Fae kickball, I thought with a snort. That was essentially what they wanted us to play in gym class today. Except no one wanted me on their team.
It reminded me of a first-grade popularity contest.
With a glare at Exos and Titus—who stood off to the side, watching with those damn serious expressions again—I joined the blue team with Vox and River. Neither of them acknowledged me, which, I suspected, was all part of the plan.
Or, at least, I hoped it was.
It took considerable effort not to pull Vox aside and apologize to him for yesterday. Though it wasn’t my fault, but I felt obligated to say something. Maybe even to thank him for believing in me enough to visit last night and going out to search with Exos.
Yeah, that would be good.
I could express my gratitude for what he’d done, for helping again today, and for supposedly joining my mentor team.
All normal-ish things to say. Nothing too emotional or strange, just typical conversation.
Why am I nervous about talking to Vox?
I glanced at his profile. His crisp features definitely drew the female eye, and while I didn’t usually like long hair on a man, he definitely wore it well. Lean, athletic lines. Handsome. Okay, so maybe I found him a little attractive, but that shouldn’t deter me. I had two equally good-looking men watching from the sidelines. Clearly, my docket was a little full.
But something about Vox’s energy called to mine. Like he soothed me in a way the others didn’t. Because he understood my chaotic affinity for air? That seemed to be the one element I couldn’t master. It ebbed and flowed and fought me at every turn.
Yet, I’d managed to hone the energy under his guidance just yesterday.
That had to be it. I felt a strange connection to him as a result, sort of like he resembled an antidote to the insanity building—
A ball slammed into the side of my head, sending me sideways a step.
“Ow!” I shouted, glowering at the approaching blue-haired bitch to my left. Sickle, if I remembered her name right. “What the fuck?”
“Earth. To. The. Halfling.”
Seriously? “What?” I demanded, half tempted to pick up the ball and throw it at her bitchy little face.
Her resulting smile was all teeth. “I asked if you’re ready to go to the Spirit Kingdom, where you belong.”
I blinked at her. “Wow. That’s your taunt?” I glanced around, meeting the gaze of several of my teammates. They all appeared as welcoming as she did. Great. I shook my head on a laugh, deciding to play this one low-key and not let her get to me. “Sorry, I just expected more originality in the Fae World. But that wasn’t much better than my high school bully.”
“You’ll wither and die there,” she continued.
I rolled my eyes. “Okay.”
“And disappear for good.”
“Uh-huh.” I refused to let this bitch bother me. “Still not impressed. But please, continue. I could use some entertainment.”
Ice clouded her blue eyes. “You tried to kill my friends, and you think this is funny?”
“I haven’t tried to kill anyone.” I folded my arms, bored. “I’m just trying to learn about my fae heritage. That’s it.”
She snorted. “Your mother was a whore who fucked a human and caused a plague that killed off most of the Spirit Fae. An abomination. And you’re the product of it all, a walking reminder of Ophelia’s atrocities.”
Okay, those words stung a bit. Mostly because they were right. But… “I’m not my mother.”
She spit at my feet. “You’re right. You’re worse. Taking a Spirit Royal for yourself to, what, destroy him, too? And Titus? And how many others? You’re an even bigger slut than your mother!”
My palm itched to meet her face, but I swallowed the urge and forced a smile. “Anything else?” I learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with a bully was to not react.
“Yes. I hope they banish you,” she seethed, ice forming around us. It prickled against my skin, raising goose bumps along the way. A few of the students stepped back, eyes widening. River, however, stood firm, gaze narrowed.