Fallen Kings

6

Chapter Four

Olivia

A

fter months of living with Jonah and Dad, it’s a relief to move back into my dorm at Seraphim Academy, and not just because it means I’ll see Araceli again—although that’s a big plus.

“Hey!” she calls as I open our dorm’s front door. “You’re finally here!”

I drop my bag and rush over to give her a hug. “I’m here!”

“Our final year, can you believe it?” she laughs and flips back her dark brown hair streaked with purple, a sign of her fae blood.

“Nope. The last two years have gone by so quickly, but also feel like an eternity. How’s that possible?”

Araceli crashes on the couch with a grin. “That’s just life, I guess. Whatever, we’re seniors now. We get to rule the school. Especially now that the Princes are gone.”

I sink into the couch beside her and prop my feet up on the coffee table. “Well, most of the Princes. My brother’s going to be here this year.”

Her voice softens. “How’s he doing after everything that happened?”

“I think he’s okay, but it’s hard to tell. He gets upset whenever we mention Grace, and he spends a lot of time by himself.” I shrug. “School will be a good distraction for him.”

Since Jonah missed two years of school, he couldn’t graduate with the other Princes. Uriel allowed him to test out of some of the second year classes and to double up on the other classes so that he can graduate with me this year. Jonah’s going to be extra busy with all those classes, but maybe it’ll keep him out of my hair a bit.

She nudges me. “And how are you doing? Glad to get out of that house?”

“You have no idea. At first it was great to spend so much time with Dad and Jonah, but I need my space too. My succubus side really likes her privacy.”

“I bet.” She gives me a knowing grin. “How’s it going with all your guys?”

“Things with Bastien and Marcus are good, and I see them multiple times a week. Jonah is grumpy about it, but he’s just going to have to get over it. I see Kassiel a lot less, maybe once a month, which sucks. He’s out there searching for the Staff and I worry about him. If only Callan hadn’t exposed his secret…”

“Callan’s such a dick.”

“He is.” I smirk and can’t resist adding, “He also has a very nice one.”

Araceli cackles and throws a pillow at me. “I’m sure you miss that about him.”

“Sometimes, yeah. But that’s all I miss.” I clutch the pillow to my chest and try to pretend I don’t care at all. “Besides, three guys is plenty.”

“I can’t believe you have three boyfriends. Lucky girl.”

“Ugh, ‘boyfriend’ sounds so juvenile.”

“Yeah, but lovers sound ridiculous too. Even Taylor Swift can’t make that one cool.”

“True. I’ll just call them my men.” I throw the pillow back at her. “What about you? It’s about time we got you a guy.”

She frowns and looks down at her lap. “Yeah, maybe.”

Uh oh. I probably shouldn’t have said that. It’s been almost two years since her boyfriend’s death at the hands of the Order, and maybe she’s still not ready. I just know how amazing she is and wish some great guy would see that too.

Time for a quick subject change. “Tell me all about your break. How are your parents?”

Araceli’s face cheers instantly. “They’re back together and seem happier, but it’s been slow progress. Dad still isn’t sure about having another kid with fae blood, and Mom isn’t sure she can forgive him for leaving. I’ve been trying to get them to make up all winter. It’s so obvious they love each other and won’t be happy with anyone else.”

“They’ll get there. They just need time.”

“Good thing angels have a lot of that,” Araceli says. “And fae too. Speaking of, Dad’s been teaching me some new tricks. Check this out.”

She holds up her hand and traces letters in the air. Flame bursts from her fingertips and spells out her name in fire. It hovers there for a second, and then she waves it away, making the flames vanish.

I clap my hands. “Impressive. You’ve improved so much.”

“Thanks. I’m hoping Eveanna can help me too. Even though I’m Summer Court and she’s Autumn, I think she can teach me some new tricks.”

“No doubt.” I glance at the clock and sit up quickly. “s**t, it’s almost time for Uriel’s annual orientation. We better get going.”

Araceli groans but stands up, and we head out the door a few minutes later. When we step into the elevator, we run into my brother and squeeze in beside him.

“Hey.” He shoves his hands in his jeans and grins at us. “All moved in?”

“Yep,” I say. “How about you?”

“Yeah, although it’s weird being back there. They kept my dorm room the same the last two years, so some of my stuff was already there. Now Marcus has graduated, and they didn’t want to give me a first year roommate, so I have the place to myself.”

“That sounds lonely,” Araceli says, her eyes sympathetic. “You can come to our dorm anytime you want to hang out.”

“Thanks,” he says, and the two of them smile at each other.

We head across the lawn toward the auditorium, and Tanwen catches up with us. “Hey. Any new leads on the Staff?”

“Nothing,” Jonah says.

“Damn.” She tugs on her straw-colored ponytail. “Don’t worry. Grace won’t be able to hide forever. We’ll find her soon, and the Staff too.”

“I hope so,” I say. It’s weird having Tanwen walk with us and not with her usual group of Valkyries, but we’ve grown close over the break during the endless hours we spent sparring together. Plus she helped us stop the Order last year. She’s one of us now.