Page 86 of Faerie Gift

Eyes watched us from those trees. Welcoming committee? Pixies like Elfwaite?

I couldn’t wait to find out.

The exchange students went through the portal first but I was too distracted to see if they carried the fake Augundae Imperium with them. Melia kept hold of my hand and we stepped up to the portal when our turn came.

This was it.

We did it together. We crossed the threshold and the weight of magic pressed against us, drawing the air from our lungs until we passed over to the other side.

Instantly my glamour failed. My veins turned to ice and my senses returned in a rush. I could smell everything. Sensory overload had me stumbling and Melia drew me against her with a word of encouragement.

Then I was looking back toward the portal at the graduation ceremony. And realized the ice in my veins had nothing to do with the glamour dropping away. My senses flared, the scent of wolf unmistakable.

The two boys who had cornered me, the brother of the one who tried to kill me—I saw them in the student body section with their gazes trained on the stage. Along with another shifter of distinct origin.

A man from the Grimaldi pack.

Melia tried to tug me forward when I remained rooted to the spot. I heard none of what she said to me. Not when the third wolf, the Grimaldi wolf, met my eyes. And smiled.

There was more going on than just my betrothed searching for me. I knew it immediately the way some mothers could sense when something happened to their baby. A shiver like a spider walked along my spine. This was not the sight I’d expected to see.

The academy was in trouble.

It meant—

“Mike? Mike! Wait!” I yelled, trying to go back. “Wait!”

He jogged forward and reached for me even as I called on my fae magic to try and disguise my nature from him. He saw nothing. “No worries, Tavi. I’m here. I’m the Crown Prince, remember?” He flashed me a smile. “I can come and go at my leisure. And today I’m coming with you.”

I fumbled for his hand. Wait, what? Coming with me, why? “But the—”

The man from the Elder Council stepped toward the portal, holding the false Imperium. The moment he cleared the circle of magic, the illusion exploded in a shower of sparks. He yelped and jumped, his eyes round, his face pale.

Oh, no. No!

My magic hadn’t held in Faerie.

Now they knew something was definitely up. Pandemonium ensued. Headmaster Leaves screamed for calm as the rest of the school council and those from our sister school began to shout, began to accuse everyone else of stealing.

The wolves in the crowd whooped wildly at the commotion. So, they’d figured it out too. Figured out that if this was a fake Augundae Imperium, then the real one must be around somewhere.

Most likely still at the academy, hidden away.

“No.” My breath escaped in a low moan.

Even if I escaped into Faerie, the Imperium would grant the possessor enough magic power to make the jump, and with no need of a portal. Would they reduce the school to rubble in their search for it? Would Barbara attract attention to the fact that she had the artifact, since I was pretty darn sure she wouldn’t be able to resist using it right away?

Was I going to be safeanywhere?

I drew on my magic to keep my wolf hidden completely, even when she rose to the surface in the commotion, teeth snapping. With the Elder Council going mad and the wolves moving closer, I didn’t know how to proceed. Seconds later I watched the portal close for good, an instant before my outstretched hand reached it. Nothing now but thin air.

And nothing I could do.

The End.