Page 76 of Finding Closure

“Yeah, I believed you, but one of our parents should get to see one of us graduate, and you could never have taken this moment from him.”

I glanced back and saw Lageos sitting there beaming like the proudest parent ever. No, no, I couldn’t have denied him this moment. That was for damn sure.

So I behaved and acted as if I cared and wanted to be there. Did humans feel this way about their graduations? Was it amazing for anyone? All that dedication to work for this goal and then you were bored out of your skull at the ceremony?

Or was there just something wrong with me?

Maybe a bit of both.

I mulled it over the whole time until it was time for our group of the last two rows on the end section. We all stood and moved along the aisle to join up with the end of the line.

I took a step forward when the line did and waited to feel something—anticipation, excitement, nerves… Anything.

I was just bored. Seriously, maybe I really was missing a sensitivity chip?

Finally, it was my turn, and since I was the last to go, it felt like most people were bored as well. Edelman called my name and I walked across the stage and shook his hand. We turned to take the picture holding my diploma when an ear-piercing whistle that was not natural filled the whole auditorium.

I blinked out and saw my dad with his fingers in his mouth making a complete ruckus. I tried to cover up my laugh and focus on the picture as Edelman muttered his eardrums were blown along with everyone else’s.

Probably.

Oh well.

Iolas was trying to reel my dad back in as I moved to shake the hands of a few other deans. Lageos shook him off and was cheering and clapping when I faced front again.

And he wasn’t the only one. All of the fairies were making a damn scene.

Even funnier? My other four guys—minus the stupid fairy—looked gobsmacked that there was such a commotion as they stood and politely clapped like normal people.

Seriously, nothing was ever simple with these fools.

I kinda loved it.

But that was it. That was basically the end. It felt very… Anticlimactic.

Plus, there was going to be a lot more crazy after with the way just about everyone was staring at me. It wasn’t just my hating being the center of attention. Oh no, I could practically hear my name on everyone’s mind even when I had my telepathy locked down.

“Your Highness, this way to take pictures,” Shael said and opened a portal for me not two feet from my seat. The nod she gave me made it clear to move my ass.

Yeah, she didn’t need to tell me twice.

I went through and she followed after with my detail. “How bad?”

“Apparently, there are several teachers who want to ask you for jobs in Faerie now that it’s not considered rude because you’re not a student,” one of my detail drawled. “Same with way too many of the students. Sure, that’s ever been a thing in Faerie and like you’d ever give a job to those vipers who were jerks to you.”

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve changed things with Izzy and Juan, not just having the species aides that were basically in name but rarely came to Faerie. I’ve heard lots of whispers and people talk that Faerie will soon be open to everyone under my rule.”

The fairies who joined us glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Yeah, it was completely stupid and not something I would ever allow.

And the people of Faerie would fucking riot if I’d ever had the insane thought to do something like that. Did I want nicepeople to be able to visit more and experience how awesome Faerie was? Yes.

Yes, absolutely, but no one was just getting full access. Not when there was—and would always be—too much evil in the world. Nope, not happening.

I glanced around Artemis and was more than ready to leave. Once I hugged my dad and he congratulated me, we left and had a great meal at the place he’d arranged with Katrina. It was owned by a supe, and they’d been paid extra to keep their mouth shut that they were having my graduation celebration becauseeveryonewanted to know where it was.

To “drop by” on accident, of course.

Yeah, sure.

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