Midnight Fae Academy #3 by Lexi C. Foss

“How are your parents?”I asked as I slid into the booth across from Ajax. It’d been a few days since we’d last spoken, and while I cared about his family, that wasn’t the real purpose of tonight’s visit. But I had to play this cool for my plan to work.

I wasn’t taking any chances. We were all in too deep for this round to fail. If we did, I’d literally lose everything—Aflora, my memories, possibly even my grandparents.

No.

This had to work.

Which meant I needed Ajax to act as the catalyst for all the other cards to fall into place.

“They’re feeling better,” he said. “But refusing to go outside.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping. “They’re terrified of being attacked again.”

What wasn’t said was, By them.

I nodded to show that I understood the implication and also to demonstrate that I agreed with their assessment. Mostly because I had a strong suspicion that it was the Elders who had attacked the village, not Zakkai, something Aflora had confirmed during a dream conversation the other night.

Zakkai’s confession also explained the coma Ajax’s parents had fallen into—one Malik Nacht had been in charge of monitoring. Or had he put them in that coma? He’d been the one who was supposed to wake them up. Yet it’d taken him several days, something that shouldn’t have happened. The truth remained to be seen.

There were three sides of this revolution.

The Elder-led Council.

Those who believed in reformation, like my grandmother.

And those who desired retribution, like Zakkai.

While the latter two parties didn’t see eye to eye, they’d never been violent with one another. So it hadn’t made sense for Zakkai to attack those in the village who had helped other Quandary Bloods survive. Some of them might be more in favor of working everything out politically, but he’d never hurt them for that in the past.

The Elders, however, had.

So it was far more likely that they were the ones behind the violence. Ajax’s parents were pro-reformation, something not many knew. Although, the attack suggested they weren’t nearly as careful as they thought.

“Hi, boys,” Anrika greeted, her long white hair tied back into a bun today. Knowledge flashed in her soft features, her perception unerringly astute. She always knew what I was up to, just as she did now. I could sense it in the way she evaluated me with her keen green eyes. Her age showed in that stare, giving her an almost eerie appearance—a thousand-plus-year-old soul trapped in the face of a thirty-year-old woman.

“Hi, Anrika,” I replied. “We’re just here for a quick snack.”

“I know. I already told the kitchen to whip up a pair of blood malts. They’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“You’re the best,” Ajax said, his cheeks dimpling as he gave her a genuine smile. He’d left his lip ring at home today, perhaps because he hadn’t been in the mood to re-pierce himself.

Fae healed quickly, which meant he had to drive the metal through his skin every time he desired the facial accessory. It gave him a badass appeal that went with his dark hair and blue-black eyes. A startling contrast to our buddy Seif, who now had long silver hair, matching silver eyes, and fangs as a result of his recent transition into a Fortune Fae. I’d not actually seen the changes in person, but my grandfather had told me about them.

“How’s Seif?” I asked since I was thinking about him and talking to his mother. “Any news on his errant chase around the realms?”

“He’s been quiet lately,” she replied, thoughtful. “I think he may have finally caught his Omega.”

My lips twitched. “I bet she’s giving him hell.”

“I hope she is,” Anrika murmured, her expression amused. “He needs a challenge.”

“That he does,” I agreed, thinking of my own challenge. Aflora tugged on my mental string as though she knew my thoughts had turned to her, so I opened our connection. Hi, little rose.

Zakkai wants to talk about the rock,she said flatly. Now.

I frowned. I put it in his desired location several days ago. What does he want to discuss?

“Well, I’ll leave you two to chat.” Anrika’s tone implied an underlying meaning that she confirmed by adding, “Say hello to Aflora for me.”

“As soon as I find her, I’ll pass along the message,” I replied carefully.

Then I murmured, Anrika says hi. Since, technically, I’d found my mate in my mind and that qualified, right?

Aflora didn’t say anything in return, but I sensed her lingering in our connection.

“You’re up to something,” Ajax said as soon as Anrika was out of range. “Does it have anything to do with a gorgeous Earth Fae?”

“Everything I do has something to do with Aflora.” That was probably the biggest truth I’d ever revealed, yet I said it with a twisted grin meant to throw everyone else off.

We had no way of knowing who was listening.

And as the Council was on my ass about locating my missing mate, I wouldn’t put it past them to have me surrounded by eavesdropping spells.

Zakkai wants to meet,Aflora said suddenly. He says you know where.

Tell him I’ll only agree if you’re there, too,I replied, my blood humming at the possibility of seeing and touching my mate.

