I nodded. “That’s smart. Actually, I’d like it if you told hereverything. She’s earned our trust, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
On the mattress below, Hunter stirred, and we fell quiet until it became obvious that he wouldn’t wake.
I placed a hand over Alex’s. “I’m sorry, but I don’t see a way out of this. We’ll just have to make your warping lesson our first priority when I get back. I promise. Nothing will be more important.”
“Goddamn flighty fae,” Alex muttered.
I didn’t know a lot of fae, but I was inclined to agree. Why had it been so important to move their date up? Were they just trying to throw us off our game?
I huffed out a breath. “I’d better get packing.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Awarphole deposited us mere paces from the gate of the Academy of Elemental and Arcane Arts. Like Nightdwellers, when I laid eyes on the fae academy, I lost my breath. The fae attended school in a gorgeous castle just like the vamps, but there were more differences than similarities.
Whereas the vampires’ castle was dark, brooding, and gothic, the fae’s castle gleamed brilliant white. Its blue-topped turrets rose above the gate, as did stone work featuring the elements. My ears told me that a river ran somewhere nearby, enhancing the feel that we were in an enchanted forest. Everything around the castle sparkled, and a floral scent laced the air despite the winter month. Come to think of it, it didn’t feel like winter here at all. A warm breeze fluttered by, and the sun shone bright above, as if we were back in California.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“All I can tell you is that the fae academy is on the west coast of the U.S. Only the warpers are privy to exactly where the opposing schools are located.”
In a way, that made sense, but it also seemed to go against the Spy Games’ goal of camaraderie.
“Who cares where we are?” Sam said, spinning on the spot and taking in all the ethereal beauty around us. “What we should be asking is, are we the only academywithouta castle? If so, that’s messed up!”
Headmistress Wake chuckled. “No, Miss Pines. The Shifter Academy is merely amassiveestate as well. Now, what do you say we meet our hosts?”
The headmistress indicated the white wall of stone in front of us. She parted our group and made her way to the pale wood door. Massive, white stone knockers crafted in the face of a beautiful woman were positioned in the middle of each door.
Headmistress Wake grasped a knocker, lifted it with both hands, and let it fall on the castle gate.
The resoundingboomsent a thrill up my spine, and the next second, as if it had been waiting for us, the gate burst open. A flood of winged people flew over us. Sparkling confetti rained down, along with flowers, and the fae clapped and sang a song in a different tongue.
“Wow. Talk about a warm welcome,” Diana breathed, her blue eyes shining with wonder as multi-colored confetti fluttered to land on her head.
“That was the idea,” a clear voice rang out, and we looked down to find Headmistress Cristala and the four fae champions waltzing toward us. “Please, come in.”
Headmistress Wake led the way, and we fell in line, gawking and gazing at our surroundings.
“This place makes Spellcasters look like a hot mess,” Andre whispered.
I laughed. He wasn’t wrong. The fae school, with its ivy and flowers cascading down impeccable white stone, and the lush gardens that lined the walk to the castle, was probably the prettiest place I’d ever seen.
Headmistress Cristala and the fae champions led us to a courtyard brimming with flowers. A gigantic water fountain featuring stonework of the four elements stood at the heart of the courtyard, providing a peaceful ambiance. Harp music played from somewhere, and when I licked my lips, I caught the taste of cotton candy on the air.
The shifter champions stood off to the side of the elemental fountain that featured a tree spouting water from its branches. They looked as dazed by their surroundings as I felt. Alpha Conon moved to speak with our headmistresses, so the rest of us went to greet the other champions.
“Hey!” I said, latching on to Dasha first. “Fancy seeing you here.”
She surprised me when she gave me a wide smile and held her arm out for a hug. Since I was the hugging type, I moved in. Our bodies pressed together, hers much harder and more muscled than mine, and her apple-scented shampoo enveloped me.
“I’m so sorry about the Nightdwellers games,” Dasha whispered. “I had no idea they drugged those drinks. I should have scented it, but I think they used something undetectable. I was oblivious to the fact that your team was so sick until I saw Andre vomit on the trapeze. Please don’t think we condone that kind of poor behavior?”
I broke our embrace to pull back and look her in the eye. “I never thought that.”
Relief washed over Dasha’s face. “Thank goodness. I didn’t get a chance to tell you because they rushed you back to Spellcasters. Alpha Conon told us what happened later, and he wasfuriouson your behalf.”
