Page 47 of Mistaken Magic

Lunchwas a little less exciting than it had been yesterday.Lynnand her friends let me sit with them again.Thistime, they talked about their own things.Someof it was about their classes.Otherswere about fellow studentsIdidn't know yet.Evidently, someone namedNevaehhad a run in the back of her tights and no one was willing to tell her.

Thenthere was the fact thatDanniandLayla- whoever they were - had broken up just before third period.Thegirls had the kind of dramatic falling out that made everyone stop to watch the drama.Laylahad tried to put a compulsion onDanni, butDannihad resisted, only to enchantLayla'stablet to shut off randomly.

NotthatIknew any of those people, but it made me realize the social squabbles had just been taken to a whole new level.Butwhile they talked,Iread.Mytablet had all of my textbooks, andHistoryofFaeriewas the best place to start.Itfelt less like a school assignment and more like a documentary, andIseriously needed to know whatIhad gotten myself into.

Whenthe bell rang to announce the end of lunch,Lynnfinally seemed to acknowledge me. "So, you ready for day two of your elective observations?"

Apair of hands dropped onto the end of our table hard enough to make both of us look over.Aspenstood there, leaning on them.Sheraked her eyes across the entire group, convincing a few to leave - and quickly.Thenshe turned her icy gaze onLynn.

"I'llshow her the rest.Youcan have the credit.Idon't even care,"Aspensaid.

Lynnjiggled her head, clearly intimidated by my suitemate. "Ok.Iwas just trying to help, becauseLiamasked."

"Heshould've asked me."

"Ok,"Lynnsaid again. "Ididn't mean to offend,Aspen."

"Youcan't see enough,"Aspentold her. "Youlook for magic, and finding nothing, you make a decision.It'snever that easy.TheQueenvalues only power.Weshould value people."

"Sure,"Lynnagreed. "Ican do that."

ThenAspenturned to me. "Donewith lunch?"Hernose wrinkled like something about the whole thing was disgusting.

"Readyto go when you are,"Iassured her, pushing back my chair.

ThemomentIwas standing,Aspenlooped her arm in mine again, then turned for the back of the building, not the doorsI'dused to come in.Ilooked back, completely confused now, butAspendidn't even slow.Likeme, she held her tablet in one arm, resting the bottom on her hip.Shealso had a cluster ofPixyStixin her hand.Aswe reached the back of the dining hall, she offered me one.

"Everythingelse is in another building, which means we'll need to walk over there.Takea straw.It'llkeep you warm."

Sugarwould keep me warm?Ifshe said so.Iaccepted one, opened the top, then poured a bit into my mouth.Ittasted like pure sugar, but it madeAspensmile.OnceIswallowed, she reached for the door that led outside, then opened it so we could both pass through.

Immediately, the wind hit me, but it was... tropical?Warm, definitely.Shocked,Ilooked over atAspen, who was grinning a bit too much.Shetilted up her own straw, pouring the whole thing into her mouth, and kept walking, towing me along with her.

"It'sjust a glamour," she explained. "Thewind is actually cold, and if we stay out too long, we will pay for it later, but it's a lot better than going to get coats, trying to deal with the coats, and all of that.Besides,Ilike the skirt you're wearing."

Itwas one of the green plaid ones with the pleats.Apretty typical school uniform thing, butIhad on black tights under it.Still, if this was what a glamour could do,Iwas perfectly fine with her using magic on me.However, that didn't meanIdidn't have questions.

"So, you can glamour yourself?"

"Yep," she agreed. "Noteveryone can, though.Glamouringyourself is harder because you already know it's a lie."

"Andyou get cold likeIdo?"Whichsounded stupid once it was out of my mouth.

Aspenjust leaned her head back and laughed. "OfcourseIdo.Theymay call me the ice princess, butIpromiseI'mnot really made out of ice."

"Iactually haven't heard that one,"Iadmitted.

Whichmade her eyes snap over and lock on mine. "Whathave you heard,Rain?"Hertone was suddenly completely serious.

"Thatyou four are all pure-bloods, born inFaerie, and thatIneed to be careful around you,"Isaid. "Iknow people call you the court, andTorian'scalled the king, butIhadn't heard any other titles except the jesters."

Shemade a humming sound. "Summercourt idolizers.Half-bloods at best.Nevermind that their parents left the court.No, they prefer to ignore that part because it doesn't make them sound as impressive."

"ConsideringI'ma no-blood,IfigureIhave no room to talk,"Ipointed out.

"You'rea pure-blood," she corrected. "Purehuman.Donot let some mixed-blood bitch make it sound bad."

"So, being mixed is a problem?"Iasked. "Aspen,I'mjust trying to keep up with all this stuff.I'msure my questions are stupid, but you seem to be the only one willing to answer them without making a big deal out of it."

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