by Kendal Davis
The two men sent me derisive glances as they tried to ignore me.
Nobody answered me. I held my hand out for one moment longer, then lowered it.
Fine. I was used to crap like this. I hadn’t grown up as a poor, charity home kid for nothing. I could handle it.
Just as I was about to walk away from this group of three fae students, though, somebody answered me.
It was the man with the sand-colored hair. I’d noticed how handsome he was right away. I liked the way he held himself, like he didn’t care what anybody else thought. Now that I looked a little closer, though, it was pretty intimidating. Kind of scary, actually.
He spoke in an even tone that was decidedly unfriendly. “We know who you are. Fae Academy is expecting you.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Um, thank you?” I wasn’t sure if anything he’d said was cordial enough to merit thanks.
The woman cleared her throat and said, as if she were talking to an errant child, “You may say, ‘Thank you, Prince Lustre.’” As she spoke, she ran her hand along the blond man’s arm.
Lustre’s full lips curved upwards into a semblance of a smile, but there was no kindness in his eyes. “You will not thank us, Arabella. Not after what Fae Academy is going to do to you.”
I actually stepped back. These three fae weren’t just confident, they were mean. I should have known that. School stuff was always like this. But it didn’t usually involve princes, at least where I came from.
Drawing myself up as straight as I could, I summoned all the resolve I had in any world. “I’m here for my music, so I’ll just focus on that. Don’t bother to answer my questions, though. I’ll find my own way.”
Lustre watched me with a ruthlessness that chilled me.
For just a moment, I wondered if the other man, the shorter one with dark hair, was sympathetic to me. Then whatever I’d seen in his face closed up abruptly. There would be no support there.
As if they had all agreed on a silent signal, the three fae turned away from me and strolled across the lawn, perfectly relaxed, chatting easily. The woman trilled laughter and rested her hand on Lustre’s waist.
Wow. I hadn’t realized how friendly Martinus was until I got to meet some of the other fae.
Never mind. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t allow it to matter.
I was here to learn how to use my powers. If everybody here hated me and didn’t want to hang out, then maybe I’d buckle down and learn faster.
Because if I didn’t, then I was doomed.
If I couldn’t control my powers, then I’d end up killing again. And if I did, I’d pay for my mistake with my own life.
Chapter 8: Lustre
Maybe I’d been too harsh. It had been satisfying to see the hurt in her eyes when we’d all been so rude to her. She was an abomination.
All the fae knew that.
But the more pressing thing that I was dealing with right now was that seeing her in person was not what I had expected. I had never guessed that I would want her so much. I’d been ready to pretend that I did, ready to seduce her as part of my mission here.
Instead, I found that I couldn't take my eyes from her. She was beautiful, combining an exquisite delicacy with a force of purpose that I’d never seen before in anybody.
With a murmured excuse to the blonde next to me, I stepped away from my friends. Frost hadn’t even come over to tell us how it had gone. When he’d stalked into the school, he’d kept his eyes averted from us, his closest friends. See? She was already disrupting our world.
I would have to speak with Arabella again sometime. Why not now?
When I fell into step with her, halfway across the grounds in front of the school, she jumped in surprise.
“Prince Lustre. Why did you come back to walk me in? You sure didn’t sound like you planned to help me. I don’t know much about manners here, but your welcome left a lot to be desired.” She did not smile.
“Sorry. I don’t blame you for thinking we were a little rude.”
“A little?” She scoffed, still not won over. “I haven’t met very many fae yet, but you all seem to be pretty full of yourselves.”
“We are just surprised. Nobody expected to have a mortal at school with us this term. It just has everybody worried, that’s all.”
“What is there to be worried about?” She glanced at me as if she was trying to figure out what I knew. We stopped to face each other, pausing in our own little world as the rest of the students walked back inside. As we each waited for the other to speak, the doors closed and we were the last to be left outside.
Now that I had Arabella alone, I looked her over frankly. She looked nothing like a fae woman. She was petite, so that I had to look down to talk to her. She had curves that drew my eye without mercy. Although she wore the dress of a fae woman, she would never blend in here.
“Those aren’t your clothes, are they?”
She shrugged. “Of course they aren’t. Nobody dresses like this where I come from.”
I made a face. “I’ve seen what mortals wear. What I mean to say, though, is that you’ve got on some clothes that are probably much nicer than anything you have at home.” It was true, The gauzy outfit she wore was worth a fortune.
“You mean out of my price range?” She looked determined not to be embarrassed by my comment. “You’re right. I could never afford anything like this in my real life. These amazing clothes, this fancy school. I keep staring at everything, because I can’t get over how lucky I am.”
She was too sharp to allow herself to be distracted. She pressed on, intent on learning. “But tell me. Why would my arrival worry anybody? I’m sure to be the least powerful in my magic, out of any student here. You are all real fae. I’m just a visitor. I’m no threat.”
“You’re different,” I said, knowing that she would think I was answering her question. I didn’t have to tell her that most of what she’d just said was wrong. “You won’t fit in here. Don’t even try.”
