Page 148 of Mistaken Magic

Thesnow was just enough to look like falling stars in the light coming off the building.Theflakes were few and far between, and they certainly weren't piling up anywhere, but it was pretty.LettingKeirlead me,Ilooked up to watch it fall, taking in the back side of theSilverOaks' main building.Allthat glass glowed with the lights from inside, andIkinda liked it.

Butthe crowd kept moving.The"line" of us was wide and spread out, more like a herd, and everyone else seemed to know where to go.Itdidn't take long before the glow of the school was lost and only the moonlit snow made it possible to see the ground.Still, we walked.Ourbreaths misted before our faces, and there was a dullness to the sound out here.Itwas as if even this small amount of snow was enough to muffle everything.

Thenwe crested a hill andIsaw it all.Laidout in the low spot before us was everythingI'dnever realizedIneeded.WhenI'dthought of a "party," my mind had supplied images from human gatheringsI'dsnuck off to.Thiswas nothing like those.Thiswas a fae event.

Amassive ring of trees had a fire in the middle of it.Glisteninglights hung over groups in various colors.Magicalones.Peopledanced in circles, not clumped up the wayI'dexpected.Allof it was mystical, even dressed in some pretty normal clothes, andIhad to pause for a moment to take it in.

"Rain?"Keirasked whileAspenandWilderkept going.

"Thisis perfect,"Ibreathed. "Isthat a fairy ring?"

Hechuckled, hugging me against his side so he could point. "Thetrees are.Avery, very old ring.Theygrow around a place where much magic was once used, taking what they can from the ground.Thefire is for warmth, nothing more."

"Andall the lights,"Isaid, not even ashamed of howIwas gawking.

"Peoplelooking to meet up with their friends," he explained. "Seethe red glow over there?Thoseare the guysInormally hang out with.Blue, purple, and that white-striped one are all various college groups.Overthere?Thepink is the jester girls.Theyellow is the guys.No, the color isn't significant.It'sjust whatHarperchose to make sure she stood out, since no one else uses pink."

"Makesa strange sort of sense,"Iadmitted.

"Thecourt, however, won't use a light," he told me. "Theynever do."Thenhe got me walking again, following the pathAspenandWilderhad taken.

Thiswhole section was out of view from the area around us.Thedepression was deep enough that the most anyone off-property would see was the glow of the fire - if that.Icouldn't get over how they were doing all this out in the open, butIloved it.WhileKeirled me through the crowd of students,Isaw so many peopleIknew laughing with their own friends, a few making out, and plenty of magic being tossed around.

Inthe middle of it all, we found the court.Torianstood before the massive fire with his arms spread.Aspenthrew herself into them, hugging him hard.WilderandHawkemoved to stand beside each other, soKeiraimed for the other side.Aswe got closer,Ifelt the warmth - more than the fire should've putoff, ifIwas honest - but everything inside that ring of trees was actually rather pleasant.

"Whoput up the barrier for the heat?"Keirasked.

Hawkejerked his chin up. "Idid."

"That'sa lot of power for the solstice,"Keirpointed out.

Hawkechuckled. "Yep,Iknow."

"Where'sthe nectar?"Aspenasked.

"Oh, there's a whole slew tonight,"Toriansaid, pointing out at the darkness. "Overthere is a collection of actual alcohol.Acouple of the older students brought it."Thenhe pointed another way. "Thesparkling light?Yeah, that's a kettle of warmed nectar, andI'mpretty sure there's enough to go around."

"Andthe teachers?"Iasked.

Toriancrossed his arms and looked at me. "SeemsBrackenandLiamoffered to keep an eye on us tonight.Itwas going to beMs.RhodesandMs.Hawthorneright up untilSunday.Thenthey suddenly changed their minds.Youhave any idea why,Rain?"

Isucked in a breath. "Um,Imay have talked toLiamabout being worried about getting kicked out."

"Why?" he asked.

"Itwas a long list,"Iassured him. "Itstarted with being human and ended with my only special ability being that a crow likes me."

"Jack!" the bird in question called out as he swooped in.

Iheld my arm up, and he landed on it before bending to nibble at the fabric of my coat.Itseemed to pass his inspection because he moved up my arm to my shoulder.There, he picked at my hair and then the knit capIwas wearing.

"Rain," he croaked.

"Yes,Jack,"Isaid. "I'mwearing a hat so my ears don't get cold."

Hisresponse was simply to peck at it gently, feeling out the material.Ijust rolled my eyes and ignored him.Notgetting a response, it didn't take long before he took off again, heading up to the trees above us to find himself a comfy little roost.

Butin those few seconds, the guys had already moved on to something else.Torianhad his phone out.WilderandHawkewere heading for opposite sides of the fire.Keirstayed beside me, but he was also watching them.Andthen, as if it was some special ceremony,Torianoffered the screen of his phone toAspen.

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