I already said that, and he agreed. Was that a hint of amusement I heard in her voice?

It had me smirking in response, a reaction that earned me a raised brow from Ajax. “Something amusing?”

“Always,” I agreed as our shakes arrived via a stone-faced gargoyle. “We’re going to need these to go,” I said with a touch of disappointment in my tone. “Something’s just come up.”

The gargoyle muttered something about ungrateful fae brats in response and disappeared with our drinks.

“He’s going to add pebbles to those now,” Ajax said conversationally. “And what’s come up?”

“I’ll explain on the way,” I replied, sliding from the booth. “And a healthy tip will improve the gargoyle’s mood,” I added, a touch loudly so the rock creature would hear me. I set down double the payment on the table while I waited for him to return.

Sure enough, he was in a much better mood upon arrival. “Thank you, Prince Shadow,” he said, bowing low. Not in a mocking way, but in a respectful one that displayed his appreciation of my generosity.

Seriously, gargoyles were the easiest damn creatures to please.

If only certain fae could be as amenable.

I added a few more coins for fun, causing Ajax to roll his eyes.

Then we took our shakes, bid Anrika goodbye, and ventured out onto the cobblestone streets of the village.

“I hope you don’t expect me to bow, Prince Shadow,” he drawled.

“I don’t think you’d look all that great on your knees, Ajax,” I said, eyeing his tall, muscular body. “Not my type either.” However, Aflora could kneel for me any day, any time. And I’d do the same for her as well.

Ajax grunted. “Like I’d ever offer.”

“I recall you saying that about a certain Elite Blood recently,” I replied as I led the way back to the cloakroom. “Pretty sure you fall at her feet now.” It was a baited phrase, one I hoped he would pick up and give me the update I desperately craved.

“Yeah, well, I did. Then you recommended I tell her to play it cool, and now she’s not speaking to me.”

“Oh?” I tried not to sound too interested, but my heart skipped a beat at his words. “She doesn’t want to lie low?” I knew she wouldn’t. Which was entirely the point.

“No, jackass, she doesn’t. So thanks for that solid recommendation.”

“You know it’s best for right now,” I said, trying to make him feel a little better. If it all played out as expected, I’d thank him later. And then I would allow him to punch me in the face. Because, yeah, if this plan came to fruition, I’d earn his wrath and worse.

“Try telling her that.”

“I would, but I’m reasonably sure she hates me.” And rightly so.

“Well, she hates me, too, now.”

“She’ll forgive you,” I said as I stepped through the threshold to retrieve my cloak. “Trying bowing. I’m sure that’ll work.”

He grunted. “I hate you sometimes.”

No, you don’t, but you will,I thought grimly as I used a spell to adorn my cloak. It was hard to click the clasp one-handed, and I actually did want my shake. “I need to run an errand.”

“An errand that I assume you’re not going to explain,” Ajax replied as he engaged a similar enchantment to put on his cloak.

“You really do know me well,” I drawled.

“Yeah, yeah.” He waved me off. “I have homework to do anyway. As do you, but I have a feeling you’ve forgotten all about our coursework lately.”

“We have coursework?” I asked, feigning surprise. “I thought we graduated.”

He just shook his head. “I’ll see you when I see you, I guess.”

“Soon,” I promised. “Maybe I’ll show up at the Blood Gala.”

He snorted. “Now that’d be an entertaining surprise.”

“You think so?” I pretended to consider it. “Perhaps I really should go just to shock the shit out of everyone.”

“Do you even own a suit?”

“I might,” I replied, smirking. “But why would I wear one?”

He huffed an amused laugh and stepped through the glass to use the portal. “Later, Shade,” he said over his shoulder, disappearing from view.

“Later, Ajax,” I murmured, staring at my reflection for a moment. I’m sorry, I mouthed, not able to say the words out loud, but feeling them nonetheless.

Everyone had their part to play.

This was mine.

I palmed the back of my neck and blew out a breath, exhausted and yet eager to see my mate. I don’t hate you, Shade, she’d said. She had no idea what those words meant to me. I’d replayed them over and over again in my head for the last week, using them to calm myself when fear and resignation threatened to consume me.

We had three more days until the Blood Gala.

Three days before I found out if all this had been for nothing. Again.

I swallowed and closed my eyes, then blew out another breath. Pull it together. You can do this. Two phrases I was so tired of hearing myself say. But there was no alternative.

I’m on my way, little rose, I finally said, my nerves under control once more. See you soon.