Page 44 of The Cursed Fae
He gave me another quick kiss and handed me my bag. Waving to my friends, he headed toward the stairs and his own dorm room.
Astrid patted the couch cushion beside her. “Come, sit.”
“Let me put my stuff down. I’ll be right back.” I caught the suspicion in Morgan’s brown eyes, a stark contrast to Astrid’s bubbly nature.
Did she know I’d been talking to Missy? My stomach dropped. That conversation wasn’t on my to-do list. Both Missy and Astrid had thought it best that Morgan didn’t know the truth. When I found my room empty, instead of going back, I did the responsible thing and sat at my desk with my laptop and textbook and studied the Aries Fae. Morgan would have to wait until I knew what I was going to say.
The knock on the door made me jump. Cold liquid poured over the back of my right hand. I blinked. My laptop was open in front of me on the desk. Notes on the Aries Fae stared back from the screen. Well, that was the heading at the top of the document. Instead of actual notes, there were three pages of nothing but the letter F. I’d fallen asleep while studying, my forehead on the keyboard and hand gripping my coffee cup.
“Winter?” Astrid called through the door.
My movements sluggish, I rescued the laptop from the coffee river flowing across my desk. I grabbed a towel then went to answer the door. Astrid had her fist poised to knock again. She pulled back just before her hand hit my nose.
“Hey,” I said, stifling a yawn. Then I noticed her getup. “What are you wearing?”
“It’s game day.” Astrid twirled in the hallway to give me the full effect of her outfit.
The fitted jersey was green, with Team Omega stitched in white. Her matching green leggings had Omega down the left leg and Sirens down the right. Black paint was beneath both her eyes, sparkles dangling from her long lashes. Two braids wound around and down her head, secured at the bottom with one green bow and one white bow.
“Are you competing?” I asked.
She laughed. “No. I suck. But technically, I am on the team. Grab your coat. Belle and Fern are waiting downstairs.”
The other girls weren’t nearly as decked out as Astrid. Belle wore a white Omega hoodie with a matching scarf and hat set. Fern wore jeans and a puffy jacket and a sour expression that suggested she’d rather be doing anything else.
The three of us trudged across campus toward the stadium, along with every other student at Arcane University. Or so it seemed. Icy wind blew my ponytail back and forth. I had yet to acclimate to the weather in Arcane Landing. The chill still rattled my bones and made my teeth chatter.
“Where’s Morgan?” I asked Astrid as we walked.
“She’s our best fighter.” Astrid seemed to reconsider. “If I’m being fair, she’s more like tied for best fighter. Tina’s actually fantastic.”
That didn’t surprise me. I’d seen Morgan in action at the cove. Astrid hadn’t mentioned Friday night, and I didn’t want to cast a dark cloud over the pulsing excitement of my classmates. And yet, the vampire attack was my fault. Astrid had nearly become dinner. I needed to apologize.
“Um, so, about the other night. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I know that’s not—”
Astrid held up her hand. “Why are you apologizing? You have nothing to be sorry for. Vampires are vile, vicious creatures.” She shivered. “It’s not your fault. You saved us. We should all be thanking you.” Astrid nudged me with her hip. “So yeah, thank you for saving our asses.”
Belle and Fern were far enough behind us that I could’ve told Astrid the truth. That the vampires had come for me. Everyone else on the beach was just collateral damage. I chose not to confide in my new friend. The admission carried too much baggage. Whatever I was, whatever secret my family hid from me—that was the reason for the attack.
The four of us sat in the third row of bleachers, in a section full of coeds dressed like Astrid. Fern and I stood out in our everyday clothes.
“Are you sure it’s okay if I sit here?” I asked.
“Of course.” Astrid smiled reassuringly. “You should get to know the other girls.”
Spectators packed the stands all around the stadium, and they weren’t all students. There were a lot of townspeople. Families climbed the stairs to the general admission sections. A group of older women filed into the first row of our section. They all had caps of perfectly coiffed white hair and wore identical tracksuits in Omega green and white.
One woman glanced over her shoulder as if she sensed me watching. I hadn’t seen her in years, but aside from the white hair and additional wrinkles, my grandmother hadn’t changed since our last encounter. Apparently I hadn’t either. My grandmother nodded her acknowledgement, a sadness in her shrewd blue eyes. I smiled and waved.
If my friends thought the interaction odd, they didn’t let on.
Astrid elbowed me in the ribs, discreetly holding out a flask. I shook my head.
“I have a quiz after this,” I told her.
“Fair.” Astrid took a sip and handed the flask to Belle. The other girl passed on the alcohol. Fern drank deeply before giving the flask to a girl named Jamila beside her.
The announcer came over the loudspeakers, welcoming everyone to the kickoff of the Arena Games season. My grandmother and her friends cheered just as loudly as Astrid and the other girls. The announcer then gave a short spiel on the history of the games and their evolution to today’s version.