Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

“No.” I stagger back. She wouldn’t do that. She might be wild and reckless, but she’d never hurt anyone.

For instance, she decorated a statue of some stodgy guy in the school library with glitter, a boa, and ribbons—Gorilla Glue was involved, but it was funny, harmless. She also stole the master copy of a science test as a favor for a kid whose father was in a terrible car accident and couldn’t study, but the teacher wouldn’t budge on making an exception for him. Although, once she got in a fight with a group of girls, but they were seriously evil to a kid with arm braces. Who does that? It was Lea’s double life. A way for her to deal with what happened sophomore year that she refuses to talk about.

“No,” she confirms. “But the police say they have witnesses claiming I did it. I didn’t.”

I fight against reaching for her arm and giving it a squeeze. “I know.” She doesn’t need to say another word. I believe her.

“What about you?” she asks in her husky voice.

“You heard. It’s stupid. I stand accused of being involved in some weapons ring or something.”

“But you’re not supernatural.”

My tongue absently flicks to my teeth. My very sharp incisor teeth—a new feature I didn’t realize I had because I refuse to look in the mirror.

Lea’s eyes widen and she bites her lip, but it’s nothing like the way Jasmin did earlier. I see alarm. Without her needing to speak I know what she’s going to say.

I hurry away as shame spikes me in the heart.

Chapter 7

Leajka

Tyrren fades into the fog. I rub my hands up and down my arms with a shiver. Was he mad at me? It’s not my fault vampires haunt Brooklyn. I’m not one so it hardly seems fair that he’d be upset with me. Ivan does everything he can to protect people from his kind. Then again, why didn’t he protect me?

I will always and forever be a study in contrasts. I’m sad and mad that Tyrren stormed off after revealing that he’s a vampire. Why wouldn’t he just tell me, come to me? Why did he keep it secret? I grew up with vampires. I could help him. But none of this escapes my mouth because rage wins. Who turned him? How? Why would the best person I’ve ever known have to live with this curse?

As I remain on the step in front of the dorm, hoping Tyrren will come back, the weight of all that’s happened locks me in place. Everything went so suddenly wrong I’m not sure it’ll ever be right. I want to get in a car and drive as far away from here as possible, but the high fence beyond the dorm reminds me of reality.

A male and female vampire pair saunter down the path. Their eyes are dull, indicating they’re in need of blood. Their gazes drift over me as though assessing whether I’d be worth biting. The shiver comes again. All my life, I felt safe around the Brooklyn Vampire Club members. The vamps here are different and the lines are drawn between them and me.

I hurry inside.

When I was assigned my room earlier, my roommate wasn’t here, but the sign on the door said, Amelia. This time, she’s lounging on her bed with a book. When she sees me, her smile warms in contrast to the hard wood, cold stone, and sharp edges of the building along with the harsh stares I’ve received from vamps.

She bounces off the bed and twists a purple tendril of hair. “I’m Amelia. Nice to meet you and welcome to the world-famous, classed up, juvenile detention center for supernatural delinquents. I’m fae. You?” She laughs softly. “Silly of me to even ask. It’s obvious. Though you don’t have lavender eyes, meaning you’re not full-fae.”

I pick at a loose thread on my shirt. I try to ignore the thought that keeps winding its way into my mind.

Amelia gives me a half-smile. “I’ve been here going on three years. I’ve had all kinds of roommates. I get it if you don’t want to talk.”

For better or worse, she does plenty of that, starting with her life story. “My mother died, leaving Dad to raise me and my four older brothers. Between all their pranks and capers, I had to be on my toes. Eventually, I got pretty clever myself.” She winks. “Regretfully, some would argue that’s what landed me here.”

Curiosity must replace the gloom in my expression.

“I’ll only tell you why if you say something,” Amelia says.

“Something,” I repeat.

She dissolves into laughter.

I hadn’t meant to be funny.

“One day I’m going to get out of here and move to Scotland. In the meantime, here. I don’t share these with just anyone.” She passes me a can of a drink called Irn-Bru. “It’s a kind of Scottish soda. I have a friend overseas who sends me a monthly care package. Of course, the CAs go through it, but they let me have my soda.”  She bends the tab back and forth on hers and silently mouths the alphabet. Her shoulders slouch. “G,” she says. “All the guys here whose names start with G are gross. Your turn.”

I vaguely remember doing this at a birthday party once. The letter you say when the tab comes off is your true love. It comes loose when I reach the letter T. At least it wasn’t L for Lucas.

“T.” She tilts her head in thought. “There’s Tony, Tommy, and a guy named Tilbert or Tenley or something. Whatever. As I was saying, my parents fled here with us from the Southlands in Borea when I was a baby.”

“I’ve never heard of it. Sounds like another world.” I