by Sarina Dorie
Elric held his head high. He glowed with the shimmering light customary to many Fae, making him look more beautiful than ever. “I am Prince Elric of the Silver Court. I will not tolerate doors being slammed in my face by some son of a succubus. I mean to make myself heard. Clarissa is my consort. You will not speak to her that way.”
“You are trespassing.” Thatch aimed his wand at the door, sparks of purple and gold light shooting toward the wood. His magic smelled like starlight and jasmine tonight. “School rules dictate you are not to be on our grounds, especially after hours.”
The door only partially closed. The white glitter of Fae magic sparkled around the door, pushing it open farther. Elric held his hands out, his enchantments at work. His magic was less perceptible than Thatch’s, odorless and less flashy, but just as effective—if not more so.
“You are not to use magic on school property.” Thatch grunted, his wand still raised. “Your mere presence causes our wards to weaken. It’s clear enough you care nothing about the students who go here, but if you cared anything about Miss Lawrence and keeping her safe from the Raven Court, you would leave.”
I scooted back, not wanting to get caught in their contest of wills.
“I do care about Clarissa, which is why I’m not leaving until you agree to treat her civilly.” Elric spoke calmly, not at all winded. “I intend to fix your wards before I leave.”
The door creaked ominously as it opened wider. I’d seen them battle with magic before at the art gallery in the Morty Realm. Things hadn’t gone well.
I waved my hands, trying to get their attention. “Stop it, both of you. You’re going to break the door. The principal will be mad at you two.” I didn’t think I’d ever seen Jeb angry, but there was a first time for everything.
They ignored me.
“My fairy godmother made you agree not to fight anymore,” I said. “You both promised you wouldn’t.”
I smacked Thatch in the arm, but he only smiled. He probably liked being punched. He gained an inch on Elric, the door closer to closing.
“Out of my way, bitches,” a snotty female voice said from outside.
Vega!
Thatch lowered his wand. Elric stepped aside, his head tilting, his expression curious. Out of the shadows of the night, she strode forward in her human form, each step as languid and confident as it was when she wore her cat body. It didn’t seem to bother her she wasn’t wearing any clothes.
Unlike the usual trim bob she sported, her hair was long and wild now, as if the animal form had brought out something untamed in her. She was tall and model perfect. I definitely wasn’t jealous of her.
Maybe a little.
Vega flashed Elric a mischievous smile, like a cat who knew she had a mouse cornered. To his credit, Elric didn’t ogle her as she passed him. He bowed. His eyes remained on her face. It made me appreciate him even more.
Thatch’s eyebrows lifted. “Miss Bloodmire, please. Be sensible and magic yourself some clothes before students see you.” He turned away from her, but not before I caught sight of his cheeks flushing pink.
“No student had better be out of bed at this hour. Though with the way you two are shouting, I wouldn’t completely blame them if they were.” She strode into the entryway, a bemused smirk on her face. “And even if they are awake, I’m not wasting magic on clothes.”
“You’re as unprofessional and improper as Miss Lawrence.” Thatch sighed, pulling the cloak off his shoulders and holding it out to her. She wrapped it around herself with a satisfied air.
Elric looked as though he was trying not to laugh. He grinned at me, his anger from moments ago forgotten.
The arctic chill in Thatch’s voice reminded me he wasn’t so quick to let go of his anger. He glared at Elric. “I will make sure you never step foot in this school again.” The glow of his wand brightened.
Vega hooked her arm through mine with uncharacteristic niceness. “Come along, Clarissa. Let those two do their male posturing without us as their audience. They can sort out their problems on their own. You and I are too sensible to stick around to see what kind of unprofessional and improper mess these two get into.”
I was torn between staying—which seemed like doing the right thing, although I might get burned by a stray bolt of fire like what had nearly happened at the art gallery—and being smart like Vega and letting them figure things out on their own.
