Fae Fiefdom - M. Sinclair Page 0,25

my hair and then ran my fingers through it, the thick curls resting on my back and looking better than normal today. There was nothing like a good hair day.

I smoothed primer on my skin and began to put on makeup, my pale complexion not needing a lot more than concealer. Darkening my brows and putting a bit of lipstick on, I nodded at my reflection and carried my coffee back out.

Outside, the rainy atmosphere set an odd mood for the morning. I could feel today was going to be different. I had no idea what was going to be different but it was there. An odd premonition. Or maybe it was going to be another shitty Monday, followed by a night of fake storms.

I had about twenty minutes until I had to leave to pick up Bard, so I quickly pulled on my Village Worth Preparatory Academy’s uniform. It was fairly basic, a pair of black pants that fit tight and tailored along my legs, and laid flat against my abdomen. As I mentioned, I had wider hips, so trust me, the pants were more flattering than those awful plaid skirts, yet it was one more thing that set me apart from other girls in my class.

I slipped on a crested Ralph Lauren button-down that was not standard but very much my favorite shirt I owned. It was why I had sixteen of them. What? I hated going to the dry cleaner. I finally slipped on black flats and my school blazer. After looking at myself in the mirror, I walked back into the room ready to leave. Instantly, I found myself annoyed.

“Oh, now you want to play chess, I’m guessing?” I asked dryly, amused as Oliver stared at me from where he sat on the couch. Jerk.

He looked freshly showered, his dark hair wet, and his upper body clothed in a warm sweater. Interesting, my imagination changed his clothes. Oh, you know what? His sweater looks a lot like Merrick’s from the library, talk about subconscious wants and desires, right?

“Who is Merrick?” he demanded, looking annoyed. I felt like the question was more who is Merrick to you, Ophelia.

“You should know, we met him yesterday,” I arched a brow.

“I’m not your imaginary friend, princess,” he grits out, looking frustrated.

“Right...” I nodded and slipped my messenger bag over my shoulder before setting my mug down. “Well, non-imaginary Oliver, I will most likely not see you after school because you are always randomly disappearing so…see you around?”

Oliver’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t say anything. Honestly, the man was so fucking confusing and I really needed to stop talking out loud … I mean unless he was reading my mind. I opened the door but paused as a warm rough hand intertwined with mine. I froze and snapped my head back finding Oliver right there in my space, making my ears heat and my entire body flare with desire.

“Be careful today and leave your phone on.” He demanded softly before his lips brushed against my forehead. Then my bedroom door closed with him inside, leaving me staring blankly as my skin tingled with awareness. That had felt so real. I lifted my hand to my forehead and I swear the skin almost felt slightly warmer.

Ah. Man. What the actual hell?

My alarm to tell me to leave started and I turned it off, running down the elaborate staircase. I didn’t bother stopping in the kitchen where I could hear my sisters. I was in my car and placed my bag behind me, starting the luxury vehicle and pulling from the wet pavement in a smooth movement.

I was so distracted by the concept of Oliver’s realness that I was actually surprised when I pulled up to Bard’s house in what felt far faster than normal. Had I been speeding? Clearly it was that, or I’d been insanely distracted.

I scrolled through my phone and turned on Enya so that it blasted through the Bluetooth connection to my car. Needing to take a deep breath to relax a bit, I rolled down my window and let the smell of soft rain and the earth float around me, pushing the tension right off me. Did Bard have to come in here and ruin my peace?

That singular thought resonated in me more than I expected. Why was I letting them ruin my peace? I didn't mean just at this moment but in general. I needed to protect that shit. Honestly, I just needed to stop being a