A few weeks pass, and the semester picks up, ensuring I have plenty to keep my mind busy. I’ve gone home each weekend since I found out Adam’s cancer came back. They moved him into a hospital room shortly after I left, which made me want to turn around and go back, but Mom and Dad insisted he was doing fine. During my last visit, I sat with him during treatment. It was hard on me, so I can’t imagine how Adam felt. He’s been so strong through all of this. He seems to be responding well, according to Dr. Collins. I’m not sure whether it was the strange way we met that threw me off with her, but when I was in the room with Adam, I kept feeling her eyes on me. It made the skin at the back of my neck tingle. I tried to ignore it the best I could; I knew she was there to help Adam, but the unease stuck around after she left.
Back on campus at the end of another week, I’m sitting in the uncomfortable plastic seat, rereading the chapter for today’s class.
Grant sets up the lecture for the professor and takes the seat next to me again, tossing me an easy smile. “Hey, how was your week?” He pulls out his textbook and clicks his pen against the desk.
I smile. If he only knew. “Busy,” I say. “Never a dull moment.”
“How’s your research paper going?”
I purse my lips. “Not bad. Want to read it over for me?” I’d managed to get a rough draft of it done on the train ride from Mapleville.
“Sure, if you’ll read mine.”
Laughing, I say, “Sure thing. Hand it over.”
We swap papers and read through them, marking suggested edits on each other’s work. I hand his back before the lecture starts and peek at the notes he made on mine.
“You’re officially my editor,” he teases.
My lips curl upward. “Only if you’ll be mine.”
He sticks his hand out, and I shake it. “Deal.”
We spend the rest of the lecture taking notes and delving into a class discussion that I tune out of, yawning every so often as I fight to stay awake.
I take the long way back to my dorm and go to the Mexican grill off campus to grab dinner. I haven’t had a chance to hit this place up since the semester started, and with the stress of midterms looming, I decide to treat myself to some tacos and chips with guac tonight.
After successfully stuffing my face with food, I head out, tucking my phone in my back pocket so I can zip up my sweater.
A short distance away, I hear muffled shouting. Figuring it’s normal Friday evening pre-partying, I keep walking until I pick up some of what is being said.
“You’re a disgrace to all fae,” a delicate female voice says.
I freeze at the end of a brick storefront. There’s a walkway separating the two buildings that leads to more parking for the local businesses, and from the sounds of it, a couple of fae are having an argument. I doubt they’ll take kindly to me interrupting them.
A deep, male laugh reverberates against the exterior walls, echoing down the alley. “You’re one to talk, considering you left us.” His voice is unfamiliar, but he sounds pissed.
The female growls viciously, and the building shudders. The male grunts. “You know, I’m surprised they sent you. You were never much of a fighter.”
“Yet they knew I’d kick your pathetic ass without a problem.”
He grunts again. She must’ve hit him. I want to look, but I can’t bring myself to peek around the corner for fear I’ll get caught. They’re too wrapped up in whatever is happening between them to notice my heart pounding in my chest, but I get the feeling they’ll react the second they see me.
A firm hand grabs my wrist and pulls me hard, away from the building. My mouth opens to scream, but it’s quickly covered. Panic surges through me before my eyes connect with Skylar’s. She lets me go once it’s clear I’m not going to make a sound.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hisses.
“I was walking home.” I look past her. “Why are they fighting?” I leave out the part where I know about the light and dark fae. I can’t help but think that’s what’s going on—that the fight I overheard was caused by the fae war.
Her eyes narrow. “That’s what you’re concerned about?” She scowls. “Typical human. You realize if they’d seen you, you’d probably be dead right now or being fed on.” She cocks her head. “Unless that’s what you wanted.”
My brows inch closer. “Of course not,” I snap. “What are you doing here?”
“I was a few blocks over when I heard them and then your annoying little heartbeat.”
“And you came to make sure I didn’t get hurt?” I almost smile.
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Aurora. I live to ensure your safety from my kind. Why else would I be here?” The sarcastic tone of her voice makes it impossible not to grin this time.
Whatever I was going to say is cut off by the sight of the male fae flying through the air. He lands with a thud on the sidewalk and jumps up, brushing off his black denim jacket. His eyes swing to where Skylar and I stand, and I bite my lip. This isn’t good.
“What the fuck, Sky? Thanks for the backup.” His eyes slide to me. “Hi.”
