He’d made love to me several times throughout the night, and again this morning in the shower before begrudgingly returning me to Darlington.
I couldn’t stop smiling, even through my chores. Which were substantial today, thanks to the snow that fell overnight.
Shovel this, Ella.
Shovel that, Ella.
I chanted the words in my head, grinning the entire time. Because I finally felt alive. Like for the first time in my life, I belonged somewhere.
By Tray’s side.
It was hard to part ways this morning, but we still had a plan to carry out. However, I wanted to up our timeline. What was the point of graduating high school if I had to attend the Midnight Fae Academy next year?
A human degree wouldn’t be worth much in Tray’s world. His kind were essentially homeschooled until a certain age, the parents or tutors within their communities providing their general education and magical instruction. Then they attended the Academy, where they all mastered their powers and decided their place within their designated sects.
I would join the royal community, not just because of my mating to Tray, but because of my bloodline. That was where Elite—
Something hit my back, shoving me forward. My knees hit the pavement, the thin fabric of my jeans ripping on impact. I just barely saved my face by catching myself on my palms. “Shit,” I hissed as a tinkle of laughter sounded overhead.
Ryan.
“Careful, Cindersoot,” she drawled. “Daydreaming can be dangerous.”
Carmen’s booted foot appeared by my head. “I bet she’s thinking about wherever she disappeared to last night.”
“Yes, where were you all night, Ella?” Ryan asked, coming to stand beside her twin.
Scowling, I shoved off the ground, only to be kicked hard in the abdomen. I curled onto my side, protecting my now tender torso.
“Sorry, slipped,” Ryan said.
I snorted. “Right.” Now my body tingled for an entirely new reason—rage.
“Well, where were you?” Carmen demanded.
“None of your fucking business,” I retorted, scowling up at her.
Both of her sculpted eyebrows shot upward. “Excuse me?”
“Sorry, for the hard of hearing, that means fuck you.” I rolled away before Ryan’s foot could “slip” again and scrambled backward in the snowy yard.
“Did she really just say that to me?” Carmen asked. Her shock would have been comical if Ryan wasn’t already stalking after me.
I was so not in the mood for this game today.
With a strength fueled by adrenaline, I came up to my feet and held up my hands in front of me. “Try it,” I dared her.
Ryan threw back her head and laughed, the sound holding a touch of craze
d cruelty. “Wow. Now I really want to know where you were last night. Something, or maybe someone, has really lit a fire under your ass.”
Carmen trekked into the yard, grimacing as the wintry mix touched her jeans.
She’d likely throw them away tonight, claiming they were too soiled to wear again.
Spoiled bitch.
“Where were you?” she repeated, clearly not getting the message the first time.