Page 28 of The Cursed Fae

“What if the caster just had an infusion?” I pressed.

My new friend appeared both impressed and wary. “In that case, no, I wouldn't think so. Why do you ask?”

I licked my lips. “No reason.”

Archer touched my arm, sending a warm sensation up my arm. “Did Ray get an infusion on the day he died?”

There was no use denying it. “Yeah. Missy did too.”

To his credit, Archer didn't ask how I knew this information. Maybe he thought Nana had told me, which was preferable to him thinking I communed with spirits.

He studied me for several moments, searching my face for... something. Finally, his lips curved into a smile.

“I'm sure it's nothing,” Archer said.

Which convinced me it was something. There was no doubt in my mind—Missy and Ray were both drained. And at least one of them had received a poem, same as me.

No more tiptoeing around at night by myself. Nana had said my magic was infinite, like most fae. Yet the poem proved someone at the school thought otherwise. Whether or not there was vampire involvement, I was clearly a target. I needed to uncover the truth before I became a victim, too.

Outside my door, Archer was still all smiles, though his eyes still resembled storm clouds. “Same time tomorrow night?” he asked.

“Only if you promise more desserts.”

Archer nodded solemnly. “On my honor as a gentleman.”

I expected him to leave, but his feet remained rooted to the floor. So did mine. Exhausted as I was, the thought of climbing into my bed made me feel empty inside. Maybe it was the realization that Missy's claims were valid, but a part of me suspected it had more to do with Archer. That was why my pulse quickened when he leaned closer and brushed his lips across my cheek.

“Let this go, Winter.” His breath was cool and tingly on my skin. “Trust me. You need to let this go. At least for now.”

Chapter nine

More Beef Than a Steakhouse

On Friday morning, I woke early and slipped out of the room before Tina stirred. While I'd been considerate with early alarms, my blatant disregard of her bathroom rules hadn't caused World War Three. Yet. The dining hall was empty except for the handful of morning people sitting alone at tables. I grabbed a latte from the barista and picked a seat by the windows. More snow had fallen overnight, adding another three or four inches of fresh white powder.

Staring at the frosted trees, I wondered whether I would ever get used to the sight of a frozen world. Or if I'd ever get used to the supernatural world. So far, it felt like I would forever be an outsider, destined to live in the shadow of other people's lies.

Nana, Mom, and even Chancellor Keene assured everyone Missy's death was an accident. Same with Ray's drowning. But if that was true, why did Archer warn me off investigating the two deaths?

Ewan had mentioned bad public relations for the Gemini, and Archer's father was Gemini. Did that factor into the equation? Was poor publicity also the reason my family kept pushing the deaths as accidents?

Or was there a larger coverup? Was there a supernatural serial killer on the loose in Arcane Landing, targeting casters because many thought them weak? Casters dying from illness was one thing. A murderer targeting casters with depletion issues and draining them was a much more serious problem.

I told myself to heed Archer's warning, to let it go. But I couldn't. Two students were dead and, for all we knew, more would follow. Considering Missy and I had both received an unsigned poem, the next person to die could be me. I didn't survive a vampire attack, only to fall prey to another killer a week later.

Morgan had said she recognized the lines from the poem. Surely she would've also mentioned why the words were familiar, if she'd read Missy's note. Right?

There was only one way to know for certain; I needed to ask Morgan directly. That was the reason I'd woken up so early—to catch her alone.

Laz entered the dining hall with a group of guys I vaguely recognized, including Morgan's twin brother. Laz must've felt my eyes, because his gaze surveyed the large room until it found me. He acknowledged me with a head nod, then turned to the guy beside him and said something before breaking away from the group to join my table. I hid my unbidden smile behind my cup.

“Hey.” Laz squeezed my shoulder as he slid into the chair beside mine. “A few of us are going to the cove later to blow off some steam. You interested?”

“The cove?” My brow furrowed. “It isn't really optimal swimming weather.”

Laz reached for my cup and took a sip. “It's cold.”

“Yeah, that's my point,” I replied.

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