She guided me down the entryway hall. I considered resisting, but ultimately I decided to listen to Vega. Elric had given me his word he wasn’t going to fight or hurt Thatch, and he was powerful enough to defend himself. Thatch had school wards on his side.
The corridor was dark except for sconces that flared to life when Vega raised her palm as we approached. We came to the great hall and made a left.
A smirk laced Vega’s lips. “You should have seen Thatch tonight. He was out of his mind when you didn’t come back on time. He was convinced something had happened to you. It’s so entertaining to see him fuss like an old biddy.”
He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but he had been worried. It was sweet of him to care. I regretted making him suffer. I would be more careful in the future. I wouldn’t allow myself to fall asleep, and I would return before curfew.
Vega chuckled. “You’re lucky I was the one who found you in bed with Elric, not him.”
“Heh. Yeah, lucky.” Instead, he’d found us kissing.
“Not that I expect any gratitude from you.”
I chose my words carefully, knowing how Vega was about Witchkin etiquette and rules. If I thanked her for finding me and waking me, she’d insist on a favor. If I didn’t, she’d be aggrieved. “It was a nice thing you did. I’m glad I have a roommate who looks out for me like a big sister. Even if you did use claws on me.”
“A necessary evil. Like me.” She grinned. In some ways, she was like Missy, my older sister. Missy had been one part caring and protective. The other side of her had been cruel and selfish. I wondered if this was what it would have been like if Missy had lived to become an adult, a big sister who cared but made my life miserable whenever she could.
I set a foot on the first step to ascend to the teacher dormitories.
A wave of dizziness washed over me. Vega’s voice sounded distant, as though it were coming from somewhere far away. She studied me through heavy-lidded eyes, the corners of her mouth turning downward. A lance of molten fire exploded in my abdomen.
Before I knew what was happening, the stairs came up to hug me. Or maybe I had fallen. My senses went topsy-turvy.
Red light flared to life inside of me. Even when I closed my eyes, it was the only color I could see. A storm raged inside of me, magic filling me and fighting to burst free. My affinity hadn’t hurt like this since I’d used magic on purpose after I’d been drained, which was why Thatch had told me not to use it.
Only I hadn’t used magic now. I’d been walking up to my room. I hoped I hadn’t unwittingly used magic and shot lightning at Vega or burned down the school. I was so blind with pain I couldn’t tell.
The pain ebbed away. All that remained were the cramps in my belly. I found myself alone in the darkness. My cheek rested on one of the steps. The cool wood soothed the fever in my skin.
As my senses came back to me, I heard Vega complaining. “I didn’t do anything to her. Why do you always assume I did something?”
Footsteps approached. The floor creaked. Part of my mind wondered if I’d at least had the dignity to fall with my skirt covering my behind.
“Clarissa!” Elric cried. His feet thudded closer.
“Don’t touch her,” Thatch said firmly. “Your Fae magic might make her worse.”
Elric kneeled next to me, crouching low so his face was near mine. “Are you all right? What happened?”
I tried to speak, but it came out a groan.
“How can I help? What do you need?” he asked.
Thatch’s voice gave away no si
gn of emotion, his careful monotone in place. “If you want to be useful, fetch her a comfortable chair to sit in.”
“You go fetch a chair,” Elric said. “This is your school. You know where things are.”
“Come on,” Vega said, pulling Elric away. “We’ll go together.”
A hand touched my shoulder. “Miss Lawrence?” Thatch asked. “Do you think you can sit up?”
He gave me his hand and helped me roll over in my less than graceful way. “Tell me the truth. Did you ingest any of his body fluids?”
“What?” The question was so unexpected I laughed. “That’s none of your business.”
The laughing set off a new wave of agony in my core. Red rumbled inside me. A moment later I found myself on my back, staring up at cobwebs on the underside of the banister. Thatch’s hand pressed against my belly. Through the pulsing ripples of pain, I heard Elric and Vega speaking, though when I tried to move my head to see them, it only sent new waves of fire spreading from my core out into my limbs.
