“Yeah, well, no one will put up with you and your wild conspiracy theories.” Mel rolled her eyes.
“Here is a wild idea: why don’t you two get together?” I suggested. “You two argue like an old married couple.”
Both Alec and Mel made gagging sounds. “Yuck! No one at the academy is worth dating. I’m too busy trying to be a damn good Guardian,” Mel insisted.
“For once I agree with her.”
I rolled my eyes at them. Maybe one day they would figure out the attraction between them.
“I’m not —” I stopped as warmth flooded over me.
Tristen.
Tristen’s presence was something I’d always been able to pick up on. There had always been a weird connection between us, but I wouldn’t let Mel know that. Not when he was nearby. I still hadn’t learnt the full extent of his powers yet. His main power was his magnetic energy. People flocked towards him like moths to a flame.
I, however, seemed to be immune from that and had never liked him when we’d first met. I didn’t know what this thing was between us and felt too scared to ask him about it. The longer we stayed in the friend zone, the better. I didn’t want to step out of it. Nor would I bring it up either.
I opened the door as Tristen approached. He’d raised his hand to knock and flashed me a dazzling smile. “How did you know I was here?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes again. “I can sense you a mile away. Your energy is that strong.”
His grin widened. “My energy is cloaked. No one should have been able to sense me.”
“Lucky me then. Get in here.”
Mel rolled her eyes at me. See, you’re more than friends.
Alec tensed when he spotted Tristen. Tristen Thornwood is in my room again. By the goddess this is surreal, he thought and said to me and Mel, Do we have to treat him like he’s a prince?
He’s a student like us. He is not a bloody God, I snapped. Don’t treat him any differently than you would anyone else.
I didn’t know why the others seemed so intimidated by Tristen. Maybe it was because of his reputation. He had seemed cold and standoffish towards me at first too. Everyone acted like he was a god, but I’d never treated him like that. Royal or not, he was just a teenager like us.
“Hi, what have you guys come up with?” Tristen asked and slipped an arm around my shoulders.
What are you doing? I asked him in thought.
Nothing. Why?
We are not — I shook my head and brushed him off. “Alec, tell us what you’ve come up with so far.”
Alec hesitated and turned to Tristen. “Are you sure you want to be here for this?”
Tristen shrugged, nonchalant. “I’m here for Silvy. You can say and do what you want around me. Like Silvy says, I’m not a god.”
I gaped at him. “How do you know what I said?”
He gave me another dazzling smile.
Cocky moron.
Tristen chuckled. That proved it. Somehow, he could pick up my thoughts.
Stay out of my head, I warned him. I’ll lead you into places you’ll never want to go.
I’m not in your head and feel free to lead me anywhere you want to go.
I shook my head and glared at him as I bit back a smile.
“Okay, I made a list of potential subjects. The six council leaders being the obvious choices,” Alec spoke up. “Then there’s all the different teachers and helpers who work here.”
Alec motioned to the wall behind him that held a chart of the names of everyone on there. Along with pictures of them.
“You don’t have a problem with your parents being suspects?” Alec asked Tristen.
“Parents?” I frowned. We all knew Maeve Thornwood was Tristen’s mum. No one had ever mentioned who his dad was. I had never thought to ask either. I didn’t know him well enough to ask that.
“Yes, the king is my father. And no, it’s not a problem,” Tristen said, and I caught an edge to his voice. “Everyone’s a suspect here, right?”
I gaped at his sudden revelation. I had never thought his father might have been the king since he and Maeve seemed to despise each other from what I’d seen at council meetings. But I said nothing. I hadn’t considered the possibility of a student being the killer either.
“This is so ridiculous.” Mel sighed. “Why are you all so eager to believe someone killed Freya? I mean, she was so nice and helped so many people. She even helped me get into the academy. Why would anyone want to hurt her?”
“Because there are too many unanswered questions,” Alec replied. “And Freya was known to stir things up. Your beloved council gets rid of anyone who steps on their toes. You of all people should know that.”
Mel gritted her teeth. “I don’t have much love for the council either, but I still think the idea of one of them killing Freya is a long shot.” Mel crossed her arms.
“He’s right. Everything is about politics, even here at the academy,” Tristen agreed. “My mother has spies here too.”
Mel shook her head and hit Alec. “See, your madness has rubbed off on them too.”
“Ow!” Alec rubbed the back of his head. “I was right about Gerard’s affair with Lady Louisa.”
Mel rolled her eyes. “The nobles have affairs of the time.” Then she flinched. “Sorry, Tristen. We shouldn’t say bad things about your father.”
Tristen laughed. “Say what you like about him. I despise the man and barely know him.”
“Guys, this speculation is all well and good, but we need evidence. We need to get into Freya’s chambers and see what we can find.” I put my hands on my hips. “I tried going back there last night —”
“Are you bloody insane?” Mel gasped. “You are going to get yourself locked up or worse.”
“Well, if you are against us doing anything, then leave right now.”
Mel shook her head. “I said I’d stay.”
