Page 14 of Faerie Gift

“Michael Thornwood, the Crown Prince of Faerie,” the first girl said with a gasp. “Here. In this room. With us.”

“In this room and in this school,” he said blandly. “Absolutely.”

Their adulation was practically palpable, nearly a stench in the air, and I narrowly avoided waving my hand to dispel it. Gross. A knot formed in my stomach.

“Can we have your autograph?” the girl asked. “Please. I mean, I know this is kinda weird but it would make my day.”

Hiswhatnow? Surely my jaw dropped and my eyes widened. Neither of them paid me any mind, however. They were too busy drooling over Mike.

“Ladies, I don’t—” he began.

“We know this is probably super awkward but you’re…you’re…” Katha tried to join in the conversation but trailed off on a weak giggle. Uncaring how she’d interrupted her precious prince.

A giggle?Seriously?I watched the display like one would a car wreck. I couldn’t look away even though my gut filled with a kind of confused horror.

The first girl blushed a pretty shade of apple-red to the tips of her ears. Still pretty despite the display. “We hate to ask, but it would mean the world to us.”

Mike looked like he hated them asking as well. But good manners prevailed eventually as he blew out a breath and rewarded the girls with a simple smile. “I don’t mind. It’s fine. Do you have a pen?”

Both dug enthusiastically in the pockets of their school uniform. Both handed Mike a pen and one went so far as to slide a slip of paper across the desk toward him. Where had she been hiding it?

They didn’t know him the way I did. They didn’t see the way he politely but begrudgingly grabbed the paper and signed his name across it. They didn’t notice the tension around his eyes and mouth.

The girls left happily with prize in hand to grab their own seats, although at this point the only ones left were in the front of the class. Far away from us, I thought with savage delight.

“Wow. What is going on?” I whispered. “I didn’t realize you’d had time to start a fan club with your three weeks of vacation.” I was only partially joking.

Mike bit the inside of his cheek, lip twisting to the side as he studied their retreating forms. “I wish I knew. Somehow I don’t think it started over vacation.” This was a mutter under his breath. Anembarrassedmutter.

Our homeroom teacher clicked into the room on heels resembling spikes ready to impale everything she walked on. But the shoes were the only interesting thing about her, as I’d seen from having had her last semester as well. She spoke in a monotone and was about as boring as watching paint dry. At least she gave us lots of time to talk.

A few students carried on audible conversations and Professor Iris literally gave no shits about it. She couldn’t be bothered to look up from the blackboard and the chalk writing magically without her having to touch it.

This could work, I thought.This could work nicely.

The rear of the class was filled with several exchange students sitting in on the lecture. I tried not to look at them. Tried not to let them know Iwaslooking, at least, though my curiosity got the better of me several times.

“I wonder why they’re sitting in onourclasses,” I said softly to Mike. “If they’ve already passed their own exams, then this should be boring to them. Right?”

“I haven’t a clue,” he responded. Then shrugged and shifted to cross his arms over his chest. “No one tells me anything. I’m in the dark the same way you are. Although it does seem odd.”

“Maybe we should go and introduce ourselves. I mean, if they’re going to be here for the rest of the semester, it would make sense to be friendly. And they’re sharing our homeroom.”

He didn’t turn around in his chair, his attention focused fully on the teacher standing at the blackboard. The low screech of the chalk did nothing to break up her monotonous lecture.

“Yeah, you go on,” he replied softly from the corner of his mouth. “I’m not about to tell them who I am. I have enough groupies, thanks. Anyway, I’m sure most of them have already figured it out by now.”

He gestured toward the front row of desks and the two girls trying to be inconspicuous and failing miserably. They continued to turn and stare at him with moon eyes and lovesick expressions.

I wanted to throw up in my mouth. “Maybe you’re right. We’ll have to work on your alias later,” I said.

I waited until after class to introduce myself to some of the new students. There were four of them gathered in a group near the door, chatting among themselves. Intimidating, sure, but Leaves had said to make them feel welcome.

So, I mused, this was to satisfy my curiosity, sure, but it was also me doing my part.

Sidling close to them, I kept a friendly smile on my face. “Hi. I know I speak for everyone when I say we’re happy to have you here.” I held my hand out to the closest girl, waiting for her to take it to shake. “I’m Tavi Alderidge. I’m a first-year.”

A slender brunette with eyes an electric shade of blue returned the handshake before the rest of her friends followed suit. “Zinnia,” she said slowly with a hint of an accent. “It is a pleasure.”

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