Page 44 of Faerie Trials

Lane and Arlyss were ever-present and both flanked Coral. A lot of students found Arlyss to be the most handsome guy in school. He stood over six feet tall with muscles like an ox and the disposition of one too. Sadly, he was one of those students whose big head was helped along by a reputation for being a very powerful Fae. A reputation built on truth. He’d won the Summer Games with ease and since then hadn’t let an opportunity to remind us of his superiority pass him by.

He and I had never gotten along and the more I got to see him, the less we liked each other.

“What’s this about Miss Perfect needing extra help after class?” Arlyss asked. “I thought since you were good enough to secure a place in this school, you’d need nothing and no one to keep you here. It must be my mistake.”

For such a big guy, Arlyss was a worm.

I rubbed at my chest and the knot of pressure there. I knew I shouldn’t let him get under my skin. He managed to do it no matter what I told myself. “A little extra help never hurt anyone,” I said. “It was a decision the school councilor made.”

Shouldn’t have said that. It added fuel to the fire.

Even if I’d once been a stupid hopeful fool to think coming to the Elite Academy would somehow make these pure-bloods accept me, now I knew better.

Arlyss eyed me sidelong. “It doesn’t hurt anyone when you think you are going to make it through the Trials. These are hard enough that even people like me have a hard time crossing the finish line. What kind of extra work has your tutor been putting in to get you ready, halfling? Do you believe you can keep up with the rest of us?”

“Well, when you spend so much of your time living in luxury and lording your superiority over the rest of us—”

“At least he’s fed and comfortable,” Mike interrupted, clapping Arlyss on the back. “What more can one ask of in life? Whatever makes you happy.”

His voice had gone a little cold but I shook off the observation. He’d promised me…

“We certainly know who’s going to make the biggest splash during the Trials.” Coral slid closer to Mike and trailed her fingernails along his arm. Shooting a minuscule glance at me as she did. “Crown Prince Michael is never a disappointment. What plans do you have to dazzle us, Your Highness?”

The look she flashed in my direction told me exactly how she thought I fit into the picture. Great, super. Like her opinion mattered to me.

Except it did, and I didn’t like the way Mike’s eyes narrowed in speculation. I glanced between them, waiting to see what he would say, what he’d do.

“I’m expected to be the best and that’s exactly what I plan to do, despite this being my first year competing,” Mike boasted. “I’m going to give Arlyss a run for his money. Let’s see who comes out on top, shall we?”

“Don’t forget about us little guys,” Lane joked.

“There always have to be little guys to make the big guys look better.”

“And how much better you are, Michael. Better than the company you keep,” Coral stated, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “When are you going to learn?”

I held my breath… Nope, there went Mike, slipping automatically into the persona Ireallyhated no matter how he told me he’d try to work on it. Though he stood across from me, I reached over, pinching him in the side.

The quick snap of pain did the trick and he jerked. For a split second he looked ashamed, rubbing the back of his neck before saying, “Coral, come on. You’re not being very nice. In fact, you’re being a real bitch.”

Lane sucked in a breath at the statement and the three of us turned to see Coral shifting up to glare at Mike. “What did you say to me?”

He narrowed his eyes and I watched him shrug off the cloak of the haughty persona. “The truth. I don’t like it when you insult Tavi, especially when you think no one sees what you’re doing. Just because no one has said anything until now doesn’t make your behavior proper.”

“You have some nerve calling Coral names,” Arlyss said, crossing his arms over his chest. “She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“I’m only throwing back what she is serving. If she wants to resort to insulting Tavi when she thinks none of us are bright enough to follow along, then it’s only fair to call her out on it.”

I leaned back. “I appreciate it.”

None ofthemappreciated the change in Mike’s behavior, though. It was clear to see on their faces. Without saying another word, Coral tossed the rest of her hair over her shoulder and headed in the opposite direction. Knocked down a peg, I liked to think. Then I watched Lane and Arlyss follow closely behind her. Fine, let them go. Things were always better without them around. I mean, Lane seemed like a nice enough guy but I could never tell with the students here.

Mike shook his head until a lock of pure gold fell over his face then shot me a wicked grin. “It’s good you caught me. I was starting to slip. And the scary thing? I didn’t even realize what I was doing until you pinched me. It seems I’m going to have to keep a really close watch on myself.”

“Yes, you will,” I said, “because I hate to think I’m going to have to be around you all the time to watch you myself.”

“All the time?” His eyes warmed. “I thought we talked about this and you agreed. I believe I spoke to you about it the other night. Do you remember?”

Oh boy. “I remember.”

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