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

I come into view and clear my throat. “Actually, they took Lea into custody a little while ago. Good thing too. She’s trouble.” The lie stings as I play to their side. I went to her room after I was through with Aaron. Amelia said a couple of CAs had just carted her off.

Cole scoffs. “Why the change of heart, lover boy?”

“It’s clear she wants to be with Emeric. I saw them leave together for the woods after the games.”

Felix wolf-whistles.

“He can have her. Things are different than they were before. I’m different.” I keep my posture stiff, indifferent.

“You prefer your own kind,” Felix says with a grin.

“There I was, thinking she was right for me. Meanwhile, I missed all the fun.” I snort.

Nina settles next to Felix on the couch. “I saw Lea a little while ago. She said she was meeting Emeric.” She smirks.

“Now she’s with Jurik,” I say.

“You must be heartbroken,” Nina singsongs. “Oh, wait, vampires don’t have hearts.”

“Exactly. I’ve picked teams.” I attempt to make the statement bold, convincing.

“Have you now?” Cole asks with a lilt of suspicion in his voice. “In that case, we have to initiate you.”

“Fair enough.”

“Jasmin is going to love this,” Nina says.

“I’ll do whatever you want, but I want to know who was really behind the vandalism and the demons on campus.”

“We’ll tell you our secrets if you tell us yours.” Cole flicks a piece of dust from his sleeve.

“I don’t have any secrets.”

“Word is you were part of the Nefral Weapons Trade. How would a fae-lover be involved in that?” Cole asks.

“Blacksmith’s apprentice. I made sharp, pointy objects.”

“Nefral weapons aren’t sharp or pointy.” Cole lifts an eyebrow.

Felix laughs.

“I forged a sword. I assume that’s why they brought me in. But if a Nefral weapon isn’t sharp or pointy, what is it?” I ask.

“The question is who is it.” Cole smirks.

“All the fae at this school. All the fae in Terra,” Felix says.

Cole shoots him a sharp look of warning as though he’s said too much.

I piece this together. The fae are weapons? Why? How?

“You wanted to know who is behind the vandalism. Us.” Cole slides his tongue over his teeth.

“Hey, I helped,” Nina says.

“Mostly, it was Lea,” Cole says.

I hang my head as though disappointed. “I thought so.”

“But it’s all part of the bigger picture, Tyrren,” Cole says. “The scene was set to place blame. The new vampire on campus working with the demons to rend fae shadows.”

“Me?”

“Don’t worry. We have your back. The new fae on campus caused havoc to demonstrate that they’re not at all good. In fact, the fae are the X-Crew. Not vampires. You brought in the demons to put an end to the fae.” Cole punctuates the air. “Brilliant, right?”

That doesn’t add up. Then I realize it’s a ploy. Emeric played the vampires against the fae and vice versa. These three don’t even realize they’ve been duped too. He’s behind it all. “In other words, you’re the X-Crew and want to make it look like the fae are behind all the problems?”

“Exactly. The nats will have zero sympathy for them. Makes it easier to get rid of the fae.”

I smirk. “Good plan.” Bad plan. Very bad plan. I hide my concern and my fears along with the complete and utter shock at this new information.

“Now that you know the truth, it’s time for your initiation.” Cole leads me outside.

I scramble to think of a way out of what’s sure to be them making me take blood from a human.

A black SUV hurtles down the slim road on campus toward us. It doesn’t slow down like earlier when Lea was going to plow into Emeric and me. Is he back to get revenge?

At the last moment, we all dart out of the way. The vehicle stops abruptly and backs up before slamming on the brakes.

There’s only one person I know who drives like that.

I grab the door handle and get in. I worry I made a terrible choice because the woman behind the wheel has a severe gray bob and wears a blazer. Headmistress Jurik?

When she turns to face me, the smirk is unmistakable. Lea sits behind the wheel, wearing a disguise.

I chuckle. “Fancy meeting you here, Headmistress,” I say. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll explain later. First, did you find out anything?”

I start at the beginning, telling her about Aaron and the impending war then Felix and Cole, telling me about how we’ve been framed. “I didn’t have a chance to ask them about Emeric because you nearly ran me over again. The question remains, where is he? I have a feeling he’s not too pleased right now.”

“Tyrren, he was the one who turned you.” Her voice is grave.

I nod. I know that.

“He was also the one who attacked me sophomore year.” Her voice streaks with a deep level of vengeance, seemingly replacing the anxiety that had previously consumed her any time she’d talk about the incident.

I have the urge to reach out to her, to comfort her, but her expression is steely.

“I take it we’re on a revenge mission.”

She nods. “Yep. We’re on our way to meet Emeric.”

We’re near the campus gates, guarded by officers.

“Hide in the back,” Lea orders.

Disguised as Jurik, she waves and doesn’t even have to stop. I’m guessing getting out is easier than getting in.

I climb into the front. Lea speeds along the two-lane blacktop as we cross the bridge leading away from the island.

The landscape between us appears to have shifted since we were last free. Whereas before, I only saw occasional glimpses of the true Lea, now I see past her spunk and fire, to the eternal core