Thatch turned away from me. “Would you kindly explain something to me.” Thatch spoke with uncharacteristic politeness, which alerted my internal alarms. “I am attempting to diagnose Miss Lawrence’s ailment. Has she eaten any Fae food tonight?”
I knew where he was going with this.
“No,” Elric said. “We were in the Morty Realm. We ate human food. Italian. I’m sure she doesn’t have food poisoning. This is a magical malady.”
Thatch coughed. “Indeed. Has she ingested anything that could harm her? Anything toxic?”
“No.”
“For example, any Fae body fluids . . . like semen?” Thatch asked.
I closed my eyes, wishing I was dead. This was the most humiliating day of my life.
“No, she hasn’t.” Elric’s tone matched Thatch’s civil calm. “And for the record, I resent that stereotype. The Silver Court doesn’t have magical body fluids. Only certain species of wild leshii, villa, and wood nymphs secrete toxins that subdue their prey. Jorogumo saliva contains a powerful venom, but it is unlikely you have mistaken me for a giant spider, so I would hope you might be able to tell the difference.”
“I had to ask to rule it out as a precaution.” Thatch nudged my shoulder. “Did you try to use your affinity?”
“No.”
“How could Clarissa use magic? She was drained,” Vega said.
“She doesn’t look like someone who was drained to me,” Elric said quietly. “Look at all that magic inside her.”
Vega murmured, “It’s remarkable, isn’t it?”
“Close your mouths. Neither of you are helping.” Thatch turned toward me, his tone just as sharp. “Do you mean to tell me you did nothing to cause your affinity to flare like this? Nothing? It just coincidentally came back.”
I eyed Vega, who stared at me dazed. She was the last person I wanted to know about my magic. “I don’t know if I would say nothing. I just don’t want to say.” If I told him I had an orgasm, that would both be embarrassing and possibly give away my affinity. Vega already knew too much about me.
And then there was Elric. I trusted him. I wanted to trust him, but I couldn’t deny how dangerous it was for him to know what my affinity was. If I was intimate with him, it would restore my magic, but if I restored my magic, he might use me.
My eyes met Thatch’s. He nodded, almost imperceptibly. “I see.” He lent me his hand. “Sit up.”
He helped me sit and from there, to stand on my feet, and guided me toward an ornate wooden chair that looked like it had been built a hundred years ago. It even had a cushion on it.
“This is a nice chair,” I said.
“He said comfortable.” Elric shrugged.
Thatch scowled at Elric and Vega before turning his attention back to me. He kneeled beside me, waving his hand in the air about a foot in front of my belly.
Vega chuckled. “As it happens, the principal has the most comfortable office chair in the school.”
Thatch waved her off. “If you would like to be of use, Miss Bloodmire, escort His Royal Highness out.”
“No.” Elric said. “I’m staying to make sure you don’t do anything cruel to Clarissa.”
“Why would I do anything cruel?” Thatch spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m trying to help Miss Lawrence.”
Elric placed a hand on the back of the chair, stepping in protectively. “I don’t know. . . . Could it be that you’re a soulless tyrant who derives pleasure from berating vulnerable young maidens? It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you take out your resentment on her because you can’t take it out on me, could it?”
“Enough.” Thatch stood. Fury blazed in his eyes.
“You’re both fucktards,” Vega said.
I hugged my arms around myself and groaned. The cramping inside me wasn’t that bad, but their fighting was.
Elric crouched beside me. “What would you like me to do? Shall I stay to ensure he doesn’t try to hurt you?”
“Tell him to leave,” Thatch said. “You know why he can’t stay.”
I did, but I hated it that Thatch bossed me around like I didn’t know.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Really.”
“Make him promise he won’t hurt you,” Elric said. “Let me bind his word with magic.”
Thatch sighed in exasperation. He held up his hand. “I give my word I will not take out my earlier anger on Miss Lawrence or injure her as I aid in her recovery.” Golden light glowed around Thatch’s palm. This wasn’t Wiseman’s Oath. I hadn’t seen this spell before.
