The famed Master Knight had been on an important trip to another realm for the queen, so that was my free time to roam the library until she got back. I had yet to meet the woman whose entire family had been killed by my birth mother, but I was definitely scared.
‘Nothing to fear with Yanric here,’my feathered familiar promised as he perched on my borrowed backpack from Eden. I was still unnerved by the fact that he could touch my hair and skin without causing me pain. I’d asked him about it and he’d simply said that he and I were the same. Whatever that meant.
‘Don’t read my mind!’I snapped at him. I’d finally learned to speak mentally to him so I didn’t look like an idiot talking out loud to a bird.
‘Don’t think so loudly!’ he snapped back.
I groaned, picking at my food as I sat on the grass at lunchtime. After Yanric had showed up that first day, Ariyon and Hayes decided to sit with Blair and her friends at lunch. I couldn’t blame them, not after what Ayden told me, that my birth mother’s familiar killed their dad. Ayden kind of floated around, saying hi to everyone. He was pretty much the nicest guy I’d ever met, who didn’t seem to have one mortal enemy. He was a total beast in weapons class and carried some pretty powerful magic that meant he could throw shock waves of energy at a person and knock them out, as well as toss fireballs. But he was also kind. Really kind. He made a point to say hi to me every day at lunch while Eden and I sat on the lawn in front of the busy lunchroom patio. Too many people packed into a small space meant more chances I could be hurt. It turned out Eden was a bit of a loner before I showed up, hanging with the boys but not really clicking with any of the girls. Everyone held the fact that she was from the West Side against her and so we were like two peas in a pod.
I told her countless times she could eat lunch with Hayes, and Blair, and Ariyon, but she refused.
“Okay, top secret talk time.” Eden lowered her voice and handed Yanric a cracker. She’d taken to the bird more than I had. I leaned in closely and her cheeks went pink. “I’ve had a pretty huge crush on Hayes—”
I squealed, not allowing her to finish, and she laughed, waiting for me to quiet. “For a while now,” she added. “And the Winter Belles Ball is coming up, that’s where we ask the guy.” She motioned between us and I instantly felt sick at the thought of asking a guy to a dance. “You think Hayes would go with me?” She shrugged insecurely.
“Are you kidding? His face lights up every time you enter the room. You’re gorgeous, and powerful, and super sweet. He would be stupid to say no,” I said.
“Aw.” She leaned forward with open arms and I flinched before she recoiled. “Crap, I forgot. I almost hugged you.” Her eyes widened in horror at the thought.
I nodded in understanding. “Takes getting used to. Here, I’ll show you my little code with my dad.” I grasped her hand with my gloved one and squeezed hard. “That means I really want to give you a hug right now.”
Eden’s eyes suddenly filled with tears and she blinked them away as I dropped her hand, wondering if I’d done something wrong.
“I’m sorry, I just…realized you’re not even able to hug your own father. That’s pretty heartbreaking, Fallon.”
I swallowed hard, nodding. Sometimes I rolled myself really tightly in a blanket just to feel pressure on my skin, but I would never admit that to anyone. Oh, how I longed to be full-body hugged or picked up like the boys did to their girlfriends. I’d bet it felt good.
I shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
Eden frowned. “You shouldn’t have to be. Is there any cure?”
I shook my head. “Tried everything. They cursed me because of who my mom was, I guess.”
It seemed that because Eden didn’t grow up with the well-off high society aristocrats, she didn’t know much about my family, either. Which was a good thing and probably the only reason she was still friends with me.
Suddenly, I wanted to tell her my secret, something I hadn’t told anyone at school.
“Promise to keep a secret?” I asked her.
She looked left and right, giving Yanric a conspiratorial nod, and then grasped my gloved pinky with hers, locking it with a squeeze before letting go. “Yes.”
I laughed at the childish pinky promise but leaned closer. “When Ariyon came to my village to heal my dad…he touched my bare skin and…it didn’t hurt.”
She gasped, her hand covering her mouth in shock. “What do you mean? Why? Is it because he’s a healer? Or maybe he’s your soulmate!” she offered.
I chuckled at that. “Unsure on the healer thing. I’d have to test it out with another healer. Definitely not my soulmate. He hates me.”
“I’ll bet I could get Hayes to try it if you wanted. See if it’s a healer thing.”
The thought that any healer might be able to touch me had been eating away at me and so I nodded. “Okay, I mean if he’s willing, but don’t say anything about Ariyon to anyone.”
“Of course not! I’ll just say we’re experimenting,” she told me.
“Experimenting with what?” Blair’s nauseating voice suddenly called from behind us and I jumped.
Eden sat up casually. “Nothing. Just hair styles for the Winter Belles Ball,” she said coolly.
Good save.