What I really meant was that she was different than I’d expected. She was magical in ways I had not prepared for.
She lifted her chin. “That’s what I keep hearing. I guess I should stay focused on my studies, then. I can turn this punishment into a time to learn as much as I can.”
“What punishment?” I stepped toward her as if I hoped to hear a secret. Toying with her was getting me excited.
“The reason I came to this school. That’s all.” She edged backward toward the wall, clearly wishing she hadn’t let that information slip.
“You needn’t try to hide it. We all know why you’re here.” I lifted a hand to stroke her hair. My mission here was to distract her from her studies.
She lifted her hand to redirect my touch. Instead, I took her hand in mine, drawing it to my lips.
“Stop it, Lustre. I didn’t ask you to touch me.” Her breath was shallow. She wanted this just as much as I did. I did not release her hand.
“As you are a new girl, I’ll give you one warning.” I leaned forward to graze her lips with mine. She smelled like a field of flowers on a summer day. “You will show me the respect appropriate to my position. And yours.”
Her eyes were wide. “What is that supposed to mean? Are you saying that sexual favors are a condition of going to this school?”
I chuckled. This was going to be more fun than I’d realized.
“Arabella, of course I don’t refer to that. Don’t be vulgar. I merely ask that you call me Prince. You may refer to me as ‘Prince Lustre.’ The way in which we address each other matters.”
She snickered despite herself. “Do you forget who you are otherwise?”
“I always know that. And you should as well. Now that you’ve come to Fae Academy, you will need to earn the respect of the other students. We are all aware that you’re a criminal.”
She bit her lip, my arrow hitting home. “I am not. I just made a mistake, that’s all. I always thought my music was calming to me, but now I’m finding th
at I hear a song for every kind of moment, even bad times. Even when I’m angry or I want to hurt somebody. And I worry about what I might make happen if I sing.”
“The Sisters will help you with your Voice as much as they are able.” I did not add that they would be terrified of her power. They had hated her for a thousand years.
“Is this a religious order? Sisters?” I shook my head, not even entirely sure what she meant. She hesitated, then went on. “I need to learn to control myself better. If I can do that here, at your weird school, then I’ll go through whatever I need to do to stay here.”
“I’m always wishing I could control myself less.” My comment surprised me. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Arabella smiled gently. “You’re still holding my hand. Are you going to let me go?”
Instead of complying, I slid my other hand around her hips, pulling her firmly against me. She did not hold herself back. Instead, she pressed herself against me eagerly.
“Little mortal, I have what you want.” I felt the way my hardness fit perfectly against her curves. We were destined to be together. But I would never let my guard down for her. I was a fire fae. Any impulsiveness from me would bring flames and chaos.
I was always in charge of what I felt.
The minx lifted herself onto her toes and kissed me. I returned her kiss, fervently holding her against me. What had started as a tease turned into a gasping passion. I bent to kiss her neck, my breath hot on her smooth skin.
She responded to my every touch, holding herself as close as possible to me. She wound her hands behind my neck, bringing my lips to hers again and again. We were close to falling to the grass and making love right there.
And then, with a gasp, she stepped back. It was as if she’d sensed my thought.
Her eyes were filled with surprise at how quickly things had caught fire between us. It took only one step before her back was against the crystal wall of the school. When she felt it, she made a squeak of nervousness.
“It looks like you’ve trapped me here,” she said with an air of defiance. I liked her spirit.
“I’m not the one who kissed you,” I answered. “You came on to me.”
“Maybe I did, but this is probably a bad idea. I’m sure it is. Is this your standard welcoming technique for new students? It’s got to be against the rules. Does this school have any rules, anyway?” She was still out of breath, her breasts rising and falling rapidly.
“Of course it does. They just don’t apply to me. I could have done anything I wanted to you just now. If that’s what you mean.” I wasn’t crazy about the way she was making me ramble, but I couldn’t stop. “Like if you’re trying to say I’m a player. I might be, but nobody would stop me, no matter what I did. I’m one of the three Princes of the Realm.”
“That’s a terrible way to look at things. What if I stopped you?”
I licked my lips as I looked her slowly up and down. “That’s the thing, Arabella. You didn’t want to stop, did you?”
She met my eyes, but she didn’t answer for a moment. Then she schooled herself into beginning again, her tone firm and even.
“Never mind. So this school has three Princes? I already met Frost. Prince Frost, I mean. And then the other man that was with you, right? So this is a prince thing, this perverse welcoming committee you’ve got going on. Are all three of you going to be coming on to me constantly, while at the same time being totally rude?”
I felt a slow smile spread across my face. “I imagine so. You’ll have to excuse us. We don't often see a mortal woman, and there is a particular attraction.” I was pleased to have made it sound like a common thing.
“But I don’t feel it with any of the other fae men. I just walked past all the students here, while everybody was going back into the school. That’s why I’m asking. This thing, this spark, is only with you three.”
