#14 Shit Tastic Day

Rowyn Vale POV

Thistle clapped excitedly, her wings flickering gold. "Yay! Our little trio is complete!"

I couldn't help it, I laughed. Full on, from the belly laughter that made my ribs hurt. For once, things actually felt... good. Like I wasn't completely alone in a sea of snakes and preppy assholes.

"Alright," I said, still grinning. "Let's go eat. Then we can hang out in my room. Sound good?"

Aster practically squealed. "Kyren, wait till you see her room, it's cozy as fuck and smells like cinnamon and rebellion."

He gave me a soft smile. "That sounds... weirdly perfect."

We headed to the dining hall, grabbed food, and returned to our table, the one we claimed on day one and dared anyone to steal. Our nymphs got their own trays, because apparently nymphs are very picky about snacks, and floated right up with us like we were some kind of chaotic magical lunch club.

Thistle had a plate of honeyed berries. Brambleblitz was shoveling tiny sugar cubes into his mouth like a goblin. Petalwing had three mini pastries and was giving one to Aster like it was a sacred offering.

Everything was perfect. Until the dining hall doors slammed open like a fucking thunderclap.

Seraphina Volarix, dressed head to toe in white velvet like she was auditioning for Ice Queen Barbie, stomped in with her clone bitches trailing behind her.

She spotted us. And snapped.

"You have GOT to be shitting me!" she screeched, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "Gutter trash fae like them shouldn't even be ALLOWED nymphs!"

Her hand shot up, shaking like a chihuahua on espresso. "I DEMAND to be assigned one IMMEDIATELY!"

The dining hall froze. And then.....POP.

A massive cloud of glitter exploded near the ceiling, and out of it floated a radiant nymph in a gown made of dew and moonlight, wearing a tiny golden crown and carrying enough regal energy to put half the royal court to shame.

Thistle gasped. "Mama's here."

The Queen of the Wood Nymphs descended like a glittery angel of judgment. "Seraphina Volarix," she said, her voice like bells dipped in acid, "You have grossly misunderstood the nature of our bonds."

Seraphina blinked. "I....what?"

"Nymphs," the queen continued, her eyes narrowing to slits, "are not servants. We are not accessories. We choose who we bond with. And you, dear girl, have not been chosen."

The entire dining hall held its breath.

The queen floated down just enough to level her crown with Seraphina's face. "And based on your aura alone, I would suggest... not holding your breath."

POP. And she was gone.

Dead. Silence.

Then the murmurs started. Whispers, laughs, a few gasps. Seraphina's face was purple. She screamed, stomped her foot like a pissed off toddler, and stormed out of the hall like someone had set her extensions on fire.

I sipped my drink.

"Whew," I muttered. "That was sexy."

Then I felt it. Eyes.

I turned slightly, and yep, there they were. Zephyr and Kalyx, sitting at their table, both staring at me like I was a Rubik's cube with cleavage.

I flipped them off. No hesitation.

Kyren snorted beside me. "Okay, seriously, what's going on with you and those two? They've been watching you like they're in heat."

I groaned. "Nothing is going on. And if I have it my way, nothing ever will."

Aster leaned in, her eyes gleaming. "Uh huh. Tell us more in your room."

But the universe had other plans.

Before we could even stand, Zephyr and Kalyx were on us like bad karma. Kalyx grabbed Kyren by the collar and lifted him clean off the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"What's good, Earth boy?" Kalyx snarled. "Who the fuck are you and what are your intentions with the girls?"

Aster gasped. "Put him DOWN!"

"Oh hell no," I snapped, launching up from my chair. "Put. Him. Down. Now."

I shoved Kalyx hard in the chest. He staggered back a step and dropped Kyren, who landed in a heap, his books scattering everywhere.

"Touch him again," I growled, "and I'll make sure you never grow another chest hair."

The nymphs went feral. Thistle zapped up to Kalyx's face. "Back OFF!"

Petalwing dive bombed Zephyr. "You giant douche nozzle!"

Brambleblitz waggled a finger. "You mess with our friends again, and I'll personally hex your ass so hard your ancestors feel it."

Zephyr raised his hands. "Alright, alright, damn. Backing off."

They both retreated, and I wanted to scream. Instead, I took a deep breath and shouted, "Can people just leave me the FUCK alone for five minutes?!"

DING.

The loudspeaker clicked on.

