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I moved so fast I slid down the stairs to the second floor. Beelining for class two, I stopped outside as the first person stepped out. It was a DA student who gave me the once over and then moved along. I popped my head inside. Their classroom was mostly normal. It was larger than the regular ones and they had a little lounge area at the back, but their desks weren't oversized like ours.

"Bay," I called.

He looked up from his desk in the middle row and smiled. He shoved a textbook in the shelf underneath and jumped up. His neighbour stopped him, and I recognised him. Garth, a werewolf that Bay didn't get along with.

"So, I'll catch you at lunch?"

"Yeah. Sure."

My brows shot up and stayed until Bay joined me.

"What?" he asked.

"Since when are you and Garth mates?"

Bay shrugged and offered me his arm. I looped my hand through and we strolled toward the stairs.

"I'm not gonna be a loner for the whole year."

"Well, lucky that you have the option not to be."

"That bad, huh?"

"They covered who my mother is. Nine years I've been here, and I kept it from general knowledge. Now it's bound to come out. Because being a bastard is nothing compared to being a royal one."

Bay scowled. "Don't call yourself that. It's not your fault your mum couldn't keep her knickers on."

We strolled downstairs. "It is what it is."

"Does Gin know?"

"Know what?"

"About your mum?"

I stopped. "Shit." Bay had only found out by mistake and I'd sworn him to secrecy. He knew who Raven and Roan's dad was too, but I'd never told Gin and Sana.

"I'd tell her before she hears it from someone else."

I sighed. "She's gonna be pissed that I didn't tell her before."

"You can bet on that."

I was not looking forward to the conversation. I could just picture the face she'd make, a mixture of hurt and anger. She'd probably yell at me until her throat was raw. You'd never know it by looking at her, but Gin had a temper that outdid everyone's in our group.

Bay steered us through the corridor toward the courtyard. "What subject are you choosing for your electives?"

"What electives?"

"We have two electives."

"No. At least we don't. Everything is pretty much full up and they're making me take Court Craft." I groaned long and loud enough to turn heads.

"What's that?"

"At seventh year, it'll probably be negotiations and navigating the royals."

"They have a class for that?" Bay shook his head. "You might have to study for once."

"No, I finished all the syllabus at the end of my first year. Mother insisted."

"Sometimes, I really pity you."

"Cheers."

We sauntered into The Glass Box, a small cafe located off the courtyard. The name was an apt descriptor for its exterior. There weren't any tables and chairs inside. It was too small for that. It was just the counter with a line of students snaking from it.

The glass door swung shut behind us and at this rate, the line would spill into the courtyard soon. A male student I recognised from class one—Springrock, Charles, if memory of the seating chart served—entered and slowed as his gaze met mine. His piercing green eyes were typical of a Spring Dragon, I guess. I hadn't met many. Even though historically the Summer and Spring courts had been close allies, that all changed thirty years ago. When my uncle had abdicated to marry into the Spring court against my grandmother's wishes.

Springrock's gaze slipped over to Bay, then back to me. He dipped his chin and proceeded to the counter, cutting the line. The male server pointed to the queue, but was shoved out of the way by a middle-aged woman wearing a tight smile.

"So sorry about that. We're all adjusting to the new system," the woman said. "What can we get you?"

"A large iced latte, no sugar," he said in that typical tilting Spring accent.

"Of course." The lady bustled over to the male and hissed at him. She pointed at Springrock's chest and I realised what she was pointing at and shook my head.

All the students in the cafe watched with interest. No one said anything about Springrock cutting the line, because I'd bet, like me, they could smell the grass in the air. Springrock was letting his earth magic seep out, or maybe his powers were so strong that was the best he could contain them. The male leaped into action and within a minute Springrock turned around with an iced latte in hand. On his way out, he acknowledged me again before exiting.

Bay eyed me up. "Thought you said they were all terrible? He seemed pretty all right."

He had, which was completely odd.

