“You know what?” I fisted my hands and took another step away from him. “Next time you want to help me, don’tbother.”
His quiet, eerie chuckle followed me all the way back to the watch tower, and I could have sworn he kept stopping by my corner for the rest of the night, though he stayed hidden. The cloying scent of crackling leaves and rich, dark earth stayed with me until I stumbled onto my bed for my precious hour’ssleep.
* * *
The next weekpassed with more of the same. We spent our days holed up in classes, learning about all the various types of fae and faerie creatures that called this realm their home. Our physical training also began. Fight moves and strategies were discussed, though they didn’t introduce weapons again just yet. It was clear we were all very much beginners, and the only one of us who seemed particularly good at anything (and everything) was myroommate.
If she wasn’t also my best friend in the whole of the Academy, I might be kind ofjealous.
Okay, so maybe I was jealous, but I didn’t hate her forit.
For the third night since I’d arrived, I found myself prepping for a long, quiet stretch in the northwestern watch tower. Lila and I kept coming last in the tasks for the Manhattan recruits, so it was always either her or me who ended up having a sleepless night. Rourke hadn’t visited me again after that first night, though I’d always partially held my breath, wondering if he was somewherenearby.
I was still angry that he’d used me as bait, but the dance with danger had also been thrilling in a way I couldn’tdefine.
A knock sounded on the door just as I slid my feet into the dark boots I wore during my Watch Duty shifts. I glanced up, heart in my throat, half-expecting to see Rourke’s golden eyes boring down on me. But it was only Griff, the changeling fae from Wales who seemed toenjoycoming last in tasks so he could spend his nights on WatchDuty.
“Yep, I’m coming,” I said as I zipped up the side of my boot. “I don’t even want to imagine how Rourke would react if we werelate.”
“Came here to tell you that Watch Duty has been postponed for tonight,” Griff said with a frown. “Reallysucks.”
“Wait,what?”
“You heard me. No Watch Duty tonight for us. We’ve got to entertain some royals or somethinginstead.”
“Royals?” My ears pricked up at the words. While we’d spent many hours learning about Otherworld— the creatures, the ancient history, the types of weapons we would one day learn to use—my instructors had been strangely silent about the political side of the faerie world. It was almost as if they weren’t yet ready for us to know. That coupled with the strange dark clouds in the sky that Rourke had pointed out…well, my curiosity had been piqued. Like, seriously piqued. I was dying to know more about the fourCourts.
“Some members of the Winter Court have come to meet the new recruits or something,” he said with a shrug. “We’re supposed to go to the dining hall and be on our best behavior or something. Sounds dumb. I don’t care about royalty or politics. I just want to learn how to fight and keep everyonesafe.”
“Trust me, Griff,” I said, giving him a soft pat on the back. “I’m sure you and I will be right back on Watch Duty tomorrownight.”
* * *
Griffand I were the last two recruits to enter the dining hall, and I could see that we were somehow late even though I’d just learned about the visit from the royals five minutes ago. The fourteen other first-year changelings were sitting quietly and tensely at the table where we usually gathered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while a cluster of extravagantly dressed strangers turned their gazes toward me andGriff.
“Ah, here we are,” Kael said as he flashed me a tense, irritated smile. “These are our last two recruits, Norah and Griff. They were assigned Watch Duty for this evening, hence their late arrival to meetyou.”
A tall thin male fae strode forward and sniffed. His coal black hair hung in loose curls around his angular face, and his eyes were a deep black that seemed almost endless. I sat hard on the bench next to the other recruits, struck by the aura of power that radiated off his goldenskin.
“This is the King of the Winter Court, Brannon Glass,” Kael said as he gave the ruler a half-bow. He then turned to gesture at the woman who stood just behind the King’s shoulder. Her hair was nothing like his. It was a bright, brilliant blonde that lit up the entire room. “This is his Queen, OrlaGlass.”
The recruits and I merely sat silently, staring at the two royals. They were dressed in varying shades of gray and black, with the male in a thin cloak and the woman in a sparkling gown that touched her toes. I glanced down at my black tee, my black jeans, and my muddy boots. Clearly underdressed, asalways.
Kael cleared his throat and gave us all a strained smile. “The Winter Court was interested in seeing the new recruits for the year. As you know, four of you will be joining their ranks after you graduate from the Academy, so your development and training is of interest to them. They wish to see a bit of a demonstration fromyou.”
Blood drained from my face, and I shifted uncomfortably on the hard bench. A demonstration? Surely he didn’t mean that we had to show the Winter Court what we could do. Because...we couldn’t do much. Not yet, at least. And certainly notme.
And this could be my court. As the days passed, it seemed more and more likely that Winter was where I belonged, and I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of them. My roommate was very obviously a Spring fae while Lila and her fiery temper could only fit into the Summer Court. That left me with either Winter or Autumn, and seeing how those Redcaps were drawn tome...
Fingers crossed this demonstration had nothing to do with a bow andarrow.
“King Brannon,” Kael said, turning back toward the tall, commanding male fae, and his crown of twisted brambles. “What would you like to see from ourrecruits?”
“Skill with the bow and arrow is essential, particularly for our Court.” His words solidified the dread around my heart. “Our fighters specialize in long-rangeattacks.”
Kael bowed his head. “Bow and arrow itis.”
* * *
