Page 65 of Faerie Trials

“What’s going on?” I whispered to him as I craned my head to see above the crowd.

“I’m not sure.”

“Quickly now,” Cyrus barked out. “We’re opening a portal to transport you all back to the courtyard of the academy. Everyone, please. Let’s go. Now.”

It didn’t take long for the news—not a rumor—to reach us: Another student was dead.

Oh no!

I slid my arm around Mike’s waist. At least he was safe.

“Come on, stay close to me. It’s going to be fine.”

He kept his gaze trained ahead as we all made our way slowly toward the hastily opened portal. The familiar clench of magic pinched against my skin as we passed through.

Much to my surprise, Melia hadn’t left yet, and she followed us through the portal, her expression of worry no doubt mirroring my own.

“Did you hear?” She stepped closer to my other side opposite Mike.

“Yeah, we did.” I swallowed over a lump in my throat. “What happened?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure but I’m going to stay with you two for a little bit. I hope no one will mind.”

“I surely won’t mind. Stay as long as you like. Just know you’ll be dealing with some really obnoxious people,” I warned.

“Oh, it’s okay. I’ve gotten used to Mike.”

“Hey now!” He pretended outrage, but I could tell he was equally happy to have Melia around.

A little later we were all asked to gather in the public dining hall of Elite together. Soon a handful of other students poured in from the portal, some who had made it through the Trial though not in the top times, and others who had failed or been officially cut short by the newest development. Someone had the bright idea to break out refreshments to celebrate. Among the faculty I saw Miss Wicks pouring glasses of champagne for us.

I also saw Coral. Guess she’d made it through too. Like I had any doubt about her ability to win. I secretly—and a bit juvenilely, I admit—stuck my tongue out at her behind her back before happily accepting a glass of bubbly from Melia.

“Cheers to your win!” she called out before tipping her glass for a long sip.

Suddenly, despite the latest tragedy, things didn’t seem so bad after all. Mike had his arm around me, Melia was smiling, there were glasses clinking together, and everyone was happy. Chatting and excited despite the bad news.

Somewhere along the line word caught us about the student who’d died. A quiet girl, one of the bookish sort I might have been friends with if I’d been at the top of the class at Elite with her.

“It’s happening again,” Melia moaned, shaking her head so hard golden-brown curls fell over her face. She took another drink. “The same damn thing trailed us here from the mortal world.”

“Aw, come on,” Mike said. He kept his arm around my waist and heat spread from where he touched me. “Surely it’s not as bad as you think. It’s not like we have another serial killer in our midst.”

Except Mike didn’t know what I knew.

Maybe I really was too good at keeping secrets.

“I’m sure your father has all of his people on the case.” Melia took a step closer and lowered her voice. “I mean, it’s not like what happened at the halfling school. This was a full-blood Fae. The king is probably sparing no expense to make sure this is stopped in its tracks.”

“Yet it keeps happening,” I said. I hadn’t told Melia everything. Funny how I would keep the Claw & Fang from her even though she knew about my secret halfling status.

Great idea,Tavi.Stir the pot a little more, why don’t you.

“I don’t want either one of you to worry,” Mike said. “We have people on it. Not only my father and the guards, but the Faerie Bureau of Investigation.” He jostled me. “Tavi is well acquainted with their bulldog ways. Right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sadly, yeah. They are focused on finding the killer. Or finding a guilty party, at least. Someone to pin it on and restore order.”

Hopefully with this latest body, they would find the real killer, because this witch hunt needed to stop.

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