I barely controlled my rage. I balled my hands into fists and managed to force out, “Yes, Lady Korva.”
She drew herself up and tossed her nose into the air. “Good. You are dismissed.”
I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Kiara’s was stunned as I slammed the door to Korva’s classroom behind me.
“I heard everything,” Kiara said. “I knew we shouldn’t have gotten mixed up in this.”
“Yeah, well, too late now,” I said in irritation. “I only wish there was a way to get Korva back for bullying me.”
“You heard her. We can’t mess with Lady Korva again. She’ll make you pay,” Kiara worried as we descended the tower steps.
“She can do her worst.” I was in a tough situation with Gabby. She was threatening Ethan’s life, and nothing was worse than that. What could Lady Korva do to me?
I almost wished I was a guy, so I could take First Year Illusions with Professor Kaschak instead. It sucked how so many classes were sorted by either shifters or sorceresses at Arcanea University.
But at the same time, I didn’t think I’d learn as much. Shifters were only required to take two years of illusion classes, while sorceresses had to take four, as female Arcanea had stronger magic. Professor Kaschak wasn’t as good as illusions as Lady Korva was... but maybe being weaker would be a decent trade-off for not getting yelled at all the time.
“Come on.” Kiara said. “The other girls are waiting.”
Kiara and I walked to a sitting room inside the main castle. My heart warmed as I saw Odette and Delmare. Odette was wearing this beautiful dress. She’d cast an illusion on it so the colors changed every few seconds, blending from pink to purple and then to blue. It glowed with a soft light and sparkled, like the radiance of the northern lights. Over top of the dress was a fluffy white cape that suited her personality perfectly. Her large glasses perched on her nose, and her light blonde curls were tied back by a tiny bow. She was playing music from her phone, twirling around to it and singing in a light voice.
Delmare had her uniform on, but her eyeliner was thicker than usual, and she was wearing these black lace gloves that complimented her personality. She moved red orbs around the room in a circle, practicing her battle magic that was a talent of the dragon Faction.
Delmare’s smile brightened as she saw us coming. The battle orbs faded, and she reached for a tray of take-out coffees on the table.
“Coffee from Siona’s shop,” Delmare said as she handed me a cup. “Figured you’d need something to warm you up on this cold day. Peppermint tea latte, just how you like it.”
I took a sip, and a minty taste spread across my tongue. “Thanks, Mare. You’re a lifesaver.”
“No problem. A cinnamon eggnog cappuccino for Kiara, and hot cocoa with sprinkles for you, Odette,” Delmare finished as she gave Odette her cup. She sipped at her own coffee, which I was certain was black.
“What did you guys do over break?” I asked, settling into one of the cozy armchairs by the fire. Odette sat on my lap; she giggled as she drank her cocoa. I didn’t mind. Personally, I felt so relieved. My friends were acting like nothing had happened. I’d worried all break they wouldn’t want to talk to me again. Yet they were acting like this was just another day. As long as I still had them, I didn’t care what the rest of the fae thought. My friends were the only ones that mattered.
“I was in Russia at a ballet training camp,” Odette sang. “I practiced for twelve hours a day.”
“All break?” I asked. I tilted my head. That was a strenuous schedule, even for a professional athlete.
“Yep,” Odette peeped. “Mother thought it was best.”
Delmare scowled, like she didn’t agree. But Kiara changed the subject and said, “Siona and I went to South Africa to visit my parents. How about you, Delmare?”
If possible, Delmare’s frown sunk lower. “My mom was gone most of the time. But let’s not talk about it. I bet Poland was amazing, huh, Em?”
Delmare’s sour mood threw me off, but I said, “Uh, yeah. Krakow was beautiful. I wish I had more time to enjoy it.”
I’d had to rest a lot in the hotel room in Krakow, because I hadn’t been feeling well. But I didn’t tell my friends yet— they still didn’t know I was sick, and it still didn’t feel like the right time to “come out” to them about it. Ethan was the only person in our friend group I’d told. I was worried they’d treat me differently once they found out I had a disease.
Though I couldn’t conceal it much longer. I was getting worse by the day.
Delmare settled into her chair. “I think we have to get down to brass tacks, ladies. A lot went down at the ball and the King’s Contest last month. So, what are we doing about it?”
Kiara got up to close the door to the parlor room. I lowered my voice and said, “The plan hasn’t changed. We need to keep quiet.”
“Bull,” Delmare snapped. “We overheard Gabby and Elijah confess to killing Professor Waldron. Even without evidence, if we tell the Arcanea Alliance they did it, it might be enough to convince the Circle to take away Gabby and Elijah’s win.”
The Circle was Malovia’s governing force, second only to the authority of the king and queen. But I was wary about going to them. “That’s not going to work. Lady Korva is in the Circle. She’ll do anything to get her son off a murder charge. Most likely, it’ll come back on us,” I said.
“We at least need to tell Ethan,” Odette said. “He’s Elijah’s biggest rival.”
