Alina.
I spent most of the morning thinking about the spell etched into my pillowcase. No matter how hard I tried to focus on anything else, my mind kept circling back to it. I wasn't stupid. There were only a handful of people who could have done it, and even fewer who would. Someone was watching me. The real question was: did they want to keep me safe, or just keep me under their thumb?
Breakfast was the usual chaos. Kael was in a foul mood, biting off every word like it tasted wrong. Lucien sat at the end of the table, silent and brooding, his gaze flickering toward me now and then. Rowan strolled in late, hair tousled, looking like he'd slept through a thunderstorm and enjoyed every minute of it.
He dropped into the seat beside me, nudged my elbow with his, and stole half my toast without asking. "You look haunted," he said, cheerful as ever.
"Rough night," I muttered, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. "Didn't sleep well."
Rowan grinned, leaning closer. "Dreaming of me already? I'm flattered."
Kael rolled his eyes so hard I thought he might hurt himself. "He's not dreaming of you. He's probably dreaming of going home."
Lucien cut in, voice cool. "He's here now. Best get used to it."
Their voices faded as my thoughts spun. If Rowan was responsible for the spell, he wasn't going to admit it in front of the others. I needed to catch him alone.
After breakfast, classes dragged. The instructors threw more theory at us; bloodlines, magical ethics, and a history lesson that made me want to lie down and sleep for a year. My focus slipped. I found myself doodling the spell from my pillowcase in the margins of my notes, tracing each line from memory.
At lunch, Mira waved me over. She'd saved a seat next to her, eyes wide and eager. I sat, grateful for her presence. She offered me half her apple and told me a story about getting lost on the way to alchemy class. I listened, nodded at all the right times, and tried to shake off the tension crawling up my spine.
Elias wandered past our table and paused. He eyed me, then the doodle on my notebook. His gaze lingered, just for a moment, then he gave the faintest nod. I took it as a warning or maybe a piece of advice: be careful who you trust.
The rest of the day moved in a blur. After last period, I made my move.
I found Rowan in the courtyard, sprawled on the grass with his eyes closed, arms folded behind his head like he didn't have a care in the world. Students drifted past him, a few casting glances; some amused, some wary. He was impossible to ignore, no matter how much you tried.
I walked over and stood above him, blocking out the sun. "We need to talk," I said, doing my best to sound stern.
He cracked one eye open, grinned lazily. "Oh? I'm all ears, Adrian."
I waited until a couple of fae girls wandered out of earshot before crouching beside him. "You put a spell on my pillowcase."
Rowan closed both eyes, smile not fading. "Bold accusation. What makes you so sure?"
"Because it's fae magic. And because you're the only person in this school who looks like he's waiting for someone to catch on."
He laughed, a low, genuine sound. "You really are sharper than you look."
"I'm serious, Rowan. Why?"
He propped himself up on one elbow, studying me with a gaze that felt like it could see straight through my skin. "Why not?"
"Because you don't do anything for free," I said, and I was surprised by how true it sounded.
He didn't deny it. Instead, he shrugged, picking a piece of grass from his sleeve. "Maybe I just like knowing my roommates don't get murdered in their sleep. Or maybe you looked like you needed a little extra luck."
"I don't believe in luck," I said, more bitter than I meant.
He grinned wider. "Then believe in me. I'm better than luck."
I sat back on my heels, feeling the weight of the day pressing on me. "What does it do? The spell?"
Rowan twirled the blade of grass between his fingers. "It warns you if someone enters the room with ill intent. Wakes you up before they get too close. Nothing more, nothing less. It won't stop a real threat, but it gives you a head start."
I stared at him, the pieces falling into place. "Why me? Why not Kael or Lucien?"
His expression softened, just for a heartbeat. "Kael can look after himself. Lucien doesn't let anyone close. You, on the other hand…" He trailed off, eyes lingering on my face.
I bristled, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. "You think I'm weak."
He shook his head, slow and deliberate. "No. I think you're hiding something, and I'm curious how long you'll last."
I didn't have an answer to that. Instead, I looked away, watching a flock of crows scatter over the far wall. "I didn't ask for your help."
Rowan's tone shifted to much softer, almost gentle. "You never do."
I chewed on the inside of my cheek, unsure whether to feel grateful or insulted.
He nudged me with his foot, playful but pointed. "You're not like the other humans. Most of them flinch. You just watch. Waiting for something."
"Maybe I'm just trying to survive."
"Maybe," Rowan agreed, eyes glinting. "Or maybe you're planning something."
I stood, brushing dirt from my hands. "If you're expecting a grand confession, you'll be disappointed."
He sat up, knees pulled to his chest. "Disappointed? Hardly. I love a good mystery. It makes the term more interesting."
"Glad to be your entertainment," I muttered, but there was no heat in it.
He smirked, head tilting to the side. "If I wanted entertainment, I'd pick a fight with Kael. Or steal Lucien's comb. You're something else."
The tension between us felt different than with the others. Kael was all raw nerves and competition. Lucien was cold and precise. But Rowan… Rowan's curiosity felt almost… caring, even when it was unsettling.
"Next time you want to help," I said, "just ask."
He rose in one fluid motion, standing too close. "If I asked, you'd say no."
I rolled my eyes. "I might surprise you."
Rowan laughed quietly, gaze lingering on my face. For a moment, he was so close I could count the flecks of green in his eyes. I couldn't tell if he was trying to intimidate me or just see if I'd flinch. I didn't move.
He reached up, almost brushing a lock of hair behind my ear, then stopped himself. The moment hung in the air, charged and strange.
"You don't scare easy, do you?" he asked softly.
"Not as easy as I used to," I admitted.
He stepped back, hands slipping into his pockets. "Good. It's the ones who break easy who disappear first."
I hesitated. "Is that what happened to the missing students?"
Rowan's smile faded just a little. "Maybe. Maybe not. Some questions are better left unasked."
I thought of the warning on my locker. Don't ask about the missing. I wondered how many people in this school were just trying to survive, how many secrets were carved into pillowcases and whispered in the night.
Rowan looked at me one last time, something almost sad in his eyes. "Just keep your head down, Adrian. Or don't. But whatever you do, don't let them see you bleed."
Before I could answer, he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "I wonder what you're hiding, little thief."
Then he was gone, slipping through the crowd with that easy, impossible grace that made him seem untouchable.
I watched him go, my heart pounding, the words echoing in my head long after he disappeared.
I wonder what you're hiding, little thief.
For the first time since arriving, I realized I might not be the only one paying attention.