Page 42 of The Cursed Fae

Mom exhaled loudly, expression haggard. “Winter, we need to talk.”

Most children hated to hear those words from their parents' mouths. Not me. I had waited a lifetime for my mother to say that phrase. And yet, I didn't feel like talking. Laz was the first good thing that happened to me in a very long time, and I wanted to bask in my happiness a little longer.

I shook my head. “Not tonight. I'm exhausted.”

Visible relief shown in her eyes. “Of course.” Then, to my surprise, Mom leaned in and engulfed me in a hug. “I love you, Winter. Always know that.”

My heart skipped a beat. What a bizarre thing to say. Nana's comment blared inside my head: “Whatever else she may be, Winter is a Sable.”

What the hell was I?

Chapter fourteen

Beast Mode

Nana insisted on making breakfast before my return to campus. Mom didn’t even pretend to play with her food. Despite wanting to talk the night before, she didn’t attempt conversation over breakfast.

My great-grandmother wasn’t chatty either. She asked me how I was feeling, and then spent the rest of the meal shooting pointed glances at my mother. It was clear they’d exchanged words when I wasn’t around.

While there was a ton I wanted to ask them, the questions lined up in my head exhausted me. I found myself relieved in the end, and grateful for the silence. Existential crises were too heavy for a Sunday morning.

The doorbell rang while I was helping Nana wash the breakfast dishes.

My great-grandmother pursed her lips. “I believe that’s for you,” she said, voice deceptively light.

Had she seen Laz and me in the gazebo? Oh, Gaia, how much had she seen? I would’ve burst into humiliated flames on the spot if my great-grandmother saw me straddle Laz.

Mom beat me to the foyer.

“Oh, good morning, Lazlo.” She beamed, holding the door open in invitation.

Laz returned my mother’s smile and kicked snow from his boots before crossing the threshold.

“How are you Ms. Sable?” he asked.

I fought a smile. He really was a kiss-ass.

“I’m doing well, Lazlo. You look like you’ve made a full recovery,” Mom said.

“It was just a scratch,” he replied modestly. “Most of the damage came when I fell and hit my head.” He gave an embarrassed laugh and ran a hand over his golden-brown hair. “Knocked myself unconscious. It was not my finest hour.” His gaze shifted to me. “Your daughter is quite the hero. That shielding spell she used was amazing. She saved us all.”

The way Laz looked at me made heat rush to my cheeks.

“I think hero status goes to Nana, Morgan, and Chance,” I said. “Without them”—I shook my head—”I don’t want to think about what could’ve happened.”

Mom cleared her throat, tense lines visible at the corners of her mouth. “Here, why don’t I take your coat, Lazlo?” Her smile spread from ear-to-ear. “We just finished breakfast, but there are plenty of leftovers.”

“Thank you, Ms. Sable. But I ate at my parents’ house. We should get going anyway. The first arena match is today, I just stopped by to pick up Winter.”

“Is that still happening?” I wrinkled my nose. “After what happened, I mean.”

“My dad thought the match would uplift people’s spirits,” Laz said with a shrug. “He’s the boss.”

Mom clapped her hands, beaming at me with a manic twinkle in her eye. “Wonderful idea. You’ll love it, Winter. Arena Sundays were one of my favorite parts of university.”

I looked from Mom to Laz. “Let me just say goodbye to Nana and grab my stuff.” My gaze landed firmly on my mother. “I’ll be right back. Don’t be weird.”

Laz and I didn’t drive straight to campus. It was still early, and we had hours before the Arena Games. We swung by a coffee shop called Beans & Brews. Laz knew the place well enough to greet the barista, a pretty girl called Pei, and he also knew to ask for our coffees “Beast Mode.”

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