without the balance, they were making monsters. "

"Ok? But we can change that, can't we? I mean, if I'm supposed to bring balance, and this is clearly far from being balanced..."

"No, that's not what I'm getting at," she told me.

"My point is that things are already unbalanced.

Then you have a group of fae who believe the Exodus was a chance to start over.

To remake things the 'right' way, and do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Extremists, basically. They want to learn everything, push the boundaries, and keep to themselves - as in no human contact.

I hear the students here are called the Children of the Exodus. "

I vaguely remembered hearing something about them when I'd first arrived. I'd assumed they were the nerdy group of the school. Clearly, I'd been wrong about that. Instead, they were starting to sound like the sort of deranged freaks I wanted to stay far away from.

"So, school shooter types?" I asked, just to make sure I was following along.

Tag nodded. "Sadly, yes. That's why Ivy doesn't want me telling you about them. The ones we caught the other day? They call themselves The Silent because they do not speak of this outside their group."

"So, how do we know they're extremists and not just shy?" I asked.

Tag gave me a knowing smile. "This is our school, Rain. We have our ways. No, we don't know enough, but we do know more about our students than most of you realize. That means you need to know too, so you can protect Aspen and Wilder."

"And the rest?" I pointed out.

"The Silent won't care about the rest. Well, maybe Hawke." She winked, proving she knew about him too. "But Torian and Keir are safe from them. I'm not sure about you. In other words, watch your back."