Page 8 of Shattered Stars

“What was a long time ago?”

“The story.”

My brow crinkles, but Winnie’s already jumping back to the two jerks that may or may not be my fated mates. “I just … if they are …”

“If they are, where does that leave me?” Heading for the mental hospital like Stone’s mom?

Winnie rests her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure you’re right. That it’s just a confusing time. You moved here from the backend of nowhere. You were thrust into a new world and way of life you didn’t understand. You’ve been treated like crap by far too many people in this academy – that’s got to be massively confusing. You’re doing amazing, Rhi. If it were me, I’d probably have struggled to get out of bed most days.”

“There are a lot of days that I do.”

“What I’m saying is, with all your emotions tangled and confused like that, it’s not surprising you might mistake some emotions for others. They do say there is a very fine line between love and hate,” she says, looking unsure. “Because I simply can’t believe two people could treat their fated mate the way Tristan and Spencer have treated you.”

I kiss Pip’s head. I hope she’s right. I want her to be right. I don’t want to be forced to make a decision like that: tie myself to two men who treat me badly or endure a life of madness and pain. Neither of those options sound even vaguely appealing.

“Anyway,” Winnie says, leaning over her bunk to kiss my head in the way I just kissed Pip’s. “Did you hear the announcement yesterday after the match or were you too busy banging the hot professor?”

“I didn’t hear any announcement.”

Winnie swings her legs out of the bed and her feet hit the floor, her face erupting into uncontainable excitement.

“There’s going to be a ball in honor of the dueling team’s victory in the cup.”

“Tonight?” I say. I have nothing to wear to a ball and, though Winnie often acts as my fairy godmother, I don’t think even she could magic a ball gown out of nowhere.

“No, not tonight,” Winnie says, whacking my shoulder and shaking her head. “You remember how much work went into the Founders’ Night party? A ball requires ten times as much work as that. It won’t be for weeks.”

“And a ball is a good thing?” I venture.

“Are you kidding me?” Winnie squeals. “There hasn’t been one the entire time I’ve been at the academy. This is the first one.”

“And you’re pleased about that?”

“Rhi, Arrow Hart balls are legendary. In fact, my mom claims the night of the Arrow Hart ball was the night she fell in love with my dad.” Winnie frowns. “I’m pretty certain it was the night I was conceived too.”

“Balls sound dangerous.”

Winnie gives me a hard look. “Rhianna Blackwaters, please tell me you are using contraception. I know we haven’t had this little chat, but I assumed–”

“I’m using contraception,” I say. “But,” I add, lowering my voice to tell her about what happened with Stone in the bathroom this morning.

“Woah,” Winnie says, her eyes widening. “That is incredibly hot and–”

“Exactly,” I say. “I don’t understand men.” Azlan, Stone, Tristan, Spencer: they all confuse the hell out of me.

“I think you understand them far better than you realize,” Winnie says, grinning at me.

I wish she was right.

3

Rhi

Winnie wantsto grill me some more after that but I’m yawning so much that she soon takes pity on me and lets me crawl into bed with Pip.

I don’t wake again until past lunchtime and my first thought is Azlan. I said I would talk to him and I’ve already left it longer than I should. I hunt for my phone and send him a message. It’s clear from his reply that he is reluctant to be seen at the academy again so soon after yesterday. We agree instead that I’ll travel into the city by the campus bus and he’ll meet me at the stop. It’s Sunday after all and in honor of the match yesterday, I’ve been let off from gardening duties.

There is only one problem with this master plan. I need permission to go into the city from my head of house. From Tristan Kennedy.