Page 114 of The Cursed Fae

“Ewan’s alive,” I pointed out.

His frazzled gaze landed on me. “He might as well be dead. The Taurus Wolves aren’t taking this lying down. They’re blaming the Geminis, specifically our families.”

I sat on the edge of my bed. “What’s going to happen?”

Laz looked away. “This is bad, Winter.”

We ate a picnic-style dinner on the floor. At least, I did. Laz had zero interest in the roast beef sandwiches he’d brought. He leaned against Tina’s mattress and stabbed at a side of potato salad with a toothpick.

He stayed for a while after I cleared the food, and we watched an action movie on my laptop. Even as we cuddled together, he was distant, his mind somewhere faraway from my dorm room. With my head on his chest, I heard his accelerated heartbeat. His arm was warm around my waist.

He and Ewan weren’t friends, so his concern was purely from a political standpoint. Warring factions were bad for everyone—I understood that much. But until Nana discovered the identity of his attacker, it seemed hasty to place blame.

Laz kissed me goodbye after the movie and left. As soon as the door closed behind him, I unhooked Nana’s necklace and called out to Missy. She appeared with little effort, a scowl contorting her ghostly features.

“She’s okay,” Missy said. “Mat took off a bit ago.”

The largest knot between my shoulders lessened. “Thank Gaia. Have you heard any more about Ewan?”

She climbed onto Tina’s bed and sat cross-legged. “Yeah. Chancellor Keene and the entire Gemini Fae Council are down at the Temple of Gaia. He was in wolf form when someone attacked him. Essie thinks he knew the assailant.”

I picked at my comforter. “Are the Tauruses pissed?”

Missy wiggled her hand back and forth in the air. “The situation is dicey. Ewan’s father disinherited him, so technically, they have no recourse. Still, the pack isn’t happy.”

“Do you think it’s the same person who drained you?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know. Taking on a caster is one thing. Clearly, our deaths are written off more easily.” Her bitter tone resounded, loud and clear. “Have you ever seen Ewan in wolf form? He’s massive, and one hell of a fighter. Stealing his magic would’ve been tough... and risky.”

I scooted back until my spine touched the wall and hugged a pillow to my chest. “If it is the same person, they aren’t targeting casters. So, why are they doing it?”

Missy gave me her poor-little-fae-raised-in-the-human-world look. “Magic is currency in our communities. The more you have, the more people respect you. Those of us with less struggle just to be accepted. More of the students here suffer from depletion than anyone knows about. A lot of families still hide it.”

Yes, families like mine, I thought.

I squeezed the pillow tighter, worried my next question might not go over well. “What about someone like Chance?”

She shook her head emphatically. “Definitely not him.”

We grew quiet, both lost in thought. After a few minutes, Missy announced she was going back to the Temple of Gaia to spy on the discussions. She promised to check on Lena afterwards and report in the next day.

I tried calling my mother a few times. Surprise, surprise, she didn’t answer. Missy hadn’t mentioned whether Mom was at the temple with the others. She wasn’t part of the council, despite all the errands Nana made her run.

At least something is being done, I told myself.

Nana would deal with the magic thief. My focus had to be on making a portal. Without classes, my schedule was wide open.

I laid awake all night, mind churning with too many thoughts. Before sunrise, I dressed in my heaviest sweater and layered tights beneath my jeans, pulling on two pairs of socks and my snow boots. Then, I emptied my backpack and grabbed my jacket.

The dining hall was empty except for the workers. I filled a box with enough donuts and croissants to keep me going for hours.

Archer had told me focus was paramount to creating a portal. Truly, it was the key to all magic use. The astrology attic wasn’t working for me—too many distracting moments with Archer and Laz haunted the space. It was time to change it up.

To do that, I needed a vehicle. It was just before sunrise when I banged on Laz’s door. Clad in only a pair of flannel pajama pants, he ran one hand over his tousled hair and rubbed his eyes with the other. A slow smile spread across his face.

I didn’t mince words. “Can I borrow your car?”

Chapter thirty-nine

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