speed. One moment, the creature was before me, extending its hand toward mine. The next, a sword protruded from its neck, and a waxy blood dripped down onto the forest floor.
Rourke yanked his sword from the pooka and wiped the blade across a cloth he pulled from the depths of his golden-hued cloak. “And that’s how it’s done.”
My heart hammered as I stared up at him open-mouthed. “You just left me out here with the pooka. It attacked me while you were lurking around in the bushes.”
“No, he was trying to lure you away from here. Away from me,” he said with a quick shake of his head. “He wouldn’t have attacked you until he led you back to his den. But, well done.” He glanced up, his eyes glittering. The look in them made my heart tumble. “You were brave. I didn’t expect that. Most first-year changelings would have run.”
I narrowed my eyes. “So, what were you doing then? Testing me?”
“No.” A pause. His gaze flicked down. “It’s next to impossible to kill a pooka head on. They need to be distracted long enough for someone to sneak up on them from behind. It’s the easiest way to get in a killing blow without things getting messy.”
Realization dawned, and I had the sudden urge to show the fae what a messy fight could really look like. “You used me as bait. This wasn’t about giving me a demonstration on how to kill a pooka. It was about making your life easier on you.” I shook my head and took a step back away from him. “I can’t believe it. I actually believed you were trying to give me some training. I’m an idiot.”
His smile was pure ice with a hint of that fae mischief I was beginning to really despise. “Two birds with one stone. I needed someone the pooka would be interested in, and you needed to learn how to approach one.”
“You know what?” I fisted my hands and took another step away from him, whirling on my feet toward the Academy. Anger sliced through my gut. “Next time you want to help me, don’t bother.”
His quiet, eerie chuckle followed me all the way back to the watch tower, and I could have sworn he kept stopping by my corner for the rest of the night, though he stayed hidden. The cloying scent of crackling leaves and rich, dark earth stayed with me until I stumbled onto my bed for my precious hour’s sleep.
The next week passed with more of the same. We spent our days holed up in classes, learning about all the various types of fae and faerie creatures that called this realm their home. Our physical training also began. Fight moves and strategies were discussed, though they didn’t introduce weapons just yet. It was clear we were all very much beginners, and the only one of us who seemed particularly good at anything (and everything) was my roommate.
If she wasn’t also my best friend in the whole of the Academy, I might be kind of jealous.
Okay, so maybe I was jealous, but I didn’t hate her for it.
For the third night since I’d arrived, I found myself prepping for a long, quiet stretch in the northwestern watch tower. Lila and I kept coming last in the tasks for the Manhattan recruits, so it was always either her or me who ended up having a sleepless night. Rourke hadn’t visited me again after that first night, though I’d always partially held my breath, wondering if he was somewhere nearby.
I was still angry that he’d used me as bait, but the dance with danger had also been thrilling in a way I couldn’t define. I’d tried to kick an asshole pooka in the face. I’d failed miserably, but at least I’d tried.
It was more than I’d ever done before. It felt like a very small step toward…something. Something more than what I’d always been and who I’d thought I was.
A knock sounded on the door just as I slid my feet into the dark leather boots I always wore during my Watch Duty shifts. Just in case I got another chance to take on a creature. I glanced up, heart in my throat, half-expecting to see Rourke’s golden eyes boring down on me. But it was only Griff, the changeling fae from Wales who seemed to enjoy coming last in tasks so he could spend his nights on Watch Duty.
I kind of couldn’t blame him. It was