“You admit it, then? Yes, you feel this connection with all three of us Princes. We are the chosen Defenders of the Realm. We notice you because it is our duty to seek out any evil that enters the land of the fae. Any criminals.”
“I’m not evil, and I’m not a criminal.” She raised herself on the balls of her feet in frustration.
Finally, I’d stung her.
“Arabella, I know very well that you are both. But I still want you. I would still bring you to my bed. Just say the word.” I let my hand slide lightly across her breasts. Through the thin fabric of her top, her nipples responded.
But she was now too angry with me to stay.
“That’s enough, Prince Lustre. I’ll show you that I can keep my temper. I won’t report you to the school authorities for harassment.”
“You can’t,” I persisted. “There wasn’t any harassment. You kissed me. You know you want this as much as I do.”
“Maybe I do. But I know it’s the worst choice I could make right now. I’m not getting involved with any of you men.” With a twist of her body, Arabella, slipped away from the wall she’d been leaning against. “I’m here to learn, not to be insulted, even by somebody as hot as you.”
“I look forward to seeing how well you do in classes, then.” I couldn’t help but notice that even though she was not detained in any way, she still stood close to me. “I think your Voice will prove to be a disappointment to us all. It is tainted by what you’ve done.”
She had a hard look in her eyes. Her life had not been an easy one. Amaris had planned it that way. This woman would have to be strong in her talents if she was to save our world. More than that, she would have to be angry, ready to lash out at our kind.
I smiled as she turned from me and went into the school without saying goodbye.
Here at Fae Academy, we were going to help her with both of those needs. She would learn to use her Voice, although it was already blighted. And she would grow to hate us as we tormented her.
Chapter 9: Arabella
Flushed from the odd, stolen moments with Prince Lustre, I made my way to the front doors of the school. The prince was still watching me, I could feel it.
I’d seen the other students step into the building, but it still seemed like an impossibility that anybody could enter this magical structure. The school itself was like an illusion, its smooth, crystal planes vanishing into each other then reappearing on an uncertain basis. It looked as if it must be transparent, but I could see nothing inside. It was most definitely of the fae.
When I neared the castle, the doors swung open silently. I stepped into a huge entrance hall, where I was the only person in a vast silence. There was no sign of a butler or any staff member. Their school security wasn’t up to much. Did they even know who I was? I wasn’t totally sure how I was going to explain it to them if they didn’t. Would I have to mention that I was here on scholarship as a punishment for murder? It seemed like a part of the story that I wasn’t really able to gloss over.
On the other hand, maybe if my fellow students knew how dangerous I was, then maybe they wouldn’t want to cause me trouble. It was kind of like prison.
I couldn’t even make sense of most of what Prince Lustre had just told me.
My favorite part of what he’d said was that he wanted to take me to his bed. But even though I had the same thought, I was sure I shouldn’t act on it. Probably the wrong foot to start off on at a new school. On the other hand, these fae men were hard to resist.
Would I see Frost again? I’d been aware of his masculinity every second that we’d been together, from Montview to the fae cottage in the forest. What if I had the opportunity to get together with both him and Lustre?
A tiny thought wavered at the back of my mind. The two princes at the same time? The thought was scandalous to my set of small-town experiences, but it was hard to forget once I’d had it.
What would it be like to be naked and sweaty, sliding against the two fae men? I would never be able to keep my hands off them. And their hands on me would be something I’d never forget.
Frost was lik
e a soldier, full of hard, cold energy. And Lustre was utter charm, with his archly arrogant teasing that rose like flames to meet me. What would the third prince be like?
What if I could be with all of them?
I remembered collecting pebbles when I was a small child at the state home. I’d kept them lined up on a windowsill until one day they were cleaned away. Now I had the opportunity to collect a set of princes.
If only they were nicer.
Just as I was musing over the image I’d conjured of being with all of the princes at once, I saw a woman I recognized from earlier this morning. She was moving towards me with purpose, a file folder in her hand. Unexpectedly, the sight filled me with relief. I hadn’t even been here that long, but apparently I was dying to see a familiar face. Anybody would feel the same.
It was Amaris. The beautiful fae woman from the enchanted ruin on a cottage was here. I squinted at her. If she’d known we were going to see each other again so soon, why had she been so formal about saying goodbye?
Just as I felt my face rearrange into a smile of pleasure at seeing her again, the woman spoke. It definitely was not the graceful, imperious Amaris.
She frowned at me, looking more severe than the gentle fae woman I’d met before. “You’ve got it wrong. Whatever you’re thinking.” Her voice was musical, yet uninviting. It was very different from how she had sounded back in the woods, when she told me she wanted to help me.
“Amaris, it is good to see you. I’m Arabella, remember?” I rushed ahead, my mind not nimble enough to figure out what was happening.
However, the fae in front of me drew herself up with rigid dignity. ”I am not Amaris,” she said, her voice cutting through the air like the sharpest of knives. “I believe you met her earlier? I am Auris. We appear the same, but we are all very different.”
I stared, aware that I looked like an idiot. My brain picked out one word from what she’d said. “All?” I asked faintly.