"Rowyn Vale, please report to the Headmaster's office."

I nearly laughed. Nearly.

Instead, I groaned. "Oh for fuck's sake. Of course."

I turned to my people. "Study sesh. My room. One hour. Don't be late."

"Got it," Aster said quickly, patting Kyren's shoulder as he stood.

"Be safe," Kyren added, still shaking glitter out of his hoodie.

Thistle fluttered next to my ear, smug. "I knew today would be interesting."

"Shut up and lead the way, sparkle pants," I muttered, stomping down the corridor toward whatever fresh bullshit was waiting for me in the Headmaster's office.

The office door loomed in front of me like the final boss of my already shit tastic day. Thistle twitched anxiously in my hair, and I swear I could feel her tiny heartbeat through my scalp. I took a shaky breath, balled up my fists, and knocked.

"Enter," came Headmaster Nocturne's smooth, unreadable voice.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to immediately regret it.

Two strangers stood near the desk, both dressed in elegant, shadow dark robes. Regal. Cold. Armed with judgment in their eyes. Their energy screamed danger, but the woman's stare? That was lethal.

"Have a seat, Miss Vale," Nocturne said, not unkindly, motioning to the chair in front of him.

I sat, trying to keep my chin high even though my stomach was doing cartwheels.

Nocturne stood beside me, his tall form like a wall between me and them. "Now," he said, his voice calm but firm, "what exactly are you doing here, and what do you want with Miss Vale?"

The woman didn't even blink. "This fae was scheduled for execution. Her survival is a problem."

Execution. I flinched, rage and fear fighting for control inside me.

Nocturne's voice went ice cold. "The Calling is not for you to decide. She was chosen by the gods. Are you questioning their will?"

The man's jaw flexed. The woman looked like she wanted to spit. But she shook her head once. "No."

Damn straight.

The male narrowed his eyes at me like I was a bug under his boot. "You won't be able to hide her forever, Nocturne. The Obsidian Accord has long memories. She'll answer for what she's done."

That was it.

"What I've done?" I snapped, my voice sharp. "You mean defending myself from a bunch of power drunk fae who were beating me for sport? I didn't ask for powers. I didn't know I had any. I didn't do anything wrong!"

Thistle made an angry little squeak from my hair, fully backing me up like the tiny warrior she was.

The woman arched a brow, like I was a fascinating fungus. "Power like that is dangerous. It cannot go unchecked."

Nocturne clicked his tongue, stepping forward like the air itself bent around him. "So you want to chain her. Muzzle her. That's what this is really about."

He glared. "Not on my campus. Not while she's under Eidolon's protection. You will not touch her."

The man smirked. "Is that a threat?"

Nocturne's expression didn't shift. "It's a promise."

Tension crackled in the air like a storm ready to snap. My breath was caught somewhere between fear and fury.

Eventually, the two robed snakes turned on their heels and left, the door thudding closed behind them.

I sat there in the silence, shaking.

"Why the fuck do they want me?" I finally choked out, my voice barely working.

Nocturne sighed, finally lowering himself into his chair like the weight of the world had just doubled. "Rowyn," he said softly, "we believe you may come from a very rare and... powerful bloodline. The Accord, well, they fear what they can't control. You're unpredictable. And that scares them."

He looked at me seriously, his piercing gaze suddenly full of something I hadn't expected....respect.

"They'll try to twist your story. Make you the villain. They've done it before."

I swallowed. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Ask questions," he said firmly. "Learn everything. Trust your instincts. Stay close to your nymph, she's not just a companion, she's your anchor."

He stood again and opened the door for me. "You're dismissed. And Rowyn... don't let fear make you smaller than you are."

I nodded mutely and stepped out into the hall.

And promptly slammed into a wall of muscle and heat.

Zephyr.

Of fucking course.

I stumbled back, already emotionally wrecked, and when I looked up, tears stinging my eyes, his whole face changed. His relaxed expression hardened into something vicious.

"Who the fuck made you cry?" he growled, his fists clenched at his sides.

"None of your damn business!" I snapped, my voice cracking under the pressure. "Goddess, why can't anyone just leave me alone?"

His glare dropped instantly, replaced with something that made me want to scream and sob all at once, softness.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. Too gentle.

I couldn't take it.

I spun on my heel and ran, full speed, all the way back to my room. I didn't stop until the door slammed behind me and I collapsed into my blankets, the tears finally pouring free.