Page 34 of Oleander
“Thank you, Leo. It’s—” Before I can return the sentiment, I’m interrupted by Coach Slate.
“No talking in the back!” he shouts. “I don’t care if class hasn’t started yet! And I don’t care if you didn’t eat breakfast.Stretch!”
“How ’bout you eat a dick?” Skyler mumbles and my eyes nearly bulge out of my head.
Leo snickers next to us, effortlessly bending in half to touch his toes. His mop of chestnut brown curls nearly sweeps the ground. It’s shiny and thick, with the sides shaved away, displaying his ears and the amethysts that adorn them.
“Leopold! Put that mane in a bloody top knot, would you? I don’t need my floor dusted!”
Skyler laughs, as does half the class. “That wasn’t meant as a joke, nowstretch! Before I send you over the wall for your first test!”
“You can’t do that. It’s illegal. So your threats are empty, Mr. Slate,” a small female with long white and pink hair braided into pigtails says with an attitude. She’s wearing a black sports bra and hot pink leggings. “Skyler! Hi!” Her eyes light up when she sees him and scurries to the back to take a spot right in front of us. She immediately spins around. “I’m glad we have a class together! This is so exciting.”
“Good to see you, Gaia. How’s Nerine?” Skyler smiles warmly back at her.
“She’s great! We have a date planned for this weekend. Neri’s driver is taking us into town.”
“Are there buses that go into town?” Skyler suddenly asks.
“Buses? Like in the human world? Oh, Skyler! You say the funniest things,” Gaia chuckles, and Skyler glances at me nervously.
“Right, just kidding. You know what I mean. Are there any rides?”
Before Skyler can create more of a mess and accidentally reveal his secret, I speak up. “My driver can take us if you wish to go shopping or try the local fare. My mother will have to approve first, of course. So that might not be in time for this weekend.”
Did I just ask Skyler out on a date?
Before anyone can say another word, Coach Slate shouts at us again. “No talking!”
The class finally quiets down when actual steam begins to rise from the top of his head as his body heats with anger and potent magic.
Great. Another Fire Fae.
After a two-mile run, we practice primary postures for a long-sword until my limbs feel like spaghetti. But Coach Slate isn’t done with us yet.
“Alright! Pick a partner. We don’t just learn sword techniques in this class. Time for hand-to-hand combat. So, for the last twenty minutes, I want you to spar. You all took combat classes before the academy. This isn’t your first rodeo, as the humans say. Now, spar!”
I glance at Skyler with unease. He doesn’t have the same training as other Fae. I hold a glove-covered hand out, wanting him to be my partner so I can protect him. “I promise I won’t hurt you; just follow my lead and trust me,” I assure him.
Skyler smirks, but doesn’t say a word. I circle him, and he follows suit. We begin to match rhythms, lost in a world where it’s the two of us trapped in this strange mirroring dance. And then I’m completely caught off guard when Skyler lunges at me and sweeps my legs out from under me. I fall flat on my back, the air whooshing out of my lungs when he jumps on top of me.
“Skyler! Not so close!” Coach Slate shouts.
Goddess, why does he have to yell that so loudly and inform the whole class that someone’s about to touch me?
An embarrassed blush fills my already-heated cheeks. But Skyler doesn’t care about any of it as he pins my hands above my head. The long-sleeved athletic gear and gloves protect him from my poison,or so the class believes.
“Back up, Skyler.Now.You don’t know what sort of darkness his magic is capable of.” The professor's words shock me, hurting more than I thought possible.
Darkness? Me?
“I’m serious, Skyler.” He sounds even more angry now, and my anxiety kicks up a notch when I realize he knows about my past and maybe even has a connection to River. That usually seems to be where people’s dislike of me stems from.
I stare into Skyler’s seething silver eyes, the upset clear as day. He leans into my face, whispering into my ear without making contact. “Ignore Coach Asshole. I know exactly who you are and what your magic is capable of. You are worthy of great things, and I’ll show you later.” The last part is nearly inaudible before he hops up and holds a hand out for me. I accept, climbing to my feet.
Skyler releases me and spins around, once again defending my honor. “Coach Slate, we can agree to disagree on things. So, I don’t need your hollow warnings. I know exactly who Ander is and what his magic is capable of. Probably bigger things than you’ll ever achieve.”
“Sky,” I hiss quietly. He shouldn’t have said that.
