"We just have to figure out how to keep Aspen alive long enough to make it matter," Rain said.
"And Torian too," I pointed out. "Evidently, he's somewhat important too - and Iwillfight for him."
"We all will," Rain said. "That's what it means to be friends."
Epilogue
MS. RHODES
The grandfather clock in my office was chiming twice, marking the early hour, when my door creaked open. Looking up, I saw Tag doing her best to quietly slip in. One hand held a six-pack of beer. The other hand - a plate of fruits and flowers.
"Babe, I figured you hadn't even thought about food yet, but your fairy ass won't do well on air alone."
I laughed once at her joke. "The beer sounds just as tempting," I admitted. "Even if I'm not supposed to have it down in the student areas."
Tag blew that off. "Glamour it to look like soda if either a student or an inspector comes in at two in the morning." Then she crossed her muscular arms and gave me a pointed look. But it only lasted a second before she smiled and stepped around my chair. "Did you get the head count?"
Again, I laughed - and then moaned when her hands began to knead the knots in my shoulders. "I do not deserve you, my dearest," I said, relaxing into the massage. "And yes. All students are accounted for. At least one hunter is not."
"Yeah," Tag said, leaning in a little more to lower her voice. "Rain killed him?"
"She did." And I lifted a little note written in a cramped and hurried hand. "This also magically appeared on my desk an hour ago."
Tag opened it, but I knew exactly what it said. Torian's writing had been short, sweet, and to the point.
Hawke killed one. Two hunters dead. We need to talk.
"Hawke?" Tag asked, stepping around me so she could see my face. "How? He can't stand iron!"
"Better than me," I countered, "but not by much." Then I sighed. "Tag, wildlings aren't as sensitive as we are. They're not immune, but they can touch it, and no one needs to know that."
"Are the kids going to be ok, though?" she countered. "That's what we really need to worry about, Ivy. They'rekids. They shouldn't have to worry about such things at this age, and considering how old they'll get, I can't imagine it makes it any better!"
"Bracken assured me Liam will stick his nose into their lives," I said. "We will make sure they are fine - or as fine as possible. Anita, it's the best I can do. This isn't something the rest of us can do for them."
"Why?" Tag asked. "Ivy, what aren't you telling me?"
"There's more going than you know," I admitted. "That's all I can - "
But the sound of voices made me pause and look up. They were trying to be quiet, but at this time of morning, on a floor that should be empty, the rushing steps of Pearl Hawthorne and Bracken Stone were impossible to miss.
"She is a student here!" Bracken insisted. "Regardless of her rank, or anything else, she is a fae on Earth. She has power that needs to be trained, and she is already -" The door opened as they both stormed in. "- here!" Bracken finished.
"She is the reason the Hunt has been coming!" Pearl said, turning to face me. "Ivy, tell him."
"What am I telling?" I asked, flicking my hand to glamour the beer, just as my girlfriend had suggested.
"The Wild Hunt has been coming more often than ever before," she hissed. "It's that girl! Mr. Greene said the Huntsman called her the princess! She has Winter magic! She is the heir to the Winter Crown, and the Summer Queen sent the Hunt forher.That's why our students are being hunted and endangered!"
I just nodded slowly. "So you've already heard?"
"Of course, I heard," she sputtered.
"Did you hear the Morrigan killed one?" I asked. "A hunter is dead by Rain le Fae's hand."
Pearl's entire body twitched. "What? That's impossible."
"And yet it still happened," I said. "She's also friends with Aspen Fox, so I'm not sure what you're hoping I will do."
