Page 20 of Angel Lost

“That’s pretty cool,” I say, and he jumps, slamming his notebook shut. He shoots me a look, but whatever he says is drowned out by the boom of the gong.

Dean Emrick strides across the stage, chest puffed out, stupid glasses perched on the end of his nose.

“Time for the spectacle,” Kai grumbles. There’s a tightness around his eyes that belies his relaxed, sprawled posture. He turns his pencil over and over in his fingers, stabbing it occasionally into his own thigh.

I squeeze his shoulder, my anger fading a little at his worry. “It’s normal. All students have an elemental reveal when they start at Fates. Although, for me, it was in class, not in the Great Hall…but I was late starting.”

“Not normal. Not normal forfae,” he snaps. “We know our elements, so this isn’t the same. There’s no need. Fae keep this shit private. The more others know, the more they have to use against you.”

“Cheery.”

“Realistic,” Jess whispers, fingers clutching my sleeve again.

Patting her hand, I offer my best sympathetic smile. Mistake. She leans in, head resting on my shoulder, eyes screwed shut. Holy Hecate. It’s not that bad. All the students at Fates have been through a reveal. I catch Farrell’s eye. “As soon as this is over, we reconvene, my room.”

“Cursed moons,” Jess moans beside me. “I wish this was over.”

The first fae is called to the stage and the giant screen hung off to the side flickers to life. It’s the photo that catches my attention first. A mugshot of the student, showing the gray jumpsuit of the correctional unit, making them look like a convict.Is that necessary?The details listed next are invasive; bullet points of height, weight, allergies, elements, weaknesses. Details of their families. This is definitely not necessary.

And it’s the same for every fae.

Jess trails back from the stage, eyes glassy.

“They put my bra size up on the screen,” she hisses.

Kai rounds on her. “You didn’t cry when you got punched in the face, you didn’t cry when your kin died, and you didn’t cry the entire time we were in rehabilitation. Fae up. You’re only upset because it said you’re an A cup.”

Jess launches herself at Kai, and they tussle until his name is called. His turn. They still, all of them. To a man, the fae seem to take a collectivebreath as Kai makes his slow way up to the stage. Their anxiety hums in the air, a weird kind of static I can almost taste.

Kai Grigori, son of Campbell Grigori and Davina Grigori, the Princess Royal.

“Stepson,” hisses Jess, tugging at her hair.

Weaknesses: mental health—multiple personality disorder

Weight: 220lbs

Class: fae

The headmaster stands. “Kai will now use the element box to discover his elements.” He looks far too pleased with himself, rocking forward onto his toes, hands pressed together. Jess groans. The screen flickers as Kai slips his hands inside the velvety black box.

Fae Type: light

Elements: earth, air, water, aether

I’m still reeling over the fact they gave out his medical history when the word aether flashes up on the screen. The room erupts, and Kai is left to stomp off the stage with every student talking about him. His shoulders hunch as he takes his seat.

Silently, I pass his notebook back. He takes it without a word, his hand briefly covering mine, squeezing in thanks.

Zephyr leans over the row, hands dangling over the chair in front of him. “Aether, huh?”

Kai’s eyes narrow. “Didn’t want to talk about it before.” His jaw works like he’s chewing his tongue.

Zephyr stretches farther over. “A fae with aether. I didn’t think that was a thing.”

Kai’s jaw clenches and Zephyr offers him a half smile. “You can’t talk about it, can you?”

Kai shakes his head.

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