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"I guess Professor Fallen is staying for the show. I wouldn't mind being a dragonfly on the wall. Those Summers are going to get a proper set down for lying like that. The nerve of them." Angelique huffed and looped her arm through mine.

"See you later, Briana and Lady Winterice." Jeran waved.

My limbs stiffened as the shock of Summerburn being a professor here hit me in full force. I raised my hand, but didn't have the energy to move. Thankfully, Angie waved enthusiastically enough for the both of us. She tugged me out and my legs moved mechanically.

When we were outside, she grinned. "Jeran's quite yummy, isn't he? Do you know him well? How come he calls you by your first name? Actually, the headmaster did too. You must be close."

"Uh, yeah." I swallowed, still trying to comprehend what had happened. Lead filled my legs, and I slowed. Minder Summerburn was here. This was so much worse than Henry.

"Are you okay? You look a bit peaky," said Angie.

I exhaled a haggard breath and a wave of tension cascaded out of me, leaving me completely drained. "I'm okay. It's just been a while since..."

Since what? Since I'd been scared out of my mind? Since I'd felt like the universe hated me? The back of my eyeballs prickled. This was probably a good precursor of what the rest of the year would be like.

"I can't believe those idiots would lie," said Angie.

I could. A void spread through my chest. How was I going to last a year of this? I slipped from her grasp and bent over, resting my hands on my knees. Nausea roiled through my stomach.

Angie stroked my back. "Goddess, Briana, are you ill?"

I raised my hand. "Just a second." Gathering what little nerves I had left, I breathed in deeply.

I was stronger than this. I had to be. Clenching my fists, I straightened and stared into bright violet eyes. Sasha stood ten meters away. I'd been so consumed in fear, I hadn't noticed him. A trickle of his magic seeped into the hollow of my chest, icing my core. Why did he always see me at my worst? I reached for my power and savoured the warmth spreading through my limbs.

"Thank you," I said. "For telling the truth."

Angie scowled. "Did you think we would lie?"

I glanced at her, and her gaze hardened.

Her lips parted. "Goddess. You did, didn't you?"

I stared at a patch of grass next to her feet. The back of my eyes prickled again. I still hadn't managed to get my emotions under control.

A blast of moisture filled the air. Angie's hair lifted slightly off her shoulders and flowed with the soft waves of her magic. She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the magic hall. Sasha trailed us a few steps behind. She stopped abruptly at the fountain and whirled around.

She waved her index finger in my face. "Look. I know your court is shit."

"Angie," Prince Sasha said in a warning tone.

"No, Sasha, she needs to hear this. I don't know everything that happened to you, and I'm not trying to belittle your experience because the little I heard sounded horrendous. But half-breeds are not treated like that in other courts, especially not a Princess."

I jolted. Rage surged through me. I was so sick of being called a Princess. "I'm not a Princess."

"You are as much a Princess as Sasha is a Prince," she said, oblivious to the fire coiling in my gut.

I couldn't take it anymore. This had all started because of this stupid Princess nonsense. "Stop calling me that! Neither my mother nor my grandmother have ever recognised me. And they never will. I'm nothing to them!" My words sliced into my chest. Even though I'd given up on any hope of them loving me years ago, their hatred still cut. "Why can't you all just leave me alone?" I whispered.

Angie's mouth pinched into a frown, and her bottom lip trembled. "If that's what you want. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

She spun and hurried toward the hall. Sasha stayed a moment longer, and I couldn't meet his gaze. He left without saying anything. I wobbled back and sat on the fountain edge. Shit. I hung my head between my knees. Angie hadn't deserved that. I'd have to apologise later, but I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Goddess, I'm an idiot. I snapped at the one person who'd been nothing but nice to me. This was worse than when I'd first moved here. At least back then, I had no idea what a friend was. If Gin and Bay didn't forgive me, I was going to spend the rest of the year completely alone.

The first bell went. I really wasn't in the mood to attend class. In my whole time here I'd never skipped before, so maybe I could get away with once. Plus, it was ward crafting. I'd learned all the syllabus for it when I was twelve. It had been simple.

A wave of rancid fire sped toward me. I snapped my head up as Summerburn stopped before me.

"You!" She dug her fingers into my hair and yanked so hard my eyes watered. "This is all your fault, like always. Everything you touch is rotten like your very core."

"It's not my fault your students lied to you." I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to punch her. If I hit her, she could have me expelled in a second. Even the headmaster had zero tolerance for violence against the professors.

She gripped tighter, her claw-like nails sunk into my scalp, and she wrenched my head so far back I was in danger of falling into the fountain. "You're still a worthless, ugly nobody."

"I'm not." I fought the moisture building in my eyes. She would not get the pleasure of seeing me cry anymore. A flame ignited in my chest. She didn't get to speak to me like that. "I pity you. That you were so insecure, you had to belittle a child to make yourself feel better. I see nothing's changed."

"You little bitch!" She raised her hand.

I shut my eyes, waiting for the strike, but it never came.

The smell of moss washed over me. I looked up into a pair of brilliant green eyes. It was Charles, the spring court student.

"Professor Summerburn, I believe you are confused about how to properly treat students." His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge. "Corporal punishment has been banned for almost five hundred years."

"This is summer court business," Summerburn snarled, heat coursing off her.

"Perhaps I should fetch Professor Fallen?" he asked.

Summerburn bared her teeth and released me in more of a push. I tipped back, and Charles swooped into stabilise me before I toppled into the fountain.

"This is not over, bastard." Summerburn jutted her chin out, then whipped away.

I sighed heavily. "Thank you, but you should not have interfered. Now, she might target you too."

Charles's expression hardened. "She is welcome to try. Who was she to you?"

