Page 155 of Mistaken Magic

Keirgestured wide with one arm, indicating all the darkened land around us. "Thedarkness that was just here?Therolling shadows?It'syours.It'sWildmagic.Itmarks you as theMorrigan.Wethought you were normal, but we were mistaken.You,Rain, are magic."

Chapter Sixty-One

Assoon as the insanity was sorted out,Liamled me back to the office.Iwalked silently beside him, convincedIwas about to get in so much shit.Ididn't even really know what had happened!OneminuteIwas kissingTorian- which madeLiamdo a double take whenItold him - and then all hell had broken loose.Ididn't even know howIgot the magic, andJackwas gone again, flying around with the other crows.

Butthe momentLiamopened the door to the school, a black streak shot through it to land on the other side. "Rain!"Jackcroaked.

"Decidedto come get expelled with me,Jack?"Iasked, holding out my arm for him to come up to my shoulder.

Whilethe bird launched himself up and got comfortable,Liamshook his head. "I'mnot going to let them kick you out for defending yourself,Rain."

"Idon't even know what happened!"Ireminded him.

"Jack!" my crow informed me.

Usually,Icould keep up with what he meant, but not this time.Still, no reason to put this off, and at leastIwasn't getting kicked out on my own.Liamreached over to rub my free shoulder in support, and it was kinda nice.EventhoughIknew this was about to blow up, at least he would still be my caseworker -Ihoped he would, anyway - andKeirsaid it was worth it.Allof that meant something.Ijust wasn't sure what.

Wewalked into the main office to findIvyRhodesaddressing a room full of students. "Eachone of you will have an extra class next semester," she told them. "Foreighth period, you will learn the repercussions of poorly-cast conjurations and enchantments, how to fix them, and the damage your actions could've caused.Doyou hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," a few of them breathed.Othersjust nodded sheepishly.

"Thenget out of my office!" she demanded. "Backto your rooms, all of you, andIwill have your doors enchanted before the night is over.BegladIwas having a good night."Shelifted a finger. "Andthe fool who makes a joke about that will be going home before dawn."

Thenshe thrust her arm out towards the door, and the crowd began to move as fast as they could.LiamandIshifted to the side, quickly getting out of their way.Jacksquawked, not liking the wayI'djostled him, and then he ducked his head into my hair as if he realized he shouldn't draw any attention.

"Youroffice,"Ms.RhodestoldLiam. "I'llbe in there in just a moment."

Liampushed out a breath, then gestured for me to go first.Iheaded that way and took the chair before his desk.Liammoved to a padded seat at the side.Then, through the still-open door,IheardMs.Rhodes' voice come back loud enough for me to understand every word.

"Idon't give a damn who your mother is,Harper.Youhave proven you have no interest in workingwithfae society.Wedon't owe you a place here."

"Whatabout the donations my family makes?"Harpershrieked.

"Toobad,"Ms.Rhodessaid. "Rulesare rules, and you insist on learning that the hard way.Thelast time we were in here,Imade it clear that if you ever attacked another student, you'd be gone.Youdid.You'regone."

"Fuckyou!"Harpertold her. "Maybeyou're a pure-blood fae, but my mother was theQueen'shandmaid."

"Yourmother was no such thing!"Ms.Rhodestold her. "Shelaid out clothes and dusted theQueen'schambers.Shenever even saw theMadQueenup close."Therewas a long pause. "Outof the kindness of my heart,Iwill give you the night here, but you had best believe your door will be locked.Ifyou so much as cross into your suitemate's side,Iwill know.Ifyou try anything else, you will be dealt with like any other threat against this school."

"I'llmake you pay for this,"Harpersnapped.

Ms.Rhodeschuckled. "That'swhat they all say, child.I'vebeen around long enough thatI'mnot scared of empty words from little girls high on their own self-importance.Nowgo to your room.Ms.Hawthorneis waiting to escort you the whole way."

"Fine!"Harperyelled.

Therewas a lot of banging, and thenIsaw the girl storm through the office, not even waiting for her escort.Ms.Hawthorne- a teacherIdidn't know - seemed to not care too much, though.Thewoman was clearly fae, and she sauntered along afterHarperlike she wasn't worried about a single thing.

Amoment later, the dean came out of her office and simply walked straight across toLiam's.Onceshe stepped inside, she let out a sigh and closed the door behind her.Seeingthe chair open atLiam'sdesk, she took it, easing herself down with the grace of a queen.

"Whathappened out there tonight?" she asked me. "Inyour own words.I'vealready heard a few dozen versions, butI'mmost interested in yours."

Iglanced over toLiam, and he nodded at me. "Thewhole truth,Rain.Youcan't change history now, andIassure you we've seen it all."

SoIpulled in a breath and just started. "Itall kinda began whenIbumped intoHarper.Ididn't mean to, butAspendidn't want me to dance too hard.She'sconvinced that becauseI'mhuman,I'llkill myself trying to keep up with them.Thecourt,Imean.Soshe shoved me out of line,Ibumped intoHarper, and thenIdidn't back down.Iwalked away - wait."Ineeded to be honest, and she'd already heard it all, soHarperhad likely made me sound horrible.Ineeded all the details.

"You'refine,"Ms.Rhodesassured me.

"Isaid something to her.Calledher a bitch or something.Idon't even remember, and thenIpatted her cheek.Itwas the nastiest thingIcould think to do.ButthenIleft, and we hung out, andIwas withKeir.Wewalked around the fire, andIsawHarpershoving atTorian.SinceIknewIwas the reason she was in a bad mood - becauseI'dsaid some stuff -Ifelt likeIneeded to step in and help."