“Are you saying that I might have been with my real parents until I was five? Why did she never mention I was adopted?”
He lifted both hands in a “no idea” gesture. “I can only guess, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she wasn’t aware. Someone went to a lot of trouble to hide you, Maddi, putting you in the sort of situation where society would overlook you … with a mother who wouldn’t pay much attention to you. It would have been simple for them to spell her into believing you were her biological child. Most of the details about you, like age and birthday, are probably correct. Provided in the same spell.”
I sank back in my chair, book bag hanging limply at my side. “This is almost unbelievable,” I said softly.
Princeps Jones leaned further forward, holding a hand out for me. I barely hesitated before placing mine into his. “I promise that we’ll figure it out,” he said softly. “You’re not alone any longer. I have watched your case for many years. Ilia has spoken often of your energy and how it is different. She cared about you long before she even knew who she was chasing. You’re not alone.”
My throat felt tight, and my chest ached. “Thank you,” I said hoarsely. “I’m very grateful to finally know some truths. Hopefully we figure the rest out soon.”
He nodded and released my hand. He shuffled a few papers around, clearing his throat. He was back to business. “Larissa informed me that you’re not interested in a security team, so I have arranged for more security around the border of the Academy, and the Atlanteans agreed to keep a closer eye on you on the school grounds.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but then decided not to bother. He was trying to work with me, and I wouldn’t be ungrateful about it. “That’s perfect, thank you for that.” There was something else I needed to tell him before I left. “Also, I don’t know if this is an issue or not, but my power is not as locked down.”
He didn’t seem surprised by my confession. “No, it won’t be. Your original block was placed before your energy was so strong. Now, though, you’re too powerful. Louis is regarded as one of the strongest sorcerers in the world, legendary, and he said that he’s never felt energy like yours. He did what he could, but at best, it’s a Band-Aid over a bullet hole. Your power is going to rub at his block until eventually it gets loose again. He’ll come back to repair the block, but eventually we’ll have to figure out what we’re dealing with.”
“Has there ever been a magic user fey like me?” I asked, standing in preparation of leaving.
He shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. But Louis is looking into that as well.”
Poor Louis. Hisresearchwas more than just a little thing. I’d dumped a lot of my shit on his shoulders, and no doubt the most powerful mage in the world was busy with other things as well.
But I wouldn’t turn down the help.
I waved goodbye to the princeps and left his office. The school was a lot busier now, and I hurried to the commons, needing food if I was going to function in my classes today. The tables looked pretty full, and I searched for a spot, wondering if I should just drop down under one of the large trees. They had these ropey intertwining roots going everywhere, and they were a popular spot for students to relax. There were ordering stations nearby as well, so you didn’t even have to starve.
“Hey, new girl!”
I spun to find Calen and Axl at their normal table, waving me over. I hesitated before deciding that it was worth hanging with them if I got food.
“Hey, guys,” I said, hovering, unsure if I should sit or not.
I was distracted by snickering at the next table, which was filled with Clovers.
“Sit,” Axl said happily. He was fast becoming one of my favorite supes. I’d always loved practical and clever people.
I was too hungry to stress about the implications of joining their table as I sank into a chair on the opposite side to them. “So, we’re on new girl babysitting duty,” Calen said, and he waggled an eyebrow at me. “I’m taking the night shift.”
I pointed a finger at him. “You step one foot into my room and you’re going to leave without your balls.” He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “And it won’t be in any fun sort of way.”
“Spoilsport,” he muttered.
Axl watched the two of us, amusement dancing in his beautiful eyes. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a female reject Calen. I’m so happy you wandered into our lives, Maddi.”
I wasn’t surprised about the lack of rejection for Calen. He was hot. Atlantean-hot. Which was its own classification now. But I had zero interest in him.
My stomach rumbled and I slapped a hand on my favorite part of the table: the bringer of food. “Have you ordered?” I asked them. They shook their heads, and then all three of us picked out our meals. French toast for me, and about six meals for them.
I fidgeted uncomfortably while we waited for our food. Mostly because I was getting very dark looks from the six chicks at the table next to us. One of them I hadn’t seen before—with waist-length, dead-straight, platinum blond hair—was trying desperately to attract Calen’s attention. She even called his name a few times, but he was flat-out ignoring her.
Never got the fun in chasing dudes who weren’t interested, but she seemed to want the challenge of it. She was damn persistent.
“I found something,” Axl said, distracting me. He pulled out some papers that had been stuck in the front of a thick blue text book with the titleComplex Algorithms of the Fey Language.
“I did some research last night,” he said quickly, “and I found a few more readings from an Atlantean text of ours. Something I’d never much paid attention to, but it feels more relevant now.”
He handed me the top sheet with a complex design on it—it looked like a family tree.
“This is a translated copy of the royal lines of the three Atlantean houses,” he said, pointing out the familiar names of Sonaris, Corpinicus, and Jervania across the top. “Legend says those three were the first to find a way to open a step-through to travel between Faerie and Earth. The first supernaturals on this world.”
