"No, but it's all of our lives," Poppy explained. "None of us want to be Fin."
"Fin was a sentinel," Hawke countered. "He was out there by his own choice."
"And so was a biology class!" Poppy snapped.
"Botany, specifically," Aspen reminded her. "Myclass."
"And you're not the only one in it," Poppy said. "So let us help?"
"You're already helping," I broke in.
"Well, yeah, but it's stupid for us to be all checking the same spots. We need to merge our maps, verify each time a spot is marked off, and work together. Besides, I have more people than you do."
Torian barked out a laugh. "Oh, you do?"
"There's about ten of us, give or take." And she listed off a bunch of names I wasn't familiar with. Hawke, on the other hand, was nodding like he knew a few of them.
"Lower-level faelings," he said. "How can you help?"
"We have eyes," Poppy pointed out. "A lot of us grew up in homes with enough magic around to know the signs. We can do this. Wearedoing this. All I'm saying is that you don't have to do it alone."
"Sounds to me like you have a whole fan club now, Tor," Aspen joked.
"No," Keir said. "Courtiers. You know, the kind that try to suck up to the court. Isn't that what they're called?"
"Oh, I can handle a little sucking up," Torian said, but it was with a smile. The kind type.
"So..." Poppy gave him a long, wary look. "You're ok with us helping?"
"I am," Torian told her. "Harper Valentina isn't doing this on her own. I think we all know that. I'm also not unstoppable. I need the help, and I will make this even."
"Don't become like the jesters," Poppy said, "and I'll consider it an even trade. Look, I know we're not the cool kids. Maybe we're even losers here, but we're still people. All we want is a little respect." She canted her head. "And to not be terrified of going outside because the Hunt is waiting. We all know it's out there, ready to convict any one of us. That's the real reason we're doing this, but I think our groupscanhelp each other."
"I happen to think you're a lot cooler than I realized," Torian said as he pushed to his feet. "Allies, Poppy?" He offered his hand.
She tried to juggle her tray to accept, so I pushed mine out of the way, twisted, and held hers. Immediately, Poppy clasped Torian's hand and shook once.
"Allies," she agreed. "I even like the name. I mean, we can be the court's courtiers. Sounds a hell of a lot better than losers, right?"
"Deal," Torian said, pumping the girl's hand again.
The magic that rushed out to seal their agreement was impossible to miss. Poppy sucked in a breath, realizing what had just happened, but thelook on her face wasn't anywhere near regret. This was an expression I could only describe as liberated.
"Be careful what you wish for, Torian," she told him. "I'm not a yes-girl."
"I wouldn't respect you if you were," he said. "I'll have Wilder figure out some way to merge our maps."
"One of my friends can," she said. "You just have to trust me enough to send me a copy."
"Give me your number."
She smiled. "Rain has it. I'd rather you don't talk to me, Torian. No offense or anything, but you're not the reason we're helping. Aspen and Rain are. Maybe Keir. You? You're a slightly less annoying version of the jesters." Then she took her tray back. "You also aren't the king."
Then she turned and headed back for her own table. Torian stood there, watching her leave with his mouth hanging open. And yet, that little half-smile was still curling the edges of his lips higher.
"I think I approve of her."
"That's Ms. Hawthorne's kid," Keir pointed out.