"My old minder," I replied absently, then froze.

Charles's eyes illuminated, and he snarled, flashing his lengthening incisors. "That woman was charged with your upbringing? For how long?"

A rush of earth magic rolled off him and slammed into me. I flinched. Damn. I hadn't meant to share that tidbit.

"Not long." I said, pulling away, and he reluctantly released me.

He shuffled back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to lose control like that..."

I raised my hand slightly. "It's fine."

He breathed deeply and his green power coiled around him. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

I shook my head.

He puffed a sigh. "I rarely lose control like that."

I wasn't sure how much of his magic he'd just released, but I imagined what I'd felt wasn't a full blast, which meant this spring noble was extremely powerful. I knew little about the spring court families, but I wondered if he might be closely related to the royal family and my cousin, Laurent.

When I was seven, I'd overheard two autumn ambassadors talking about how differently Laurent was treated at the spring court, and how loved and cherished he was by his parents and everyone. I'd come up with a stupid fantasy that my uncle might snatch me away and raise me instead. Of course, that had never happened, but I'd still been curious about him.

Charles forced a smile. "If you're okay, then we should get going. The second bell is about to sound, or are you going to be a rebel and dash in just as the third bell chimes?"

"Actually, I was thinking of skipping all together."

His shoulders drooped. "I wouldn't recommend that. Professor Fallen has several slave driving punishments he saves for those who play truant."

I perked up. He didn't seem like the type to skip lessons. "You sound like you are speaking from experience."

"I am, but it was all Laurent's doing. He's very hard to say no to. He'd always pull these puppy dog eyes and say please ..."

He tilted his head and blinked in such an exaggerated way. I couldn't help but smile.

Charles continued, "and say, we only live once." He flourished his hand. "And of course I'd say yes. But..." He held up his index finger. "That was then, this is now, and I'm turning over a new leaf. So even if you are Laurent's cute little cousin. I'm going to say no."

There was something so warm and friendly about him. I smiled wider. "Who said I was inviting you?"

He clasped his chest. "Oh, the burn."

A laugh escaped my lips, and I quickly covered my mouth.

"And we haven't even been properly introduced yet." He snapped his heels together and bowed. "A pleasure to meet you, Briana Summerfall."

I sighed in relief that he hadn't called me Princess. "And you Lord—"

He held up his fingers. "Charles. No titles, please. We're all students."

I nodded.

"Could I persuade you to come to class?" He held out his hand.

Even though I felt better, thanks to him, I still... "I don't feel much like going."

His smile dropped. "Then, I guess we will face Professor Fallen's punishment together." He sat next to me.

"That's not necessary."

He rocked forward a little. "Yes, it is. If you don't go, we'll have an odd number and I'll end up with Henry and Will again, and I'd much prefer Professor Fallen's cruel and unusual punishment to that."

My mouth popped open. "Oh, well. I... Who would you like to partner with then?"

He stared at me through the corners of his eyes. "You. But Sasha beat me to it yesterday. Then the bugger knocked you out of commission for the rest of the day. And of course he got to partner Angie instead."

"Do they partner a lot?" I asked.

His gaze met mine again. "Sometimes. Sasha normally partnered Laurent, and Angie partnered my sister."

"You have a twin? You must miss her." I couldn't imagine what it must feel like to be separated from your twin. I hurt enough being separated from Raven and Roan, and we weren't even blood related.

"Yes. Angie does too. That's why I was happy to see you both getting along," said Charles. "She needs a new friend. Zara and Malerie are trying to fill the void, but it's difficult to meld with those sisters. They're incredibly tight."

My shoulders hunched. "I kind of botched things with Angie this morning." I'd been so caught up in my own troubles, I hadn't thought of whom Angie might be missing.

"Don't worry." Charles waved his hand. "Angie is a sweetheart. She'll forgive you if you apologise."

"You just made me feel ten times worse," I groaned. "I completely snapped at her and we were supposed to partner today. But if I'm not with her..."

"Then, partner me. For the whole day."

"All day? Are you sure?" I asked.

"Absolutely. And if you're interested, I can tell you about Laurent."

My heart soared. "And my uncle?"

"Of course, so long if I get to report back to Laurent about you."

I narrowed my eyes.

He leaned forward. "I have a confession. While I am interested in getting to know you, I'm also on a mission. Laurent was devastated when he was blocked from transferring here."

"Blocked?"

"By your grandmother." Charles shrugged. "We assume because she doesn't want you two to meet. Laurent has always wanted to meet you and has thought of nothing more for years. I mean, you must know. All the letters he sent."

"Wait. What letters?"

"Oh... You weren't getting them. We thought maybe you weren't allowed to respond. He had hoped his letters were reaching you."

I shook my head slowly. "My cousin wrote me letters?"

"And your uncle."

I exhaled a sharp breath and didn't know what to think, staring blankly at Charles. "Can I write him one?"

"Of course!"

I grinned, and a tear escaped my eye. Quickly, I swiped it away. "Thank you." 

Charles did not know the gift he'd given me. The hope I had some family that might actually want me.

His brows furrowed, and he studied me for a moment. "Come on, the third bells about to go any second." He hopped up and held out his hand.

I placed mine in his and he launched us into a blur, tugging me along. I giggled at the speed I kept pace with. Not even Roan had run this fast. We skidded onto the sports field next to the arena as on the first chime of the third bell sounded.

"That was amazing." I beamed.

Charles tipped his chin. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

I glanced at the class spread around the edges of the field and caught Angie's despondent expression, and my elation withered. She turned away and whispered to Sasha.

Charles closed in. "I promise that it's not as bad as you think. If you apologise. I'm certain Angie will forgive you," he said softly.

I forced a smile. "Okay."

I really hoped so.

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