Page 107 of Mistaken Magic

"Isthat the best you have?"Iasked her. "Myname, in case your little brain can't remember it, isRain."

"No, it'sLorraine," she countered. "Sittingat their table doesn't make you a part of the court, or didn't you know that?Thereare some things you must be born into.Poweris one.Bloodis another.You?You'rejust a piece-of-shit humanSilverOakstook pity on."

"Andyou're just a self-absorbed cunt.What'syour point?"Iasked.

"You..."Shelifted her hand and threw, but there was nothing in it.

"Harper!"Ms.Rhodesyelled, slinging out her own hand from up the hall.

Magicwashed over me.Icould feel the static of it, heard the sizzle, but none of it touched me.Inthat split second,I'dbraced for the worst, remembering the story of how she'd turnedAspeninto a frog for a moment, but nothing.HadMs.Rhodessomehow dispelled the effect before it reached me?HadHarperbeen faking, wanting to make me scream and flinch or something?Ididn't get to worry about it for long.

"Bothof you!"Ms.Rhodesbellowed as she stormed toward us on her too-high heels. "Office!Now!"

"Ihave a quiz inAlgebra,"Harpertold her.

"Notanymore,"Ms.Rhodessaid. "You'vejust failed it because you didn't think of that first.Rain?"

"I..."Spinning,Ihurried to find the things of mine that had hit the ground. "Shemade me drop my stuff."

Ms.Rhodesclasped the back ofHarper'sblazer, turning the girl toward the stairs. "Thenfind it and join us.Fiveminutes."

"Yes, ma'am,"Imumbled, a sinking feeling in my gut.

Consideringshe was my teacher for third period, if she was doing this now, it couldn't be good.Nevermind that her office was downstairs, one of the many rooms in the glass administrative area whereI'denrolled.Italso just happened to be across fromLiam's, which meant he'd see me in there.Iwas so busted.Ireally hoped it wasn't the kind that got me expelled from theInstitute!

Ifound my tablet, kicked up next to the wall.Myhighlighter came next, and a delicate girl held out my notebook nervously.Imade it clearIappreciated the help, knowing better than to simply thank her.She'dsaved it before all the pages got bent and warped.Sincemy notes about my midterms were in there, she was a lifesaver.Mypen, however, was gone.

Givingup,Imade it to the stairs as the halls began to clear.Bythe time the bell for third period rang,Iwalked into the office.Ms.Rhodeswas waiting.

"Rain, you need to speak to your guardian.Yes, he's already been informed."Thenshe pointedHarperinto her room.

Iwatched as my bully went, thenItook a deep breath, bracing for the worst.WhenIturned forLiam'sdoor, he was standing there.Hisarms were crossed, his jaw was set, and from the look in his eyes,Iwas in some very deep shit.

"Sit," he ordered.

Itook the chair across from his desk, waiting while he closed the door and claimed his own chair.Thewhole time, my heart was thudding in my chest.Hewas pissed.Iseriously likedLiam, andI'dsaidIwouldn't cause problems whenIcame here, but that had changed in the last few weeks.Ihadn't even considered it whenI'dsmarted off toHarper, butIhad a feelingLiamremembered.

"Thisis the second fight you've tried to start in a month!"Liamsnapped. "You'vejust madeIvysend a substitute to cover her class while she's dealing with this.Itis abig deal,Rain.Doyou not realize you have no way of defending yourself againstmagic?"Hegroaned. "Iknew it was a bad idea to let you come here, butAspendemanded it."

"YouknowHarper'sbeen bullyingAspen, right?"Iasked.

Liampaused. "Whatdo you know about that?"

"HarperdatedKeir.ShedecidedTorianwould be a better catch, so she moved on to him.WhenAspencame here - after she was found, they say -TorianignoredHarper, which pissed her off."Ipaused to lick my lips, my nerves causing my mouth to feel dry. "Theybroke up, and to get even,Harper'sbeen tormentingAspenbecause it's the only thing that seems to get underTorian'sskin.Supposedly, it also makes her mommyproud because that family thinksWintermagic is evil or something."

"Uh-huh..." he leaned back in his chair. "I'mnot sure how any of this is your business, though."

"Brackenasked me to stand up for people,"Iexplained. "Ihate bullies, and they can't tear me down becauseIhave nothing.Well, andIlikeAspen.She's..."Iglanced back at the door, then to him again. "Um,Ilike her."

"Rain..." he breathed, leaning forward to push his face into his hands. "Ivy-Ms.Rhodes- saidHarpercast an allergy conjuration at you."

"Yeah, butI'mfine,"Ipointed out.

"Becausethe dean happened to be walking down the hall!" he snapped. "Shewasn't sure her defense would reach you in time.Howmuch would you like being covered in poison ivy right now?Maybegoing into shock from a reaction to the air around you?I'msureHarperwill say it was something minor - but you do not understand what the fae can do!"Hisvoice became a snarl andIflinched back.

"I'mlearning,"Iinsisted.

"Youstopped them from using iron once," he said, frustration wrapped all around his words, "and now you think you're unstoppable?That'siron.It'swhere we're strongest, but unless you plan to walk around all day wearing a suit of it, you need to realize that sometimes sucking up is safest."

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