"They'd rather they know what I'm drinking," she says with a shrug. "And they know they can't stop me. They got wise to it after their third child."
"And which are you?" I ask, realising we haven't done any of the preliminary questions about families yet.
"Fifth or sixth, depending on who you're asking. Archibald will say that he was born first, but he's lying."
I try not to respond to her brother's name, especially after meeting him earlier. "Does that matter?"
"For the order of succession, yes. For everything else? Not really. So, drink?"
"Sure. I'll have a fruit juice of some kind."
"Got it." She waves and heads over to the bar, making me wonder if I should have gone with her. And feel bad that I'm making royalty collect my drinks for me. I'm a little surprised that she's come to the party with me rather than ditching me for any of the other demons at the academy.
Several of them have already converged on her, though she seems to be brushing them off as she attempts to get to the bar.
It seems like it's going to take a while for her to get drinks. I look around the room, trying to work out if I recognise anyone. I find it unlikely. Most of my circle are fairies, and a lot of them think like my mother.
My breath catches in my throat as my gaze locks with a purple-skinned demon with a broad chest and a boyish charm. Something deep within me stirs into life and whispers the word mate around my head, just like it did when I saw him earlier. I dismiss it. Even if my response is correct and he has the potential to be my mate, he's not going to want to pursue that. What would a Prince want with me? I'm a nobody. A moth fairy from parents who make a decent living, but aren't considered to be special or interesting. He's probably destined for the daughter of a Duke. Then again, this isn't the Middle Ages, he's more likely to end up with some self-made gazillionaire who designs handbags for dogs.
The pull within me to make my way over is almost too much to ignore, but I manage. Sophia hasn't introduced us yet, and I don't want to ruin things with my friend.
"Hey, Lottie!" a familiar voice calls, breaking through my thoughts.
I turn around, surprised to find Drake heading towards me. It turns out that I do already know someone here, but he's not a fairy. Light reflects off his dark blue scales, but it does nothing to hide his boisterous smile.
"Hey," I respond. "I didn't realise you were coming to Rosewood."
"I even got my parents to let me stay here," he says. "I haven't seen you in years. How many is it?"
"Four," I respond. "I think we were seventeen when I stopped working at the restaurant."
"Oh yeah. Dad was sad to see you go, he said you were one of the best servers he had," he says.
"We moved away." But he knows that. We spent a good amount of time working together at his family's restaurant.
"So, I know we've only just got here, but my flatmates are having a party on Friday. Want to come?" he asks.
I frown. "How are you going to have a party in one of the tiny flats?"
He laughs. "I take it you haven't found out about the secret rooms yet?"
"No?"
"They're all over the academy," he responds. "We'll be using one of them. Are you using the same mirror?"
I nod.
"All right, I'll message you with the information. Bring your flatmates if they're cool."
I look over to where Sophia now has drinks, but doesn't seem to be getting through the demons surrounding her. They must know her identity and be trying to make a connection with her. I guess it's cool to have a princess as a flatmate. "I will do."
"Great, see you there." He grins, revealing his pearly white teeth. He waves and heads off to talk to someone else.
Sophia finally manages to get herself free from her admirers and makes her way back over to me, handing over a glass. "I could do without the fawning," she mutters.
"That bad?"
"They're worse at home," she says. "Oh, and now they've found Archie."
