I sighed. “They all are, but we said no more secrets, and I keep so many that… I can’t keep always hiding everything. For one, I can’t keep it straight who doesn’t know what and how to deal with it all. I just can’t fucking deal with it all alone anymore.” I cleared my throat when I realized I’d gotten rather loud on that last part, even the hobgoblins stopping what they were doing to look at me.
“You’re not alone, child,” Ryfon tried to comfort. “There are so many in Faerie who—”
“We don’t know that, Ryfon, and respectfully, they’re not here. It’s hard not to be angry at all of them that I’m left like this to handle what I shouldn’t have to all alone. So some days, I’m worried they won’t accept me, and other days, I worry that I’ll hate them all for doing this to me. And that’s just on top of the other big worries I have.”
No one knew what to say to that, and dinner was quiet as the hobgoblins joined us.
Yeah, I didn’t know what to say to it either, which was why I normally kept my mouth closed on the topic.
17
The conversation from dinner was still floating around my head the next morning, so I was glad jumping back into classes started with training. Which was actually amusing, as my day started with over six miles and more to my workout, but I was excited for Power Training I.
Maybe less excited when I found a surprise… Several.
I came out of the locker room fixing my hair so it was in two tight braids and pulled up like normal only to lock gazes with Councilman Ainsworth. I blinked a moment and then smiled widely. “Please tell me you’re joining in, and I get the excuse of kicking your ass all over this place. I’ve had dreams where I get to throttle you, and that would just make my semester.”
His nostrils flared as rage filled his eyes at my blatant disrespect. “I am a councilman that deserves respect, and you will behave—”
“I am not a dog you can order,” I seethed. “And you are a murderer who deserves death.” A fly farting could be heard in the large gym, people completely appalled I went there and said it because he was a councilman.
“She just threatened—” someone tried but I wasn’t done yet.
“The people you’ve murdered deserve justice, and the punishment by your own laws for those crimes is execution by the council. You are not above that because you are on the council. I’ve read your laws. Nowhere does it say you are king or tyrant and absolved of your crimes.” I glanced at the guard who was itching to make a move on me. “And before you spout shit of slander next, I submitted all the proof.”
“You’re still speaking to a councilman and—”
I snorted. “He’s not my councilman. I didn’t elect him. He’s just a man. A corrupt man who murders people. It’s a joke you all treat him with anything but disgust, and he’s got you all brainwashed to act like his dogs he can just order to behave and obey.” I stared down the guard. “I thought supes were stronger than that, but apparently, you lack the higher reasoning to think for yourself.”
I turned on my heel and left them all speechless, finishing my hair and finding Mel and Colton, who did not look happy.
“They have every right to come onto campus at any time, as long as they give notice,” Colton explained. “Apparently, they did moments before showing up.”
“Seriously? They’re so fucking petty and desperate for any information on me, they’ll spend their time here watching my power training instead of doing their fucking jobs and helping their people?”
“I believe it has more to do with my being here than simply spending hours spying on you,” a deep voice said from behind me.
I turned and glanced up, meeting hard green eyes that I somehow knew saw way too much. I smirked at the man. “Well, it’s nice to know it’s not my fault for once.”
He snorted before holding his hand out to me. “I’m Instructor Larson, your personal instructor.”
I had almost taken his hand until that last part, then I yanked it right back.
“Geiger sent him,” Colton added. “You’re at the level I can’t help you anymore, and Uncle Trigger can help you with swords, but your power training is beyond us, beyond what we’ll even teach here. Geiger was fine with you being held back in Runes for show as long as you kept training on the side, but he would not give on this and got you someone qualified.”
“We’re super sure Geiger sent this guy and he’s not just using that line to get near me?”
Instructor Larson studied me. “Why aren’t you using your telepathy?”
I smirked at him again. “Because people know I’m a telepath and try to just give me whatever ‘answers’ they want me to hear. You can lie in your thoughts.”
“True.”
Still, I flipped it on.
“Yes, Adrian sent me, young fairy. I have trained many, many like you, but that is not common knowledge. The council members are here because, while I am an old warlock, I am removed from their control as I have protection from several councils and royals. It kept me neutral in a time when it was needed and I could train freely and not constantly be in danger of being accused of spying.”
“Smart. Harsh for you, but smart.”
“You don’t live as long as I have and not be smarter than most.”
I glanced from him to the handful of interested councilmen. “Geiger’s also smart; too
