worrying what I think of it.”
She smiled. “Thank you, honey. Maybe we can both have wonderful new boyfriends after our bad experiences. Me and Nathan, you and … what was his name? Rhys? He’s a real cutie-pie.”
“I need to get to school.” I grabbed my backpack, disappointment thudding through me.
“What about breakfast?”
“I’ll … I’ll grab something there.” I paused. “I do want you to be happy, Mom. Seriously. Whatever it takes. I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.” She hugged me tightly. “Now hurry up and get to school.”
Without another word I was out of there. She hadn’t even given me a chance to mention my father. Was this a big fat sign I shouldn’t ever say anything to her?
Maybe I was being selfish wanting my parents to get together after all this time. Maybe it would have been wrong to tell Mom about my father today. I’d wait and see what happened with Mr. Crane.
I shuddered. I couldn’t believe she was going to date one of my teachers.
“Good morning, Princess.” Michael came out of nowhere and began to keep pace with me. I hadn’t even seen him appear.
I looked at him with equal parts surprise and happiness. “Why are you here?”
He glanced at me sideways, giving me a half smile.
“I mean,” I began again, “good morning to you, too. Uh, why are you here?”
His eyes were almost as bright green as they’d been on Saturday night. “Your father wanted me to let you know he’s spoken directly with Queen Sephina, and she’s promised Prince Kieran will be punished severely for what he attempted to do.”
“Really? Punished how?”
“He’s being sent to Hell to inspect and report on all the dungeons there. I hear there are thousands of them. He can’t leave until he finishes. I’m thinking it’ll take him decades.”
I couldn’t help but grin. Kieran would absolutely hate that. Served him right. I felt some much-needed relief at the idea that he’d be occupied for a very long time. “Not as good as putting him in a dungeon and throwing away the key, but it’s a nice start. So that’s why you’re here? To give me that news?”
“Yes, and I also wanted to walk you to school this morning. Is that okay?”
My smile grew. “If I said yes, would that make me seem needy?”
“Not at all.”
He didn’t try to hold my hand. Instead we just walked side by side to the high school. It felt good to have him here without any emergency to deal with. He was someone else — other than Rhys — who I could be completely open with. Who knew my secrets and seemed to like me anyway. I could even talk to Michael about things I’d never share with Rhys.
I told him about my mom dating a teacher when I’d rather she get back together with my father, even though I knew all too well it was against the rules.
“They’re very different,” he said when I’d finished. “From different worlds. She’s human and he’s a demon.”
“So what? It worked before. I know she loved him more than anyone else.”
“Do you know that for sure, or are you just hoping it’s true?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. It’s a gut feeling.”
“If it’s meant to be, it’ll just happen.”
I turned to comment on his fate-filled outlook but noticed his attention was elsewhere now that we’d reached the school. I followed his line of sight.
Rhys was leaning against the wall of the school, watching our approach.
“The faery king is waiting for you,” Michael said without enthusiasm. “I really don’t like how he looks at you, Princess. When’s he going back to his regular home?”
“I don’t know—”
He kissed me. Right there in front of everybody, including Rhys. And it was a
“What happened to being careful?” I asked when we parted.
“From this moment forward, we’ll be careful.” He glanced again at Rhys and his lips thinned. “Just promise to be careful with
“Cross my heart.”
“Till next time, Princess.”
I wished for the thousandth time that he went to school here with me.
After another moment, I turned and started walking toward the school entrance.
“I think your Shadow is trying to tell me something,” Rhys said.
“You think?”
He nodded. “But he doesn’t have to worry. I’m not interested in you that way. I’ve already forgotten about our kiss under the mistletoe.”
If he’d forgotten it, why would he bother mentioning it?
“Well … good.” I cleared my throat. Rhys was looking at me very closely, gauging my every reaction.
“I assume everything went okay?” he said. “You’re still alive.”
“Okay” was not really the word I’d use for my experiences in the Underworld.
“It’s over, that’s the important part.” I eyed him. “By the way, the prophecy was a lie created to make me look bad and possibly lead to my death. So there’s no reason for you to stick around any longer.”
“I had a feeling it was a false prophecy.”
“You did? Why?”
He shrugged. “Because I know you now.” Then he looked at the ground. “However, I’m still staying. For a while, anyway. I want to experience the human world before going back to the faery realm to be king full-time. I have to return regularly, most evenings and weekends, but I can come back to school here in the new year. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
I thought about it. Of all my problems, this one was low on the list. In fact, the thought that somebody as weird as me was going to keep attending Erin Heights High was actually comforting. “No. As long as you promise not to try to kill me.”
Rhys grinned at that. “I think I’d have to get in line. You know your best friend is a demon slayer, right?”
I froze. “How did you know that?”
“Isn’t it totally obvious?”
“No.”
“You’re right. It isn’t obvious at all. But I explored her house on Saturday night after you left and found myself unable to resist a locked door.” He glanced to his left and waved at a rapidly approaching Melinda. “Here she comes now. Maybe we should tell her your little secret.”
I grabbed his arm and dug my fingers in hard. “Don’t you dare.”
He grimaced. “Ouch. You’re strong.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
Melinda stopped when she got to us. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I managed. After everything that had happened — and even taking into consideration my new decision to face all of my problems instead of running away from them — I was basically tongue-tied in front of my best friend.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked me, with a glance at Rhys. “Alone?”
“I can take a hint. I’ll see you later, Melinda. Nikki.” He held my gaze a moment longer, and I saw those now-familiar gold flecks swirl in his brown eyes. Then he entered the school, leaving me and Melinda alone outside. A cool breeze zipped past me and I shivered.
“You didn’t come back to my party,” she said.
“No, I’m … I’m sorry.”
“You went somewhere with that Michael guy?”
“Yeah.”
She frowned. “Isn’t he the guy who was hanging around two weeks ago staring at you all the time? The one
