Shadowborn Academy_ Year One (Dark Fae Academy #1) - G. Bailey Page 0,45
innocent people…
Zander’s hand grabs mine as I try to walk away and I glare down at him.
“Don’t go. I won’t ask about your past again. I was merely curious,” he softly says, rubbing my wrist with his thumb.
I don’t know why I’m letting him touch me like this.
I hate that it feels too good to make him stop.
“I have Netflix and I swear I’m not going to ask you to chill,” he adds hastily.
I can’t help but chuckle at him, feeling my walls breaking down a little. “You said you had snacks. I’m only staying for the snacks and Netflix,” I warn him. “No ‘chill’.”
“Scout’s honor,” he answers with an enormous grin. “Either way, I get to spend time alone with you and that’s all I want.”
After he hands me the remote for the big ass TV that slides out of the wall on the other side of the room, he goes to get food for us.
I hear Pitch’s warning, but I choose to ignore him.
For the first time in ages, I’m making my own decisions without my shadow guiding me, and it feels fantastic.
“Hey, Ronan. Care to explain what you’re doing outside my room?” I demand, making him jump as he clearly didn’t hear me coming. Ronan looks as casual as he normally does in a plum shirt, black skinny jeans, and a baggy black hat. He has glasses on today, which he doesn’t usually wear, but they suit him.
“I was looking for you or Sage. I’m bored and it’s the weekend. Can I come in?”
I shrug, not caring if he wants to or not. It’s not my fault if he gets caught breaking the rules.
“Where is Sage?” Ronan asks, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Why? Do you like her, like her?” I tease and he shakes his head.
“There’s someone back home and she’s waiting for me…” He trails off, something catching his eye. I watch him reach over and grab the fae book the headmaster gave me. “Woah, this is some crazy dark magic. Where did you get this?”
I walk over and sit next to him on my bed as he reads the first few pages. Pitch leaves my soul like a soothing wave, appearing right in front of me. He smirks as he leans against the wall, watching Ronan, who’s completely oblivious to my shadow.
“The headmaster gave it to me to study, though I haven’t looked at it much. The spells seem too strong, to be honest.”
I watch him closely as he stares at the book, poring over every single word.
“That’s because they are,” Pitch adds in, but of course only I can hear him.
“They aren’t that bad. You can handle these easily,” Ronan says with a grin, bumping my shoulder.
“This guy is an idiot,” Pitch drawls in a bored tone and I try not to laugh.
“I will think about it,” I tell Ronan.
“No, you won’t,” Pitch grumbles, and this time my lips twitch.
“Cool. So what did you do today?” Ronan asks, putting the book back on the side table. “Anything interesting?
“Nothing much,” I answer and Pitch glowers at me. “What about you?”
“I’ve been researching the tales of the forest in the library for the tryouts. I haven’t found anything interesting yet, but I’m determined to find something soon. I want to go to the Fae Tryouts next.”
My ears perk up. “Fae Tryouts? What’s that?”
“It’s just a nickname. The ones who win the tryouts here get to compete in the ones that take place in the light and dark fae cities. Those are just for the runner-ups though, and the team that wins get to take home the Gilded Trophy. Shadowborn Academy hasn’t won in decades.”
Wow. For once I’m actually excited. “That’s actually really cool. Maybe I should try and help you research then,” I offer, peering over his shoulder at the page he’s reading.
“You’re more than welcome. Out of interest, which court would you like to see the most?”
I think for a moment.
“I don’t know,” I mumble, feeling an intensity coming from Pitch’s emotions. “I’ve heard a million rumours about the dark and light fae, and none of them make me want to choose a side. Honestly, I’d love to see their courts, purely out of interest.”
“Not all rumours are true, Corvina,” Pitch whispers, but he disappears before I can question him on that. I’ve always known that he’s at least part fae, so it’s not surprising that he knows something about the royal courts. Something he