Page 37 of Twisted Fate
“I’m sharing my opinion. If you think that’s brave—if you think I should be intimidated by you—you think too highly of yourself.” I lift my bag onto my shoulder and step around him. “Goodnight, Mr. Westbrook. I’ll see you next Monday.”
Afew weeks pass, and the semester picks up, ensuring I have plenty to keep my mind busy. I’ve gone home each weekend since I found out Adam’s cancer came back. They moved him into a hospital room shortly after I left, which made me want to turn around and go back, but Mom and Dad insisted he was doing fine. During my last visit, I sat with him during treatment. It was hard on me, so I can’t imagine how Adam felt. He’s been so strong through all of this. He seems to be responding well, according to Dr. Collins. I’m not sure whether it was the strange way we met that threw me off with her, but when I was in the room with Adam, I kept feeling her eyes on me. It made the skin at the back of my neck tingle. I tried to ignore it the best I could; I knew she was there to help Adam, but the unease stuck around after she left.
Back on campus at the end of another week, I’m sitting in the uncomfortable plastic seat, rereading the chapter for today’s class.
Grant sets up the lecture for the professor and takes the seat next to me again, tossing me an easy smile. “Hey, how was your week?” He pulls out his textbook and clicks his pen against the desk.
I smile. If he only knew. “Busy,” I say. “Never a dull moment.”
“How’s your research paper going?”
I purse my lips. “Not bad. Want to read it over for me?” I’d managed to get a rough draft of it done on the train ride from Mapleville.
“Sure, if you’ll read mine.”
Laughing, I say, “Sure thing. Hand it over.”
We swap papers and read through them, marking suggested edits on each other’s work. I hand his back before the lecture starts and peek at the notes he made on mine.
“You’re officially my editor,” he teases.
My lips curl upward. “Only if you’ll be mine.”
He sticks his hand out, and I shake it. “Deal.”
We spend the rest of the lecture taking notes and delving into a class discussion that I tune out of, yawning every so often as I fight to stay awake.
I take the long way back to my dorm and go to the Mexican grill off campus to grab dinner. I haven’t had a chance to hit this place up since the semester started, and with the stress of midterms looming, I decide to treat myself to some tacos and chips with guac tonight.
After successfully stuffing my face with food, I head out, tucking my phone in my back pocket so I can zip up my sweater.
A short distance away, I hear muffled shouting. Figuring it’s normal Friday evening pre-partying, I keep walking until I pick up some of what is being said.
“You’re a disgrace toallfae,” a delicate female voice says.
I freeze at the end of a brick storefront. There’s a walkway separating the two buildings that leads to more parking for the local businesses, and from the sounds of it, a couple of fae are having an argument. I doubt they’ll take kindly to me interrupting them.
A deep, male laugh reverberates against the exterior walls, echoing down the alley. “You’re one to talk, considering you left us.” His voice is unfamiliar, but he sounds pissed.
The female growls viciously, and the building shudders. The male grunts. “You know, I’m surprised they sent you. You were never much of a fighter.”
“Yet they knew I’d kick your pathetic ass without a problem.”
He grunts again. She must’ve hit him. I want to look, but I can’t bring myself to peek around the corner for fear I’ll get caught. They’re too wrapped up in whatever is happening between them to notice my heart pounding in my chest, but I get the feeling they’ll react the second they see me.
A firm hand grabs my wrist and pulls me hard, away from the building. My mouth opens to scream, but it’s quickly covered. Panic surges through me before my eyes connect with Skylar’s. She lets me go once it’s clear I’m not going to make a sound.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hisses.
“I was walking home.” I look past her. “Why are they fighting?” I leave out the part where I know about the light and dark fae. I can’t help but think that’s what’s going on—that the fight I overheard was caused by the fae war.
Her eyes narrow. “That’s what you’re concerned about?” She scowls. “Typical human. You realize if they’d seen you, you’d probably be dead right now or being fed on.” She cocks her head. “Unless that’s what you wanted.”
My brows inch closer. “Of course not,” I snap. “What areyoudoing here?”
“I was a few blocks over when I heard them and then your annoying little heartbeat.”
“And you came to make sure I didn’t get hurt?” I almost smile.
