Wild. Aprilynne Pike

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      “Please,” Tamani said with a grin on his face, “I’d take a scolding for you any day and call it a privilege.”

      Laurel looked away flustered, and hurried her pace. Moving downhill helped the walk go quickly and soon the lights of the Academy came into view through the darkness, guiding their steps. Laurel looked up at the imposing grey structure and a smile spread across her face.

      When had the Academy started to look like home?

      Chapter Eight

      While the Winter Palace slumbered, the Academy hummed along, both students and staff. If nothing else, there was always someone working on a mixture that had to be cured by starlight. As they walked toward the staircase Laurel waved at a few faeries she knew and their eyes widened upon seeing her. But true to their carefully honed discipline, they returned to their projects without comment and left Laurel and Tamani alone.

      As soon as Laurel’s foot touched the bottom step, a tall female faerie scuttled over to them. She was dressed in the unassuming clothes of the Spring staff. “I’m sorry, but it’s far past visiting hours. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

      Laurel looked over in surprise. “I’m Laurel Sewell,” she said.

      “I’m afraid I can’t let you go up, Laurelsule,” the faerie said firmly, squishing Laurel’s first and last name together.

      “I’m Laurel. Sewell. Apprentice. I’m going up to my room.”

      The faerie’s eyes widened and she immediately bowed at the waist. “My most abject apologies. I’ve never seen you before. I didn’t recognise—”

      “Please,” Laurel said, cutting her off. “It’s fine. We’ll be done soon and then I’ll be gone again.”

      The faerie looked mortified. “I hope I didn’t offend you – there’s no reason you can’t stay!”

      Laurel forced herself to smile warmly at the faerie – surely a new Spring, worried about being demoted from her position. “Oh, no, it wasn’t you at all. I’m needed back at my post.” She hesitated. “Could you. . . could you alert Yeardley that I am here? I need to speak to him.”

      “In your room?” the faerie clarified, eager to please.

      “That would be perfect, thank you.”

      The faerie dropped into a deep curtsy – first to Laurel and then to Tamani – before hurrying off towards the staff quarters.

      Tamani wore a strange expression as Laurel led him upstairs and down the hall. A smile blossomed on her face when she saw the curlicues of her name engraved on her familiar cherry door. She turned the well-oiled doorknob – that neither had nor needed a lock – and entered her room.

      Everything was just as she’d left it, though she knew the staff must come in to dust regularly. Even the hairbrush she’d forgotten was still lying in the middle of her bed. Laurel picked it up with a grin and thought about bringing it back with her, but decided to tuck it away instead. A spare. After all, she’d bought another one when she got home.

      She looked around for Tamani. He was lingering in the doorway.

      “Well, come in,” she said. “You should know by now that I don’t bite.”

      He looked up at her then shook his head. “I’ll wait here.”

      “No, you won’t,” Laurel said sternly. “When Yeardley comes I’ll have to close the door so we don’t wake the other students. If you’re not in here you’ll miss the entire conversation.”

      At that Tamani went ahead and entered her room, but he left the door open and stayed within arm’s reach of the door frame. Laurel shook her head ruefully as she walked over and closed the door. She paused, hand on the knob, and looked up at Tamani. “I’ve been meaning to apologise for the way I acted earlier,” she said softly.

      Tamani looked confused. “What do you mean? I told you, I don’t care if Jamison blames me, I—”

      “Not that,” Laurel said, looking down at her hands. “Pulling rank at the land. Snapping at you, acting lofty. That’s all it was, an act. None of the other sentries were going to take me seriously if I didn’t act like a pain-in-the-ass Mixer with a superiority complex.” She hesitated. “So I did. But it was all fake. I don’t – I don’t think that way. You know that; I hope you know that. I don’t approve of other fae thinking that way either and – anyway, that’s an argument with no end.” She took a breath. “The point is, I’m sorry. I never meant it.”

      “It’s fine,” Tamani mumbled. “I need to be reminded of my place now and again.”

      “Tamani, no,” Laurel said. “Not with me. I can’t change the way the rest of Avalon treats you – not yet, anyway. But with me, you are never just a Spring faerie,” she said, touching his arm.

      He looked up at her, but only for a second before his eyes focused on the ground again, a deep crease between his eyebrows.

      “Tam, what? What’s wrong?”

      He met her eyes. “The Spring faerie down there, she didn’t know what I was. She just knew I was with you and I guess she assumed I was a Mixer too.” He hesitated. “She bowed to me, Laurel. Bowing is what I do. It was weird. I – I kinda liked it,” he admitted. He continued on, his confession spilling out with gathering momentum. “For just those few seconds, I wasn’t a Spring faerie. She didn’t look at a sentry uniform and immediately put me in my place. It – it felt good. And bad,” he tacked on. “All at the same time. It felt like—” His words were cut off by a soft knock at the door.

      Disappointment flooded through Laurel as their conversation was cut short. “That’ll be Yeardley,” she said softly. Tamani nodded and took his place against the wall.

      Laurel opened the door and was assaulted by a mass of pink silk. “I thought I heard you!” Katya squealed, throwing her arms round Laurel’s neck. “And I could hardly believe it. You didn’t tell me you were coming back so soon.”

      “I didn’t know myself,” Laurel said, grinning. It was impossible not to smile around Katya. She was wearing a silky, sleeveless nightgown, its back cut low to accommodate the blossom Katya would have in another month or so. She had grown her blonde hair down to her shoulders, which made her look even younger.

      “Either way, I’m glad you’re here. How long can you stay?”

      Laurel smiled apologetically. “Just a few minutes, I’m afraid. Yeardley is on his way up, and once I’m done speaking with him I need to get back to the gate.”

      “But it’s dark,” Katya protested. “You should at least stay the night.”

      “It’s still afternoon in California,” Laurel said. “I really do need to get home.”

      Katya grinned playfully. “I guess if you must.” She looked at Tamani, her eyes a touch flirtatious. “Who’s your friend?”

      Laurel reached out to touch Tamani’s shoulder, prompting him to step forward a little. “This is Tamani.”

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