"And why aren't you doing what he did?" Bay asked.

"Because I'm not wearing the class one pin and I'm not gonna." I looked up at the board. There were all kinds of coffees and teas to choose from, and the display cabinet was filled with pastries and sandwiches.

"You should. It comes with handy perks," said Bay.

We moved forward a step. "Unfair perks."

He rested his hand on my arm. "Might as well get something for being stuck in that class. Where's your pin?"

"Like I could afford one. They're made of gold."

"Oh." Bay hunched his shoulder, and we shuffled forward a few more paces.

It was a good thing all the food and drink on campus was included, because my mother didn't give me an allowance. And until I turned twenty-two—when I'd be an adult by dragon laws—I wasn't allowed to get a part-time job at school or in the human world.

"Hey, guys." Gin bounced over. She was always so perky. "How was it?"

"Bay and Garth are new BFFs."

Gin's jaw dropped.

"We are not." He rolled his eyes toward me. "But we've buried the hatchet."

"Why are you waiting in line?"

Another voice sounded behind me, and I cringed. Cock-head was here to bug me again. Was he going to make a scene in front of Gin and Bay? I really hoped not.

Coop pointed to the counter. "Maybe you didn't know, Class one students can walk straight up."

He was with the sniggering student from this morning.

"Hi." The sniggering boy stuck his hand out. "I'm Alexis Winterise."

I glanced down at his hand and narrowed my eyes. This seemed a bit of a one-eighty from their attitude this morning. Court protocol dictated that I should take his hand, but we weren't at court. So, I just stared at him until he flashed a weak smile and stepped back.

"I'm good here," I said.

"Suit yourself." Coop shrugged.

"If my mum was a Princess, I'd be milking it for all its worth," Alexis mumbled.

"Princess?" Gin asked.

I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and make Cock-head and Alexis disappear. Unfortunately, I didn't have that kind of magic.

Summerflare swept up. Things were going from bad to worse. "She's a bastard, Winterise. Not even worth talking to."

"What do you mean, Princess?" Gin tugged my sleeve, but I couldn't deal with her right now. The heat pulsing off Summerflare was too aggressive. He was egging for a fight.

"Didn't tell your friends?" He sneered. "I'd be too embarrassed to tell people, too."

"Henry, you're blocking the way," said a deep timber voice that sent ripples through my torso. Fucking Sasha.

Henry paled. "Sorry." He shifted aside, and Sacha swept past, straight to the counter, with Angie at his side.

A weird twinge pulsed through my chest as I watched the two of them together. I couldn't help but wonder if he would ever do to her what he'd done to me. But then Angie had never been a pitiful bastard, so starved for attention that she would believe the lies of a beautiful eleven-year-old winter prince. Plus, she was a noble and nobility didn't treat each other the way they'd treated me. But that was past me. Now, I didn't take their shit.

"I almost didn't recognise you, Henrietta. It's good to see you again." I simpered. If Henry wanted to pick up where he'd left off nine years ago, he was going to find out. I wasn't the same bastard.

Coop raised his eyebrow. "Henrietta?"

"That's his birth name. Because his mother was so sure she was getting a girl. Apparently, all the magics indicated a girl, and she registered the name before he was born."

Henry fumed. Steam literally puffed out his ears. "She changed it after I was born."

"But it's still doesn't change the fact that it was your name." I smirked.

Coop and Alexis bellowed with laughter.

"Bria!" Gin yelled.

I cringed and turned to face her. "Gin."

"You've never talked about your mother."

Henry hissed. "Why would she? Her mother hates the very air she breathes. If abortion was legal, she would've discarded her like the trash she is."

It was an old taunt, one I hadn't heard in years, but it still cut deep. Baylan snarled and hair spread over his arms. Quickly, I grabbed his hand and squeezed, hoping the action would calm him.

A slap rang out. 

☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎☀︎

Part 2 coming in a couple of days. 
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