Page 35 of Faerie Marked

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it. Sometimes it takes a while. Is your head feeling better?”

“Barely.” I tapped against my temple. “Headache. My stomach is growling, too.” But I didn’t want to keep complaining in front of him. He’d already seen me at my worst. Any more and he might decide it wasn’t worth being my friend.

“You just need a little something to eat and then you’ll feel better. I snuck in a chocolate bar and it’s the only reason why I’m standing here right now.” Mike glanced around us at the rest of the students as though someone would overhear and come attacking for a piece.

I scoffed, mouth rounded. “And you didn’t think to share? I love chocolate.”

He shook his head. “Sorry. I can be greedy with my sweets. It’s nothing personal, Tavi, let me assure you.”

“I understand.” I forced a shrug as we walked. “If the roles had been reversed then I wouldn’t want to share with you, either.”

“You wouldn’t share your chocolate with me? Then why am I even here?”

Yeah, I didn’t know either. “Your guess is as good as mine,” I teased in return.

Mike let his head drop back on his neck, raising his face to the sunlit window and letting the sunshine bathe him. Honest to goodness, it did something to him, brought a radiance to his skin I could never hope to match. It was…magic. “Look, I think I have a few free minutes this afternoon. Why don’t you meet me back here to get the rest of your things?” He winked.

Oh. Oh my. “Sounds good. I—”

A male student stepped between us and Mike cleared his throat at the intrusion. “Hey Tavi, allow me to introduce my closest friend, Roman Bantam. Roman, this is Tavi Alderidge. We met last night when I gave her a ride to the school.”

It was kind of Mike not to mention the circumstances of said ride.

I forced a grin. “Hi Roman, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, staring at him. Why hadn’t I at leasttriedto shower? I looked like I’d just run a marathon in Sahara-level heat, and here was another handsome Fae boy probably thinkingwhere did Mike find this one?

It made me wonder if Mike had a habit of finding the lost and distressed.

But Roman’s handshake was strong, his palm warm, and his face was open, easy. Pleasant. “How’s it going?” he asked.

This drop-dead half-Fae was the polar opposite of Mike. Roman stood a few inches taller with less muscle, a leaner frame, and darker hair. Chestnut-colored eyes sparked with a kind of inherent intelligence.

I tugged a bit at my t-shirt, wishing I’d insisted on getting my luggage from Mike earlier. Wishing I’d had time to throw a little makeup on my face or do a few other things differently. But then I would have missed the assembly.

“It’s a big change from what I’m used to,” I answered Roman, making sure to keep my answer vague. “I think I’m going to like it here once I get used to all the people.”

Another lie.

He blew out a breath, pushing dark hair away from his eyes. Yes, a perfect contrast to Mike’s lightness, I saw, like two different sides of the same coin. “I can understand. I’m not used to being around crowds either and it’s a little intimidating. Hey, at least we’re here together.”

“How long have you two known each other?” I asked.

“Years,” Mike supplied. “We were friends before applying to the academy. It was our luck to get in together.”

The conversation continued as we made our way down the hall toward the cafeteria. Roman seemed like a personable guy, his jokes charming, his manner easy. It might be the exhaustion, or it might be a sense I hadn’t realized I had, but he almost seemed insincere in his charm. I shrugged off the observation. I was used to guys like him in the pack, fully familiar with the behavior. They wanted to make a good impression with the ladies even if it meant laying the charm on thick.

“Anyway, we’ve gotta get going. Full day.” Mike tapped his folder. “I’ll meet you here around three to go get your luggage, okay? Go eat, Tavi!”

We said our goodbyes and I watched Mike walk away, leaving me at the entrance to the cafeteria. I’d gotten lucky; that was my only thought. Having someone like him in my corner, while less than ideal in some ways, meant I wasn’t really alone here. His devastatingly handsome looks didn’t hurt but they sure did leave a girl wondering where and how she fit in.

“Oh my God. Were youseriouslyjust talking to Michael Thornwood? You have to be kidding me.”

The melodic tone took me by surprise and my breath caught a bit. I turned around quick enough to feel lightheaded, staring at the caramel-skinned upperclassman who’d spoken. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

Okay, it came out a littler harsher than I wanted. Food just bumped up to priority number one.

The older girl didn’t seem to take offense at the statement. She kept her attention focused on Mike and Roman’s retreating backsides with a cluck of her tongue. “I’m the person freaking out about you talking totheMichael Thornwood,” she said. “Do you have any idea who he is?”

“Apparently I have no clue who anyone is at this point. My car broke down on the side of the road last night and Mike stopped to give me a ride.” Why was I telling her these things? “I’m not sure what the big deal is.”

---