“Okay, I went to Freya’s room last night and when I got there Lucas Melrose came out. I think he took something,” I said. “I used magic to hide in the shadows, and yet he saw me.” Tristen tensed beside me. “He did something to me – some freaky mind magic, so I’d go back to my room and go to sleep. I didn’t remember anything until I saw him in the great hall this morning.”
“Freaky mind tricks. Hey, maybe Melrose is more interesting than I thought,” Alec remarked. “I’ll do some digging around and see what I can find out about him.” He swung round in his chair to face Tristen. “Unless you know anything? You know the nobles better than anyone.”
“I don’t know much about Melrose. He’s never been an active member on the council or even a court since his own family’s court was disbanded after The Change.” Tristen shook his head.
“Melrose wouldn’t have much of a motive, though,” Mel said. “He’s nobody in fae terms, anyway.”
“A nobody who’s the last surviving royal from the autumn court,” Tris remarked. “But I don’t see what motive he’d have in killing Freya. He’s never taken his seat on the council.”
“I wonder how well he knew Freya,” I remarked. “She never really told me anything about her personal life. Heck, she never told me about that custodian agreement either.”
“I’ll do some digging and see what I can find out,” Alec said.
Mel scoffed at that. “You mean online in one of your stupid conspiracy forums.”
I sometimes wondered how they’d been friends for so long. Guess it was because they were both outcasts like me.
“We need to get into Freya’s room,” I added. “If we can find something to prove she didn’t poison herself —”
“I doubt the poison will still be there,” Alec said.
Mel burst out laughing. “You will never get in. Freya’s room is probably sealed.”
“I can get us in,” Tristen said.
“So can I,” Alec added. “I know how to get into sealed places.”
“The room
will be sealed with magic,” Mel said. “You —”
“Leave it to me.” Alec grinned.
We sat around discussing what we were going to do that night in Freya’s room when a knock came at the door.
Tristen tensed beside me where we’d been reading through Freya’s grimoire. It’s my mother, he told me.
I didn’t need him to tell me that. Maeve’s energy struck my senses like a tornado. What does she want?
Probably to grill me for not staying with her. He groaned. Damn, I hoped she wouldn’t come searching for me.
The door flew open and Maeve herself walked in.
“Holy shit!” Alec gasped, then slapped a hand over his mouth.
“Mother, what are you doing here?” Tristen asked and got to his feet. “I don’t have classes today, so I’m hanging out with my friends.”
“I’m not here for you, boy.” Maeve glared at her son. “Silvana Eldry, would you come with me, please?” Maeve demanded and shot Tristen a warning look.
I hesitated. What the heck did she want with me? Did she want to berate me for speaking out against the council? Holy crackers, I hadn’t expected her to come find me in person.
“Mother —” Tristen warned.
“I just want to have a little chat.” Maeve gave a smile that showed too much teeth. “Come along, Silvana.”
Silvana. I hated that name. I was just plain Silvy.
I glanced at Tristen, unsure whether to go or not. Although refusing would cause more problems. Reluctantly, I got up.
Tristen made a move to go with me, but I shook my head at him. Somehow, I knew his mother wouldn’t let him come with us. But it would have been nice to have had him along for moral support.
I followed Maeve along in silence. I didn’t know whether to be glad she hadn’t said anything or more nervous. What did she want with me? I did have my full magic at my disposal, but this woman had centuries of power and knew how to use it.
She led me into a fancy sitting room with an overstuffed sofa. It had a fireplace and paintings that were expensive enough to buy a car with. “Please sit.” Maeve motioned to one of the wingback chairs.
I remained standing. “What is this about?” I crossed my arms. If she thought she could intimidate me, she’d be dead wrong. I grew up in rough homes and on the streets. I’d been around my share of scary stuff. Besides, I wanted to get this over with so I could get back to my friends and see if Alec and the others had managed to find anything.
“I thought we should talk.” Maeve moved to the opposite chair and reclined on it as if it was a throne. “I know you must be saddened by the death of Freya.”
“Pissed off would be more like it.” I crossed my arms and leant back against the table.
“I know it’s hard to lose someone that meant a great deal to you. Freya was adamant about you coming here.”
Oh crap, did she want to throw me out of the academy now? My heart lurched. I shouldn’t have been surprised by that. Especially given Forrest’s dislike of me.
Everlight Academy was the only real home I had ever known. I wouldn’t be pushed out just because Freya was gone.
“I know you believe someone had Freya poisoned, so I thought I would give this to you.” She held out a sealed envelope for me.
I took it and opened it, wary. It was a report signed by Madam Leticia. It stated the cause of death was poison and it had been mixed in with Freya’s wine. Yet no trace was found in the bottle, only in the glass. She thought a piece of paper would get me to back down? She would be damn wrong.
“This proves nothing. Someone could have been there before I found her,” I protested.
“There are security cameras in the hallway. No one entered or left Freya’s rooms until you arrived. So, you see, it was nothing but an accident.”
Ha, I’d wait and see what Alec managed to dig up on the footage. I wasn’t about to take her word for it.
“Fine.” I scrunched the paper up. “May I go now?” I didn’t want to be around the queen any longer than I had to be.
Maeve rose and glided over to me. “Not yet. I would like to know who you are, Silvana Eldry.”
