Page 70 of Faerie Trials

He seemed surprised. “You do?”

“Seriously?” I grinned and reached out to pinch him lightly. He looked adorable today, in a green tunic to match his eyes and a pair of tight jeans. I wasn’t sure why he wanted to wear jeans instead of the workout gear the rest of us had chosen…but I appreciated the view. “I look at you all the time. And I’m not the only one. You’d be surprised how many people find it hard to keep their eyes off of you.”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I don’t care about them, though. I only care about you.”

And that admission made everything inside of me go warm.

Not the time. Focus!

From the corner of my eye I saw Coral’s attention shift in our direction. But when I glanced over at her, she resumed her warm-up routine of pointedly ignoring me while stretching out her arms and legs in exaggerated yoga moves. She had her face painted for the balcony—full complement of foundation, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, blush, and lipstick, all applied with an obviously heavy hand—and her outfit probably cost more than my entire wardrobe back at Uncle Will’s combined. And I didn’t exactly come from nothing.

Honestly, who wore diamonds to a magic tournament?

“She’s taking things a little far, don’t you think? I’m not sure the workout routine is really necessary,” I said, trying to divert his focus off of my focus so he wouldn’t be suspicious. Because Mike needed to keep his distance during this Trial. Otherwise my cover would be blown. I also didn’t want to risk him getting hurt if the half-shifter showed up for Coral.

“You know how Coral is, though. She doesn’t do anything halfway.” Mike’s expression soured and he narrowed his eyes, partly against the glare of the spring sun and partly because…well, Coral. “She’s always over the top.”

I smirked. “Over the topis putting it nicely.”

Although I was nervous for the start of the Trial, I was more nervous for what I’d be facing. Through the last few months of classes, Mike seemed to have really come around with his behavior toward the other students. He no longer adopted that cold persona when it came to people like Lane or Coral. In fact, whenever Coral was around, Mike took great care to keep the conversation short and leave the room as soon as possible.

While I was happy enough to take credit for Mike’s turnaround, I didn’t have time to gloat.

Coral continued stretching those long, long legs, her red hair in an intricate series of braids at the top of her head. Mine hung in two low ponytails, looking like I hadn’t showered this morning. She was the golden girl, the perfect one, put together even on her worst days.

The rest of the students participating in today’s Trial gathered close to Coral. Moths to a fake flame who didn’t know enough to question it. No matter how awful I found her, no matter how much of a bitch she’d been to me, she still didn’t deserve to die.

And I was going to make sure of it. I hardened my resolve.

“You have everything you need?” Mike gestured to my backpack. “You didn’t have to bring the kitchen sink with you. The whole point of the first sprint today was to find the mineral we need to fashion a weapon.”

I shrugged against the weight of the bag, filled to the brim with spell supplies I might need or whatever. “It’s better to be prepared for anything,” I replied. “We can’t all be the prince with his amazing magical stamina.”

We looked at each other for a long moment, both smiling, because I knew. And Mike knew. He had theAugundae Totalishelping him with his powers.

“You’re teasing me.” He tweaked my nose. “We’ll see what kind of mood you’re in when this ends today.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I thought maybe you and I could have our own celebration party. Maybe we could hang out and watch a movie.”

My cheeks heated and my grin widened. “You’re on.”

I suddenly snapped to attention when I realized I didn’t see Coral anymore. I jerked around, sweeping the crowd until I spotted her sidling up to Arlyss and flirting as if she wasn’t facing a dangerous task.

Arlyss lapped up the attention, with Lane standing at his side looking like a third wheel. An embarrassed third wheel.

“Students! Students, please quiet down.” Headmaster Cyrus and the rest of the school officials judging this trial called for our attention with a clap and a boom of magic.

At once the crowd hushed. Mike and I moved closer to hear what he had to say. To prepare ourselves for what we would face today. My focus narrowed on Coral. I adjusted the weight of my backpack again.

“Your first step today will be an easy one, for those of you proficient in conjuring. Simply remember what Professor Ninea told you during charms class. Keep your focus strong, your heart light, and your intentions pure. Then the work begins.”

I barely heard the rest of his speech or the starting buzzer, and might have stayed in place watching Coral until my eyes blurred if Mike hadn’t pushed me into action. “Go on,” he called as he jogged in the opposite direction. “I’ll meet up with you at the end of the day. Try not to die.”

Was that going to be our new goodbye slogan?Try not to die?I wasn’t sure I liked it.

We were not supposed to work together for this one. The handful of students participating today headed off in different directions, searching for an element only found in Faerie, knowing once we found it, the true test part of the Trial would begin in earnest.

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