THE NEXT MORNING, I TUCK Poppy’s glasses into my robe pocket, then head out of my dorm room, locking the door behind me. A few peers I vaguely know say hello in the stairwell on my way down, but I excuse myself quickly from the conversation—I want to catch Poppy before she finishes breakfast. I definitely don’t want her having to struggle through a whole day with those old glasses.
Even if they look ridiculously adorable on her.
The dining hall is buzzing with activity when I arrive, and the smell of cinnamon and oats drifts through the balmy air, making my stomach growl. But before food: Poppy.
My gaze scans the crowd. I spot her across the hall, sitting next to the princess, and head that way, dodging students with trays full of food and mugs sloshing with tea.
But before I can get to her, a head full of red hair steps into my path.
“Aric.” Morgan looks up at me, one of her brows arching slowly. “Are you okay?”
“Huh?” I pull my attention away from Poppy, who still hasn’t seen me yet, and focus on Morgan. “Yeah. Why?”
“You’ve got two different shoes on, and your hair is—”
“Shit.”
I glance down, and she’s right. I was in such a rush to see Poppy that I pulled two different shoes on: one brown, one black. And I forgot to pull my hair back. I’m a mess.
Quickly, I reach up and twist my hair into a topknot, then give Morgan a sideways smile. “Better?”
She nods once, a smile pulling her mouth up in one corner. “Much.”
“Thanks. I’m gonna—”
“Hey.” She puts out a hand, catching the sleeve of my academy robe before I can ease past her. “Are you going to the Samhain festival?”
Samhain. Right. I’d completely forgotten that’s coming up.
“I... I don’t know,” I say. “Hadn’t really thought about it.”
“I hear they’re going to have apple bobbing this year. I’d pay good money to watch you bob for apples.” She laughs lightly and tips her head so her eyes catch the sunlight coming through the windows in the dining hall.
Something in her tone gives me pause—along with her hand, which is still holding my sleeve.
Morgan and I went our separate ways last year after deciding we’d be better off as friends. But the way she’s looking at me reminds me of how she used to look at me before,when we would flirt just as hard as we fought on the field. I don’t quite understand what she’s doing now.
Slowly, I start to step around her. “If I do go, I’ll make sure to track you down. I could use some extra coins in my pocket.”
She smiles and finally releases her hold on my sleeve. “Looking forward to it.”
A few of her friends swoop over, stealing her away, and I hesitate for a moment, watching her go. Then I remember my mission and refocus on Poppy, then head in her direction.
“I’m getting a headache,” I hear her say to Alina as I approach, and she reaches up to press her fingertips to her temple. “These glasses aren’t the right prescription...”
“Do you want some tea?” Alina offers her a steaming mug. “That might help.”
Before Poppy can respond, I slide onto the bench next to her. “Good morning, Brains.”
She starts at my sudden appearance, eyes going wide behind her glasses, then gives me a shy smile. “Morning.”
“Your Highness.” I nod my head to Alina, who rolls her eyes.
“What’re you doing here?” Alina asks, reaching for her own mug of tea and giving it a sip. “We don’t usually see you in the mornings.”
“I sleep in when I can.” I flash her a smile, then turn to Poppy. With a flourish, I pull her glasses from the inside pocket of my academy robe and hold them up. “Looking for these?”
It takes her a second to process what I’m holding. Onceshe does, her whole face lights up. “You fixed them? Already?”