I offer an awkward wave.
Skyler scowls. “I was coming. I got a little caught up.” She nods at me.
“Well, don’t next time. She got away, along with our answers.” Answers? What is he talking about? My eyes flick back and forth between the guy and Skylar, waiting for one of them to explain the situation.
She shrugs. “We’ll deal with it.”
He rolls his eyes and then shifts away without another word, leaving Skylar and I alone on the sidewalk.
I arch a brow at her. “Care to explain what that was about?”
She gives me a look.
“Right. Didn’t think so.”
When I get back to our room, Allison is sprawled on her bed, already in sweatpants and a hoodie. I tell her about the fae attack I overheard, and she frowns.
“They’re happening closer together,” she murmurs, concern weighing heavy in her voice. “The light fae continue to orchestrate attacks on our side.”
I scratch the back of my neck. “You’re not making me feel any better.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about the light fae.”
“Of course I do. They’re attacking dark fae. You are dark fae. And I’m . . . I don’t know, but either way, most of the dark fae hate me.”
She sighs. “That’s only because Tristan didn’t deal with you the way they wanted him to. They don’t trust you.”
“How’s that my fault?” I grumble.
“It’s not. Maybe they’d feel differently if they knew about your lineage. If we can prove you have a connection, it could help keep you safe.” She pulls on the string of her hoodie. “Have you found out any more about your ancestors?”
I sit at the end of my bed and sigh. Allison has the same idea as Tristan when it comes to using my lineage to protect me. “Not much, other than, whoever they are, they were on my dad’s side.”
“You don’t know if they’re still alive?”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I want to know.” Even with the chance that could help in convincing the fae I’m not a threat, I really don’t know. “Does that make me terrible?”
She sits up and looks over at me. “Absolutely not, Aurora. You just found out you have fae in your family tree. If any of them are still around, you shouldn’t feel obligated to know them. None of this has been easy on you. You deserve to do whatever is going to make you feel okay. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.”
Despite the pit in my stomach, I smile. “Thanks, Al.”
She blows me a kiss. “You betcha.”
With a heavy sigh, I stand and walk over to my desk. I open my laptop and frown at the unread email from Skylar.
Aurora,
I’ll be away from the office Monday. I’m sure you’ll find something to do. There are always files to put away, and there is coffee to fetch. Enjoy.
Skylar Chen
Westbrook Hotel Chief of Staff
My loud groan fills the small room as I delete the email.
“What’s up?” Allison asks, eyeing me from behind her textbook.
“I don’t have a mentor on Monday, which means I’m going to be stuck doing coffee runs for people who hate my guts.”
“Oh. I’m sure they don’t all hate you. Tristan has some humans working for him.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, that’s helpful, Al. Thanks.”
“Other than the shitty coworkers, how’s your placement going?”
I purse my lips. “Not as bad as I was expecting. Skylar can be a bitch, but she’s a surprisingly good teacher. And I think I’ve only seen Tristan a few times the whole month I’ve been there.”
Allison laughs. “Well, that’s good. Hopefully it will continue that way.” She says it with a nervous smile. We both know full well I’m not lucky enough for it to continue.
I head to Mapleville for the weekend to spend time with Adam and make sure everything is still okay, or at least as okay as it can be right now. We’ve been keeping in contact regularly over text and video chat when he’s up for it, but nothing beats being able to give him a real hug.
Dr. Collins is chatting with my parents when I walk into his hospital room. “Hello, Aurora.” She smiles. “I was just updating your parents on Adam’s treatment.”
“How’s it going?” I walk over to him and kiss the top of his head, and, wrapping my arm around his shoulders, I sit on the edge of his bed.
“Pretty good, I guess,” he grumbles. “Dr. Collins says the meds are working, so that’s cool.”
I smile. “Very cool.” I fight the urge to jump up and dance because this is the good news I’ve been hoping for since his cancer came back.
Dr. Collins checks Adam’s chart before saying goodbye to us. I watch her walk away, and my pulse spikes when she turns her head at the doorway, her eyes meeting mine for no more than a few seconds before she disappears down the hall. I work to shake the unsettled feeling in my stomach after she’s gone. This is getting ridiculous. Being so focused on the fae and the people I care about being in danger makes everyone a suspect. Anyone could be fae at this point, but I can’t let myself obsess over that when I’m here to support my family. This isn’t about the fae; it’s about Adam and his recovery.