Page 154 of Mistaken Magic

Abreath rushed fromKeir'slungs, sounding almost relieved. "That'sit," he told me. "Justa little more."

AndthenIheard people start to move.Voicescalled out for people to go here or there, and all of them sounded like teachers.Openingmy eyes,IfoundKeirright before me, and he was nodding proudly.

"Areyou ok?" he asked.

"I'mfucking pissed,"Iadmitted, turning back to findHarperbound with the shadows, her eyes wide in fear. "Youstupid,"Ihissed, heading her way, "arrogant," andKeirfollowed, "stuck-up, self-centered, pompous little bitch!Youtried to kill me?Overthis?"

"RainBrooks!"Ms.Rhodessnapped with a tone intended to stop me.

Oh,Ididn't fucking care.IreachedHarperand swung as hard asIcould.Myfist crashed into the side of her face and the shadows vanished one single second too late to allow her to balance.Shecried out, falling right onto her ass, andImoved to stand over her.

"Howmany times have you attacked me?"Idemanded. "Andfor what?Becauseyou thinkI'mweaker than you, butI'mnot.Inever have been!Idon't give a shit who you are, who you slept with, or what kind of magic you have.Youtried to kill me!"

"Idon't know why it didn't work," she whimpered, scrambling backwards.

Ijust followed, getting more pissed off because she acted like that should've been an excuse. "Thatdoesn't make it better!"Iscreamed. "Inever did a damned thing to you.Ididn't ask for any of this, but you won't fucking leave me alone."Shestopped, soIleaned in a little more. "Luckyfor you,I.Am.Not.A.Bully."

Whichwas whenLiamreached me, shoving a hand at my chest to push me back, but his complete attention was onHarper. "Getup," he told her.

"Allof you!"Ms.Rhodesyelled, her voice carrying in an unnatural way. "Andsomeone get rid of all the crows!"

"Thatwould beRainleFae,"Toriancalled out. "They'rehers."

"Morrigan!"Jackdeclared one more time, andIwatched all the color fade from the dean's face.

"Impossible," she breathed, turning toward me. "She'dhave to go toFaeriefor that."

"Orhave the wildlings come here,"Toriancountered. "It'snot the where,Ms.Rhodes.It'sthe what.RainleFaeis clearly theMorrigan.ShecalledWildmagic."

Fora moment,Istood there staring atIvyRhodes, and she just stared back.Theother teachers were securing the students, including both jesters and the court.Theonly thing that broke me from my stupor wasJacklanding on my shoulder, the cold breeze from his wings enough to make me look away and squint my eyes.

"Jack.Rain.Morrigan!" he announced.

Ms.Rhodesjust nodded. "Liam?Gether side of things and bring her to my office.Bracken?Makesure no one is injured.Treatthem, if they are."

"Keir!"Brackencalled out.

Keirjust crossed his arms. "Don'tmake me choose."

"Checkthat she's not injured,"Brackentold him.

"Therest of you!"Ms.Rhodescalled out. "Gohome.Ifyou're injured or need help, find a teacher.Ifyou know of someone who attacked another with magic, report it.Thosewho did?Takethem to the office.Wewillnothave this atSilverOaks."

Andthose words made the pit of my stomach turn cold likeI'djust swallowed ice.Wewere all going to be expelled.Harper'sstupid obsession with pure-blood fae boys had just blown up in my face.Desperately,Iturned to findLiam, but he was a few steps away, talking to a girl holding her wrist.Instead,Keirstood there.

"We'regoing to get expelled,"Ibreathed.

"Wasit worth it?" he asked.

Ishook my head. "Notat all.Ijust didn't want her to come atTorian.Ithought she'd yell,Keir!Whatif you can't graduate now?"

"Thenit was worth it," he told me, leaning in just a bit. "Thinkabout that,Rain.Istill can't lie."

"Whichpart was worth it?"Iasked.

Hislips curled into a lopsided smile. "Ifinally figured out why you're so interesting to us.It'syour shadow."

Again,Iwiggled my head from side to side because that made exactly zero sense. "What?"

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