Мишель Роуэн - Reign Check

“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 really good kiss.

“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 him .”

“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 who was lurking outside your house?”

I cleared my throat. “Uh, well, yeah. That’s him. But he’s actually a friend. Nothing to worry about.”

“He’s kind of cute for a stalker.”

“Trust me, he’s not a stalker. Look, about what happened at your party—”

Melinda held up a hand. “Rhys already explained everything to me.”

A breath caught in my throat. “He did?”

“He said he’d had too much wine — thanks to Larissa — and kissed you as a joke before you pushed him away.”

“A joke?” My eyebrows went up. “He really said that?”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry I doubted you. I never should have done that. I value your friendship so much, and I don’t want to put it at risk because of stupid misunderstandings. And I won’t let any guy come between us again, I promise, no matter who he is.”

“You had every right. That … I know that didn’t look so good.”

“It’s okay.” She smiled. “Besides, Rhys finally asked me out.”

I blinked. “He what?”

“He has to go home over school break and visit his family, but he says he wants to see me when we get back in January. I guess he broke up with his old girlfriend after all.”

“Um, wow. I didn’t know that. That’s … that’s great?”

What was he doing? Why would he ask Melinda out? Was he crazy? He was a faery king. Besides, I’d never gotten the impression he’d even noticed Melinda, let alone liked her enough to date her.

But maybe he did. Maybe I’d been too blinded by my own problems to notice anything else.

I had to admit, part of me was happy that Melinda would get what she wanted, even though I knew it couldn’t possibly end well. I’d have to keep a very close eye on the two of them.

I ignored the smaller part of me that felt a slight twinge of jealousy at the idea of Rhys and Melinda dating. I mean, how did that make sense? I wanted to be with Michael , not Rhys. It couldn’t happen now, but I was willing to wait as long as necessary. I didn’t like Rhys that way. I never had and I never would.

“Listen, Melinda,” I began, ready to face another problem head-on. “When I was at your house the other day, before the party, I overheard you and Patrick talking—”

She held up a hand. “I quit.”

“What?”

“I quit my … my dance lessons.”

I stared at her blankly. “I don’t understand.”

She took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. “It’s been too much. It’s been really distracting and overwhelming and I never liked it. In fact, I hate my lessons. Even though my parents insist … well, they can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do. So I quit. It’s over.” She gave me a shaky smile. “I can finally be normal again.”