Page 13 of Faeheart
Caden squeezed my hand gently. “We’ll figure this out, Elias.”
His calm certainty washed over me, a welcome counterpoint to Wild’s chaotic energy. I found myself nodding, drawing strength from both of them despite myself.
“For now,” Professor Blackwood continued, “you three should proceed to your dormitory. I’ll have Mr. Thorne’s belongings sent over immediately. And remember, no magic. Not even the simplest spell.”
Wild finally released my wrist, though I could still feel the imprint of his fingers on my skin. “Come on, roomies,” he said with forced cheerfulness. “Let’s go have a big fuckin’ slumber party.”
The walk across campus was excruciating. Every student we passed seemed to stare, whispering behind their hands as they watched the unlikely trio we made. The perfect Thorne heir, the notorious fae troublemaker, and the quiet Cromwell boy were walking so close our shoulders kept brushing. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.
“They’re talking about us,” I muttered, keeping my eyes fixed ahead.
“They’re always talking about me,” Wild replied with a shrug. “Might as well give them something worth gossiping about.” Before I could react, he slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.
The contact sent a surge of magic rushing through me, so powerful I nearly stumbled. Wild’s emotions flooded my senses. Amusement, defiance, and something deeper, a loneliness he kept carefully hidden beneath his carefree exterior.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, trying to pull away despite the pleasant warmth spreading through my chest.
“Experimenting,” he whispered back, his lips too close to my ear. “Every time we touch, the connection changes. Don’t you feel it?”
I did feel it. The chaos of his magic was blending with mine, creating something new and strangely beautiful. It terrified me how right it felt.
“Wild,” Caden warned quietly, “maybe not in the middle of the quad?”
But Wild only grinned wider. “What’s the matter, Cromwell? Jealous? There’s room for you too.” He reached out with his free arm, pulling Caden against his other side.
The moment we were all connected, the pendants around our necks began to glow softly beneath our clothing. I felt the shift immediately, a harmonizing of three distinct magical signatures that had no right to work together so well. For a moment, the world around us seemed to shimmer, the mundane reality of Widdershins overlaid with something older and wilder.
“Goddess,” I breathed, unable to stop myself from leaning into Wild’s embrace. The sensation was intoxicating.
“See?” Wild murmured, his voice taking on a husky quality that sent shivers down my spine. “It feels good when you stop fighting it.”
Students were openly staring now. I caught sight of Erinne Willow, daughter of a member of the Elder Council, watching us with undisguised shock. Next to her, several junior witches from prominent families whispered furiously behind their hands.
“Elias Thorne with his arms around a fae and a half-breed?”
“Is he under some kind of enchantment?”
“Wait until his parents hear about this...”
I should have cared more. Should have pulled away and salvaged what dignity I could. But the magic flowing between us made everything else seem distant and unimportant.
“Fuck them,” Wild said cheerfully, loud enough for everyone to hear. “They’re just jealous they can’t feel what we’re feeling right now.”
Caden made a strangled noise. “Wild, please?—”
But it was too late. Wild suddenly spun me around to face him, his green eyes glittering with mischief and something darker, more primal. “Let’s really give them something to talk about.”
Before I could react, he cupped my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine.
The world exploded into light and sensation. His kiss tasted like summer berries and wild magic, intoxicating and forbidden. Our pendants flared brilliantly, visible even through our clothing, casting strange shadows across the quad. I should have pushed him away, should have been horrified, but instead, my hands gripped his shirt, pulling him closer as my magic surged to meet his.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathing hard, my carefully ordered mind in complete disarray. Wild’s eyes were glowing with fae light, and his smile was triumphant.
“Holy shit,” he whispered. “That was even better than I expected.”
“Oh my god…” Erinne snickered loudly. “Look at their pants!”
Reality came crashing back as I became aware of the dozens of students laughing, watching us with expressions ranging from shock to disgust to fascination. It wasn’t until I looked down that I realized why.