“And say you won’t hurt her,” Elric insisted.
“I won’t hurt her or cause her harm.” Thatch raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk snaking over his lips. “Tonight.”
I suspected that was his morbid humor, but it was hard to say.
He shook hands with Elric. Golden light spiraled around their hands. It stopped the moment they released each other. Had I been feeling better, I would have asked what kind of spell it was and how it worked. No matter how many times I saw magic at work, it never ceased to dazzle me.
“Come on.” Vega took Elric’s arm and coaxed him away.
Elric called over his shoulder. “Let me know how you are tomorrow.”
He truly did care. It warmed my heart as I gazed after him.
Thatch aimed his wand at the wall. A row of sconces flared to life, brightening the gloom. He tucked his wand into the breast pocket of his vest under his tweed coat. “I’ve warned you before about the danger of playing with magic you don’t understand. You did something very foolish tonight. I told you not to try to restore your affinity without me.”
“I didn’t think it would be a problem.” I lowered my voice to a whisper, not wanting Elric or Vega to hear. “I wasn’t playing with magic or doing anything electrical with my affinity. Elric didn’t even touch me.” Not how Thatch meant anyway. Elric had only kissed me and held me. “It was a magical orgasm.”
His brows drew together in confusion. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a long story. This weird thing happened earlier in the day on our date. Every time I did something that brought me pleasure: listening to music, admiring paintings, eating good food, it made me feel like I was going to have an orgasm. I didn’t come, but I thought I was going to. And then when he kissed me, I had one.”
“On the front steps of the school?” He waved his hand about a foot in front of my belly, making my insides quiver.
“No. This was a couple of hours ago. Afterward, I was really tired, and I fell asleep. That’s why I was late coming back.” Where his hand waved in front of me, pressure prodded against my internal organs. It didn’t hurt, but it was uncomfortable. The cramps started to subside at least. “Does this mean I have magic now? Elric said he sensed magic inside me.”
“Don’t get any ideas in your head. This is temporary. It’s going to smolder out.”
“Temporary becaus
e you won’t tell me how to make it permanent because you don’t want me to use magic?”
“No. Temporary because you haven’t regained your full strength. Your affinity is going to give you another dose of pain in a moment. Do you remember how to turn pain into a more palatable energy your affinity will be able to process?”
“Pain magic, my fave.”
He poked me in the shoulder. “What have I told you about speaking about that out loud?”
“You promised Elric you wouldn’t hurt me. You can’t poke—”
Pain stole my breath away. It was worse than before—blinding and excruciating. I cried out.
As suddenly as it came, it stopped. I panted, finding my hands clamped onto Thatch’s arm, my fingers digging into the fabric of his tweed jacket. He pressed one hand to my belly. With the other, he kept me from falling over.
“The more I reduce your pain for you and absorb the excess, the less good it does in restoring your affinity. If you want your magic back, I suggest you manage the energy inside you and temper it into what you can handle.” He stared into my face, the stormy gray of his eyes haunted with shadows in the flickering light. “Are you ready to take over?”
I nodded. A whirlwind of pain released inside me. I tried to tame it with soothing thoughts, but the electric crackle burned through my calm. I pushed at it, sending it away from myself. For the briefest second, it subsided, and I breathed deeply.
“No,” Thatch said firmly. “You can’t give it to me. You need to process it yourself.”
It came flowing back into me, twice as hot. I wanted magic more than anything, but this was torture.
As the strength increased, I cried out. “Please! Make it stop. I can’t.”
The pain faded away. I gasped in air. The dull ache of where the pain had lanced through my body tingled.
“You failed,” Thatch said.
“Let me try again. Just not so fast. Give me a minute to concentrate.”
“You don’t have a minute. The magic that wants to build inside you will be gone by the time you’ve figured out how to control it.” He crouched beside me, palm on my belly, his fingers splayed. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes shining and bright. He never looked more alive than when he ingested pain. “Again. This time more slowly.”