“Look around at your neighbors,” Ms. Bonner told the class. Violet’s desk backed into a wall. Roman sat to her right, a girl named Millie sat in front of her, and a boy named Theo sat on her left.
“These are your assigned seats for the rest of the year.”
Griff turned to look at Violet across the room and mouthed,“Sorry.”He’d promised to save her a seat.
She lifted her hand and sliced her finger across her throat, making Griff laugh. They’d met two years ago when she was running back from the forest and twisted her ankle. He’d stood over her, pushed his black hair behind his ear, and said, “You’re supposed to stay upright when you run.”
She’d told him to buzz off as he’d helped her up, and they’d been friends ever since, but junior warrior training started last year, and he’d been spending more time with the other trainees and less time with her. Violet understood, but it made the fact that she only had one close friend glaringly obvious.
As class droned on, Violet kept her eyes straight ahead and furiously took notes, struggling to keep up with the teacher’s rapid explanation of the Human Kingdom’s wildlife compared to the fae kingdoms’. The four fae kingdoms—Mountain, Desert, Tropical, and Garden—surrounded the Human Kingdom. A magic barrier erected by the gods thousands of years ago prevented humans from crossing into fae lands without a fae escort. No one knew for sure why the humans couldn’t pass through the barrier on their own, but scholars theorized it was because they had no protection against the fae beasts. According to Ms. Bonner, anyway.
Not only were fae faster and stronger than humans, but they also had glamour—magic that allowed them to make humans and animals see whatever they wanted them to. It also helped protect them against the animals in the fae lands, which were infinitely more dangerous than those in the human lands. Some animals were the same, but most weren’t.
Violet covertly glanced at Roman. As a royal fae, he and his parents were stronger and faster than non-royal fae, and their glamour worked on other fae as well, whereas non-royal fae could only glamour humans and animals, but not each other.
Roman could make the entire class see a giant wulfer waltz through the door if he wanted. She smiled faintly at the image of Ms. Bonner screeching at the sight.
Other than stronger magic, royal fae had two things non-royal fae didn’t:familiarsand mates.
Familiarswere animals royals bonded to on their fifteenth birthday, and a mate was the only person a royal could marry. Royals and their mates were born on the same day. Violet wondered if she and the prince had the same birthday. Roman caught her staring and lifted a brow with a knowing smirk.
She jolted out of her ridiculous thoughts as mortification shot through her. Next time she came across a beast in the forest, she’d forego glamour and let it eat her.
Violet resumed taking notes and prayed Roman would never look at her again. Better yet, maybe she could transfer to the other school in Saltu. Despite being the capital, Saltu was fairly small, and the walk wouldn’t be too far.
A few minutes later, a folded piece of paper landed on Violet’s desk, and she froze. It came from Roman’s direction, but she refused to look at him.
With a steadying breath, she unfolded the paper.
Is sitting next to me that bad?
What? Violet peeked at Roman, who watched her, that same smirk still in place. She bit her lip and hurriedly wrote back.
Why do you say that?
After checking to ensure Ms. Bonner wasn’t looking, she tossed the paper on his desk and turned her attention back to their teacher. Tried to, at least.Roman Covington wrote me a note.
Her stomach flipped when the paper landed on her desk again, and she tried to look aloof as she opened it.
You threatened to kill your friend.
Violet’s eyes slid to the prince. His body faced forward as he wrote in his notebook, but she could see him fighting a smile. Had he been watching her, or did he happen to look over at the right time? Violet scribbled her reply and discreetly tossed it back.
A threat means it might not happen. I’m actually going to kill him.
Roman laughed out loud, and the sound bounced off the stone walls. Violet sank down in her chair when everyone, including Ms. Bonner, swiveled their gazes to the back of the room.
Violet glared at Roman, and he clamped his mouth closed, puffing out his cheeks to hold in his laughter. When everyone turned back around, she looked him dead in the eye and slid her finger across her throat.
He drew everyone’s attention again with his uncontrollable laughter, only this time, Violet laughed too.
* * *
The next morning, Violet hurried into the classroom and slid into her seat at the back of the class. Thoughts of seeing Roman again had kept her awake all night.Will he write another note?
When the prince waltzed in, she held her breath and pretended to read over her work from yesterday. A small canvas sack plunked down on her desk, and she pulled back with a start. Roman sat down without looking her way.
She turned her attention back to the bag and noticed a piece of paper attached to the twine holding the sack closed. Violet ate up the words, and she bit her cheek to keep from squealing.