I opened and closed my mouth several times. Unable to form words. “What do you mean?” I asked finally. I had no idea what she was on about.
“I mean, who are you? Where do you come from? Faelings with power like yours don’t appear. So, I’ll ask you again, who are you?”
Was that why she had summoned me here? I was amazed she hadn’t asked me in front of the council itself. They liked putting me on the spot and asking me awkward questions.
“I’m no one. I am a faeling. I have no family and just lost one of the people who meant the most to me.” Tears pricked my eyes. Holy crackers, I couldn’t cry in front of her. I would not show any form of weakness around her.
“Exactly, you are nothing. Hardly worthy to grace these halls. But it was Freya’s wish to have you here. She even went as far as becoming a custodian to you. Why is that?” Maeve sneered. “What is so special about you? I know she sent you a fortune of gifts that were delivered to your room this morning. I can’t imagine why she would want to waste her family’s fortune on an imp like you.” She sat down and poured herself some tea.
I looked away and blinked back my tears. What could I even say? Normally I had no trouble standing up for myself, but I was so exhausted. Grief weighed heavy on me.
I turned around and stared at her. “Freya cared enough about me to become my custodian. Which is why I won’t give up trying to find out what happened to her. We both know you’re lying about her death being an accident,” I snarled.
I know I should have kept my mouth shut. I knew when to back down from a fight I couldn’t win. But to hell with it. If it risked me being expelled from the academy, so be it. There was only so much abuse one person could take, and I sure as hell had endured enough of that over the years.
Maeve laughed. “Oh, I know you and your little friends think they can investigate Freya’s death. I’m sure you think Tristen can help you too. You are nothing but children. Powerless, worthless children who can be destroyed with one simple word.” She slammed her teacup down on the table with a loud clunk and sent hot liquid sloshing everywhere. “You would do well to remember that.”
“You would do well to remember I’ve lived in hell. And I don’t give up on the people I care about.”
“My son seems to have taken a shine to you,” she remarked.
Now, where was she going with this?
“Tristen will be king one day. He needs to surround himself with worthy people. Not gutter rats like you,” Maeve said. “You would do well to remember your place. If you step one foot out of line, you will be back in whatever hole Freya dragged you out of. Have I made myself clear?”
“Crystal.” I got the hell out of there before I opened my big mouth again and got into even more trouble.
Chapter 6
That night Alec and I along with Tristen stalked a long hallway towards Freya’s room. It was a quarter to eleven PM and most of the teachers had already turned in.
I still felt rattled after Maeve’s warning. But I couldn’t ask Tristen not to come with us as we might need his powers. Plus, I still hadn’t decided what to do about it. I didn’t want Maeve as my enemy, but somehow I doubted I could avoid that. Tristen was my friend. I didn’t want to push him away either.
“All clear,” Alec whispered as he glanced around the corner. “All of the cameras are off-line.” Alec held up some kind of gizmo that shut the cameras down.
I wondered where he got all of this technology from, since most of the fae despised the humans because of the technology they used. However, they had been forced to embrace technology when they had come to this realm. Tristen and I hadn’t asked where he got it. It was better if we didn’t know.
Alec headed to the door first. Tristen followed him and raised his hand to check for spells. I felt like a complete mor
on compared to them. They were both much more skilled at magic than me. There was no way I’d let them do this without me, though.
It was a good thing Mel didn’t come. I’d locked the door to our room before I’d left in case she decided to tell on us. I knew she wouldn’t want us to get into trouble, but I wouldn’t put it past her to try to stop us. Worse, she might decide to follow us. I didn’t know if her Guardian skills would have been of much help.
Symbols glittered over Freya’s door, then faded.
“The lock won’t move,” Alec hissed. “What kind of spell have they put on the door? I sneak into places all the time, including the academy’s main security room.”
Tristen shook his head. “I’ve already repressed the spell. There shouldn’t be anything preventing entry now.”
I rolled my eyes. “Step aside.” I had picked enough locks over the years to know how to get through them. It was why I always carried a lock picking kit around with me. “Never leave men to do a woman’s job.”
It took me a couple of minutes to pry open the heavy door with my tools.
Tristen gave me a look. “Impressive.”
“Let’s go.” Alec dashed inside.
My heart twisted as I walked inside, and Tristen conjured an orb to give us some light to see by. It felt odd being back here. Like a lifetime had passed instead of twenty-four hours.
Tristen closed the door behind us. “We’d better not stay here for long. The spell on the door won’t be repressed for long. I didn’t disable it.”
Alec found me. “Where did you learn how to pick locks like that?”
“Another foster kid taught me how to do it. Comes in handy when you lived with abusive foster parents.”
Alec glanced around. “Where did you find Freya?”
I stood there and stared at the floor. It was still so clear. Like she was still here. Freya reaching out for me before the light exploded around her.
“Silvy?” Tristen touched my arm. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head to clear it. “I’m… Over there.” I motioned to by the fireplace and took a step back.
My whole body went numb. I couldn’t move. All I saw was Freya laying there.
Everlight Academy Book 2 Page 5