Page 42 of Faerie Gift

Mike rubbed his jaw. “Why would you think the exchange students are involved?”

“Because it happened so close to their rooms. I mean, it’s just an observation. An opinion.”

“A good place to start,” he agreed.

I flipped the ring around and around my finger. It had brought me not to the Augundae Imperium, but to Mike. Would we have gotten a chance to continue our awkward conversation if someone had not screamed and interrupted us?

No clue. And now wasn’t the time or the place to figure it out.

“Did you see all the blood?” Mike continued, and turned a shade paler.

I let out a small chuckle. “Don’t tell me you’re the type to go weak at the knees at a little cut.”

“Tavi, what we saw went way beyonda little cut. I’m glad we weren’t alone, really.” He bared his teeth at me, grimacing. “It helps having someone to lean on.”

He rubbed my elbow with his own in an attempt to get me to grin. But I glanced to the left at the sound of approaching footsteps. A bunch of exchange students on their way back to their dorms. I recognized the four whom I’d met in homeroom and waved to them.

From the looks on their faces, they already knew what was going on. Or they’d heard. They came over and Zinnia was the one who spoke first.

“How are you, Tavi?” she asked softly.

We stood up to greet them, but I didn’t have anything good to say, pursing my lips instead. “I’ve been better. How about you? Are you hanging in there?”

She glanced toward the line of policemen and groaned. “Yeah. I understand how you feel. This is unprecedented, no?”

Mike and I shared a look. “Well…” I began.

“What, you’re saying this sort of thing normally happens here?” Saffron interjected.

He’d meant it as a joke, clearly. But Mike and I could only look at each other until he finally said, “Actually, it does. You would be surprised.”

“You’re kidding, right? What has happened before?” Saffron asked.

Mike hit him with a cold stare. Probably good practice for future political dealings. “It’s private business.”

I elbowed him in the side. “I’m sure it’s common enough knowledge. We had a shifter stalking the halls and taking out competition. Top students. He was caught.” I didn’t say by whom. Not wanting to change the way Zinnia looked at me like I was someone she trusted.

Zinnia and Saffron stayed behind to talk to us while their two friends made their way into the dorms. “Ah, yes. We did hear about a former student responsible for the murders. Terrible things. Terrible tragedies. Yes?”

Mike tensed and I answered for him. “Yes. I can’t speak for everyone but we can only hope this matter comes to an end quickly.”

“What have you all been doing? To keep busy? We haven’t seen you sitting in on any of our classes,” Mike said.

Good way to redirect the focus away from sensitive subjects.

“We have outlets,” Saffron answered for their group. “And since we have no need to sit in on the classes, we haven’t been. We take plenty of walks around your beautiful property.”

“We’ve also made frequent use of your library and game room.” Zinnia smiled sadly.

I didn’t even know the school had a game room.

“It’s good you’re keeping busy. I’m sure it can get pretty boring staying in your rooms all the time.”

Was there any way for me to slyly steer this conversation toward the Augundae Imperium? Would Saffron or Zinnia have any idea about the artifact, anyway?

“Your professors do not have time to run a nursery and babysit us,” Saffron said as an explanation.

“We’ve had to make our own entertainment. Which is absolutely fine,” Zinnia hurried to say. “We are used to it. There isn’t much to do at our school, either, especially not in the winter. Although these terrible tragedies are doing nothing to help along anyone’s spirits.”

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