Page 74 of The Cursed Fae

Laz laughed softly. “Magic is like a muscle. You have to build up to bigger spells. The more you practice, the stronger you’ll become.” He offered me his hand and helped me off the stool. “Come on. Let’s get you to your room. You should probably lay down.”

We stopped by the vending machine, and I stocked up on sugary snacks to take back to my dorm. The aftereffects reminded me of having my blood drawn. Magic was a lot like blood—for a fae, it was just as much of a life force.

Laz gave me a quick kiss outside my door and then left for a meeting with his initiation mentor. I ate the treats on my bed and worked on homework while I considered whether to heed Missy’s warning. Since I clearly couldn’t trust myself around Archer, I already had one solid reason not to go to the astrology tower.

My mind wandered to the kiss. I hadn’t wanted to dwell on my mistake, so I had refused to let myself relive those precious moments just prior to the indiscretion when I’d used my magic. I had created those portals, the small windows into my nana’s house. And Archer had guided me every step of the way. We shared a rare type of magic that few others understood or appreciated.

I needed Archer’s help if I wanted to save Lena. Or so I kept telling myself as I slipped out of my room and headed for the rendezvous. We hadn’t set a specific time or anything, so I was a little surprised to find him waiting for my arrival.

“Took you long enough,” he called, one arm and a leg dangling over the side of the hammock. “Thought you’d changed your mind.”

“Don’t start. It’s been a day,” I muttered.

Archer sat up and pumped his legs to make the seat swing. He cocked his head to the right. “You okay? Wanna talk about it?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I’m ready for another magic lesson.”

He gave me a mock hurt look and said, “Oh, using me for my magic lessons, huh?” Archer waggled his eyebrows, but then narrowed his eyes as he studied me more closely. “Not sure you are. You look like the walking dead.”

I frowned and shoved my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. “Gee. Thanks.”

Archer didn’t smile. “Have you been using your magic a lot?”

My posture grew defensive. “What does that matter?”

“Have you?” he insisted.

I squirmed beneath his scrutinizing gaze. “I’m helping Laz with one of his initiation spells,” I admitted. “Though I might have overdone it. Between sugar and soda, I feel much better. I think I’ve consumed more empty calories today than I did all summer, and that’s saying something—Lena and I spent three months drinking wine at the beach.”

Archer ignored most of my babble, zeroing in on the first part. “You’re helping Lazlo? You shouldn’t do that, Winter.” His eyes bore into me. “Promise me you will stop.”

“Why do you care?” I fired back.

He gritted his teeth. “Because I don’t want to see you get hurt. What you are doing is dangerous. Trust me.”

Exhaustion made me short-tempered, and I didn’t appreciate the lecture. “So, what? Are you going to refuse to give me lessons until I promise I won’t help Laz?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “Your magic is too low. If you try to create a portal right now, it might fully drain you. I won’t teach you when you’re like this.”

“Seriously?” My tone dripped with incredulity.

Archer leapt from the hammock and stood in front of me. “Yeah. Get some rest. I have something I need to take care of, anyway.”

For a wonderful, guilt-ridden minute, I thought he might kiss me. And I really wanted him to. Instead, Archer spun on his heel and stomped from the room. I started to chase after him, but he’d already disappeared by the time the shock wore off enough for me to move.

Chapter twenty-six

Weak Excuses & Bold Promises

If I wasn’t painfully exhausted when I got back to my room, I wouldn’t have slept at all that night. Archer had been genuinely upset. Sure, part of that was concern for my well-being, but it seemed like there was more behind his irritation.

It made Missy’s warning seem more legitimate—maybe there really was a reason I should stop spending time with him. He lied to my face about recognizing the name I’d called out in my dream—Zosia. Archer knew something about her. The more I thought about it, the more I needed him to spill.

I overslept the next morning, finally waking to someone pounding on the door. Through a bleary haze, I stumbled out of bed and padded across the room. Tina’s bed was empty.

“Hold on. I’m coming,” I grumbled.

A woman I didn’t recognize stood in the hallway. “Winter Sable?” she asked.

---