Page 134 of Mistaken Magic

"Itis," he agreed, "and theQueenhas gone mad because of it.But, that's just the official story.Theunofficial one is thatTitaniafelt embarrassed becauseOberon'spower was greater than hers.Itwas his season, after all.WhentheSummerSolsticecame, hewas busy elsewhere, and probably in someone's bed.Theman was well known for his lovers.Shedidn't get the chance to show him up, so she began searching for ways to store power to use off-season.Andthus, the woman became obsessed with power, always wanting more.Thecrown onOberon'shead offered it.Thenatural solution was to force him to marry her."

"Shesounds kinda likeHarper,"Igrumbled.

Hedropped his head and sighed. "Pleasedon't say that.Harperis petty, malicious, and self-absorbed, butIpromise she's nothing like theMadQueen.Titaniahas goals, she has contingency plans, and the woman is nothing but one scheme on top of another."

"Wasshe terrifying?"Iasked, aware he'd actually met her.

Toriannodded. "Very.Thewhole fairytale about the mirror?It'sbased on her vanity.Sheloved no one but herself and her own reflection.Sheonly wanted a child as a means to get control of theWintercrown, you see.Andfailure was not tolerated around her.Ifshe bestowed her favor on you - like offering to teach something - she expected nothing but excellence.Anythingelse would reflect poorly on her, as if she might not be a perfect teacher."

"Isshe why you left?"Iasked.

Henodded again. "Yeah.Shefigured out that threatening children was the easiest way to force her court to obey her.Normally, killing children is an abhorrent thing to the fae, butTitaniadidn't care at all.Therules were hers to create and break as she pleased.Harperhas that about her, and it's whatIcouldn't tolerate."

"IsHarperrelated to theQueenor something?"Iasked.

Thelook he gave me was appalled. "No!Hermother was theQueen'smaid.Nothingmore.Granted, the woman tells everyone she was theQueen'shandmaid and keeper of her secrets, but her duties were preparing theQueen'sclothes.Ifsheever talked toTitania,I'dbe surprised.Shealso left beforeIwas born."

Ispun the little blade of grass between my fingers. "Youknow, all of this is interesting, like some wild fairytale or something, but there's one thingIdon't get about all of it."

"What'sthat?" he asked.

"Whydo we care?WhyamIlearning about the history of a world that's locked away?Whatdifference does it even make?"Iasked. "Whydo all of our teachers act like knowing this is very, very important?It'snot like you'll be going back, andIcertainly won't be!"

Torianleaned forward to hug his knees. "Well, they say those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."Hesighed deeply before looking over at me. "Andthe hope is to go back,Rain.Humanslive long lives there.Faelingswould be no different than fae, and their children would be born into the magic again.Wedowant to go back, but we also want to return to a world where theQueenisn't in charge."

"Sowhat then?"Iasked. "KilltheQueenand get a new tyrant?Imean, isn't that how monarchs work?All-powerful and shit?"

"No," he promised. "Thecrowns tie the rulers to their power.Fromthere, it's dispersed to the courts.It'slike a focus stone,Iguess.Likea magnifying glass.Thecrowns were made long, long ago to gather all the magic so our people could all have some.Thosewith more are expected to do more inFaerie.Noblesaren't special just because of birth.They'reranked because of their power, and because of their title, they are beholden to those under them."

"Apyramid scheme,"Irealized, chuckling at the idea.

"Kinda," he admitted. "Thedifference is that beforeTitania, those at the top lived busy, challenging lives.Noteasy ones.Thelife of luxury belonged to those who worked with their hands,lacking the power to be responsible for anything but their own existence."

"Andwho polices it?"Iasked. "BecauseifTitaniawent rogue, who's to say someone else won't?"

"Itused to be the wildlings," he said. "Andthrough them, a champion.InFaerie, the world finds a way to balance itself.Tiltthe scales and be ready to pay the price.Ilike to think it means theMadQueenwill pay very, very dearly."

Chapter Fifty-Three

OnSaturday,Ispent most of the day in the atrium.Theplace was becoming more popular as everyone crammed for midterms.Sowas the panic.Overand over again,Ikept hearing people mention academic suspension or even expulsion if we didn't pass our courses.Whenadded to the fact thatIhad no special abilities besides an overly friendly crow?Well, to sayIwas nervous was putting it mildly.

Forthe most part,Jackbehaved himself.Once, he stole a guy's keys.Somecollege guy had set them down beside where he was sitting, andJackhad been fascinated by the shiny metal.Beforethe guy even knew what was happening, the bird swooped in, grabbed the keys, and flew off.Thankfully, he brought them right to me soIcould give them back.

WhichpissedJackoff.Hewas not at all impressed thatI'dreturned the gift he'd stolen so fairly.Thechattering and cawing was enough for me to send him up to the top of the atrium.Hestill grumbled, but at least up there it wasn't quite as loud.

Thefirst half of the day,AspenandIboth spent withHawke.Hewasn't in our math course, but he was taking an advanced class, so our stuff was easy, he said.Whilehe sat propped up against the fish pond,AspenandIboth claimed his legs aspillows for our heads.Shelay stretched out one way.Iwent the other.Hawkeassured us he didn't mindat all.

Thenhe grilled us on math problems fromAspen'stablet.WhenIstumbled, he paused and broke them down for me.WhenAspenhad a question, he always answered it.Theguy was smart!I'donly ever paid attention to him in my offensive combat class, butIwas starting to thinkIwas missing out.

Intermittently, he'd rest his hand on my stomach orAspen's.Thefirst time he did it,Ilooked up to find his eyes waiting.Ismiled, he relaxed, and neither of us said a thing, but it was kinda nice.Igot the impression he was mostly doing it forAspen, making everyone else think she was flirting with him.Ormaybe that he was flirting with her,Irealized onceIremembered he was with a guy.

No, notaguy.Hissuitemate.SinceTorianwas supposedly only into women,Ihad a feeling the other guy wasWilder.Thenagain, for allIknew,TorianandWilderwere suitemates andHawkewas with some faeling guy.Iwas dying to ask, butIwas neither stupid enough to try nor rude enough to thinkIdeserved to know.

Westudied math for three hours.Mybrain was so full of numbersIwas starting to do worse just asKeirarrived.Hecame over to stand above the three of us, but his smile was the honest kind.

"So, looks like you lucked out,Hawke.How'dyou get the best-looking girls in school on your lap at the same time?" he teased.

Hawkejust looked up at him. "Ioffered to explain numbers.Seemswomen like a man who can... teach them things."

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