Page 10 of Faerie Trials

“Ditto. Nothing is going to happen to you on my watch.”

Because, of course, the other way around. I always worried about Mike. His magic was not what it should be, though I didn’t understand why. What if he didn’t have theTotalisanymore, to help him make it through the Trials?

I could lose him permanently.

We stayed that way for a long moment, our arms wrapped around each other and his scent branding itself in my lungs. I drew in a deep breath until I felt him in my cells. My insides went still. As though everything moved into neutral in his presence.

He’s so warm.

Mike pulled back enough to stare down at me.

My lungs hitched. “What…what are you doing?” I asked softly.

His eyes narrowed, head bending lower. His lips parted.

Oh God. He was going to kiss me. I caught myself rising to meet his lips when I stopped.Bad idea, Tavi. Really bad idea.

I pushed away with a small laugh. “We’re going to be late.”

The moment broke. Mike kept his thoughts to himself, his gaze dropping to the floor. “You’re right. Time to focus.” He sighed, shaking his hands out. “Are you ready?”

Yeah, right. Focus. It was hard when the whole of me cried out for his touch. When I wanted nothing more than to feel those lips on mine again. What I wouldn’t give for his touch.

As the magic of the portal engulfed us, transporting us to the school, I reminded myself that I should not let myself get too close to Mike. Not the way I wanted to be close with him. Because if I gave in to my desire? I could loseeverything.

5

Ibarely made it through the first day of school without keeling over. It didn’t help when I was forced to keep a smile on my face when dealing with Mike’s “friends.” They brought new meaning to the termfake.

The rest of the afternoon I didn’t fare much better and I spent way too much time standing in front of my locker, vision blurry, trying to decide which books to take back to my room. Which ones would I need?

All of them.

Groaning, I let my forehead drop until it landed on the locker door. Tonight would be my first meeting with the tutor and I’d be lying if I said I weren’t dreading it with every fiber of my being. I had three major homework assignments due by Friday. Friday! Plus I had to work in the kitchen every day this week, I had transfiguration tutoring with Onyx WednesdayandFriday, and my academy tutoring literally every other day for the rest of my life.

Not to mention Bronwen and I started our patrol route this week. Yup. For two hours we walked the streets of Eahsea like we had nothing else to do, pretending we weren’t out there looking for a murderer.

No wonder I couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus. Couldn’t concentrate. My mind turned to mush from day one, and although my eyes were open, I didn’t see a damn thing. I stood frozen, like my body decided it was done listening to me, done trying to do everything at once. Exhaustion already weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Maybe marrying Kendrick Grimaldi would have been easier than this.

My eyes popped wide at the thought. Had I really just considered a lifetime with a monster as an acceptable alternative? My workload gave a whole new meaning to full plate, true, but still!

How much longer would it be necessary to jump through these hoops? To always do more and always for someone else? Mental fog was no joke. Then I remembered a bright spot and smiled. At least Mike and I were getting along—sort of—but I knew it was a tentative peace.

I had no idea what to expect from any of this. And no idea when things would get better.

“Hey. You. Woo-hoo!”

Fingers snapped next to my face and I shook off my stupor. I knew the voice and disliked the girl it belonged to, one of the snotty upperclassmen who was always up Mike’s ass. She sauntered wherever she walked, and stared at me like I was nothing but a bug under her shoe. In desperate need of stomping.

Now she stood too close, invading my personal space. She reminded me of Persephone.

“Yes, you. I’m sure you’re busy with your own important thoughts, Tavi, but I have a favor to ask of you.” A pause, slightly uncomfortable. “Please.”

Coral Ferenze stared down her long, straight, perfect nose at me. Copper-colored hair flowed past her shoulders to curl lightly near her breasts. She filled out her school uniform to perfection, slender and curvy at the same time. Coral magicked her lips a bright red that, instead of looking stupid with her hair color, brought out the rich shades in a way mortal makeup could not.

I blinked at her. She knew my name? I didn’t think I’d heard her say it before. “Pardon me?”

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