Because he was right about one thing, I had grown up. I'd found myself here, in a school of magical and impossible things. I had a family now, and the kind of friends who wouldn't just forget me when we all moved on. I'd grown up so much, and that made me realize this feeling Keir gave me? It wasn't just a crush.
This was more, and that was ok. We had time. I didn't need to race to the end of this because I was magical now. I could enjoy every single second of this journey - so I kissed him again.
Chapter Forty-Six
WILDER
There had been so many people in the lounge on Saturday! I hadn't expected that. Clearly, Torian hadn't either, so he offered to do the same thing on the boys' side on Sunday. He even announced it without checking with the rest of us, and yet we were all ok with it. The only issue I could think of was making sure Hawke had enough power.
That resulted in a little rolling around in my bed to make sure of it. Not exactly something I'd complain about. Yet Sunday morning, we headed downstairs for breakfast to find Keir sitting at our table, flipping through his tablet.
"Where's Torian?" I asked.
He murmured softly. "Aspen's room. Something about a repeat performance. Do you think Rain and I should show up this time?"
"Ithink," Hawke told him, "that you should make an appearance to show there are more than two options for magic."
"Good point," I said, surprised I hadn't thought of that.
Then again, Hawke was trying his hardest to balance between his court, his nature, and the expectations of what he was. I had a feeling he also wanted a chance to talk to Rain. Ifit couldn't be alone, then when they weren't rushing to do one thing or another would probably be a good second choice.
And just like the day before, a surprising number of students showed up. Some wanted to gawk, but most were honestly interested intalkingto us. It didn't matter if that was a question about how to use their magic better, what we did as nobility, or anything else.
They had questions about Faerie, the gates, how magic was taught here versus there, and more. A few asked about what would happen if the gates never opened again. Torian made it clear that was what he actually hoped for. Others were curious about where faelings belonged in all of this. Aspen assured them people should be judged on their actions, not their parents.
The one thing everyone wanted to hear for themselves? That neither Torian nor Aspen had a problem with sharing their court. That this was truly as good as it sounded, because most people had a friend in a different season.
A lot of students had parents who were opposed to Winter - or Summer, for some of the Winter users. They'd been taught that when they grew up, these childish relationships would become little more than fond memories they could all use to prove they knew the other side, but they shouldn't get too close.
This, their time at Silver Oaks, was supposed to be temporary, at least for those who knew their family. The other half of the student body were foundlings pulled from the foster system. Some had magic. Some were Legacies with just enough to require training, but no power they could actually do anything with. But the ones who complained about the mingling between seasons and who said Winter should be eradicated?
They were clearly the vocal minority.
Sure, maybe those people were the same ones willing to attack others in the halls. Maybe they had parents who'd bought into the propaganda about how separating the seasons wasnecessary to make everything work properly. But only a few had been taught removing Winter would make their Summer magic stronger. That, it seemed, had only begun to spread around recently, like in the last year or two. Needless to say, we spent the day making it clear that was a twisted fae lie.
When I headed back to class on Monday, I was surprised at how many people went out of their way to smile, wave, or even greet me. It felt surprisingly nice. I'd been a boy when we'd fled the Winter Court. I'd spent years trying to hide on Faerie. In all that time, the one thing that had always stuck with me?
Being overlooked was a benefit.
But everyone wanted to be important. We all longed for friends. I'd thought Hawke would be enough for me, yet the feeling of hearing my name said in kindness? I wanted more of that, so I waved back. I desperately tried to remember names, doing nothing to hide my shame when I had to ask. And best of all, most gave their name again, assuring me it had been a busy day, so it wasn't surprising I couldn't remember everyone.
When Torian had told the entire school who he really was, I'd been braced for the worst. What I hadn't even considered was that this could end up a good thing. So when my fourth period class was released, I was already thinking about everything Aspen needed to know, and how I was going to encourage us to interact with the student body even more.
Then I heard, "Summer is coming, dumbass!"
I grabbed for my power immediately, bracing even as my head snapped around, trying to find the threat. A flash of white on the walls made me spin. Screams proved I was pointing the right way, but that magic wasn't close to me.
"Winter will all die!" someone else screamed, then the scent of a thunderstorm filled the air.
The Silent were attacking! I'd been foolish enough to hope we'd finally convinced them their "war" was useless, but no. Extremists like that never gave up. They just planned better.
My mind immediately calmed. Fighting for my life was the one thing I knew well, so as I stormed toward the voices, I pulled my power in hard. My season might be fading, but even in summer, I was not a weak man. I was the son of two noble lines. I was a survivor of the Mad Queen's extermination. I, Wilder-fucking-Reed, would not go down without taking everyone with me.
"Clear the hall!" I roared as I slung my hands down, calling my season into this whole section of the building.
Ice began to frost across the windows on every classroom door. Puffs of fog burst out in front of people's mouths as they scrambled to get far out of the way. Crystals formed in the air, reflecting back the fluorescent lights, and ice was quickly creeping up the walls.
"Wilder!" That voice belonged to Nevaeh.
