Page 31 of Faerie Marked

Tock.

Liar.

Fraud.

Darkness crowded the edges of my vision as the machine beeped, clicking, analyzing the drop of blood I’d provided.

My teeth bit down on my lip hard enough to leave a bruise.

“Tavi, try to breathe. It’s not so bad.”

Mike stood behind me grinning. He thought this an irrational phobia, like people who couldn’t stand to see a mouse, or didn’t want to walk beneath a ladder because of bad luck.

He didn’t know this meant the difference between a future of freedom or a matrimonial prison.

The machine squealed out its results.

“Half human, half Fae,” the teacher said with a shake of her head. She didn’t sound impressed. “Next.”

I stood there for a moment in shock. The potion from Barbara…hadworked? It was impossible.

“Next!”

The teacher repeated the demand and the few people behind me surged forward for their turns. I drew my finger from the machine, my smile secretive and wide. Nothing but half Fae and half sniveling, cowering human. Barbara’s disgusting concoction had done its job and hidden my true self.

Thank goodness.

Maybe the old witch knew what she was doing after all.

“See? It wasn’t so bad,” Mike continued with a chuckle as we walked toward the next closest table. “You got yourself worked up for no reason. There’s nothing to worry about.”

For him, sure. I hadn’t paid attention to his results. I cradled my hand to my chest and watched the pinprick heal seconds later. “Not bad, you were right. I’m not even sure why I worried.”

“I told you, you wouldn’t see the needle.”

“I’ll never doubt you again,” I cooed, which drew another laugh from Mike.

“Oh, I’m sure eventually I’ll do something stupid to have you doubting me. Never say never, Tavi.”

The rest of check-in went by in a blur, whatever other students were there before first light getting their papers and sleeping assignments before the masses. All first-year students were obliged to sleep in separate dormitories with other members of their specific breed and gender.

I’d been allocated a bed number and sent on my way with directions to my new home.

Everyone stayed in different wings of the castle, I saw now. How big was this place, really?

“Hey, wait for me,” Mike said from over my shoulder, trotting to catch up.

I was immensely glad for his presence. It made the process a little less lonely to have a friendly face close. “I’m not sure what I’m doing.” I shook my head. “It’s all happening too quickly. Do you have any idea where I’m supposed to go?”

“Let’s see where you’re staying.” Mike craned his head to glance at the papers I’d been given. Wow, he smelled good. Better than any boy I’d ever met, a combination of sandalwood and sea salt. “Ah. You’re in Tamerlain Hall. I think I know where to go. I can walk you there if you still want the company.”

Feeling much better, the weight lifted off my shoulders, I knocked against him playfully. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’ve been here before.You know where to go. Are you sure you’re a first-year student?”

He held two fingers straight up in front of him as we walked. “My honor as a Scout, although I’ve never been in the Scouts. Ididstudy the school’s website before I came.”

“Ha! Me too. It doesn’t seem to be helping much.”

I tried to shuffle through my armful of orientation papers and dropped several in the process. On our way we passed by several students, species I’d never seen before, some tall and more human-like than fairy, while others were very clearly pixie or elf orother. I tried to avoid staring at them. Good practice for later, because I didn’t need the attention either.

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