Ex Nihilo Academy by Jennifer Watts

used to getting close to people.”
     Charles levels me with a look and I can’t help but think that is weird that he’s warning me off, considering that I’m sitting at a table with three people who seem very close to Rowan. It’s three people more than I have in my life right now.
    “I’m not sure exactly what you are trying to say but I have a lot of respect for Rowan. He’s a good guy, I enjoy his company and I’m grateful to him, but so we’re clear I haven’t given him any impression otherwise.”
    “Ah but Lily you don’t give a man impressions, he just has
     them whether you want him to or not. Maybe he can’t help it but you can. All I’m asking is that you watch yourself.”
    Rowan returns and we all sit for another hour talking and
     laughing until I’m fighting to keep my eyes open. As I cover my mouth to stifle a yawn Rowan stands. “Let me take you home.” He says and I wave him away.
    “No, please stay with your friends. I’ll take the truck back since I have school tomorrow.”
    “Lily, I want to.” The way he looks at me tells me that there’s no point in arguing so we walk back to the truck together and he hops into the driver’s seat. As we drive back to the ferry dock I lean my head
     against the fogged up window.
    “Thank you again for coming tonight.” He says quietly as he pulls the car up to the dock and on to the waiting ferry.
    “Thank you for inviting me. I had a really good time.” I
     yawn, letting my eyes close. “Lily?” He says my name like it’s an unanswered question.
    “Mmmm?” It’s all I can manage.
    “Never mind. It’s not important right now just get some sleep.” I barely catch the end of his sentence before the sound of the waves
     and the sway of the boat lull me to sleep.
     

Chapter 7: The Royal Treatment
    I’m sitting in the headmasters’ office for the second time in less than a week and staring at the shiny surface of her desk. My face is
     still burning from the embarrassment of being summoned from class over the PA system; apparently being called to the office is taboo even at a school for supernaturals. She sits behind the desk with her ankles crossed and her hands steepled over her mouth and Lucinda, who was kind enough to come with me, is
     sitting in the chair to my right.
    “One of the students has brought to my attention that there was an attempt on your life over the weekend. While I was hoping the incident
     at the dance was simply an accident it would seem to be too much of a coincidence to ignore.” I resolve to kill Luca as soon as I see him, if that’s even possible. He had to be the one that told.
    “I understand that your parents wanted to give you time to
     adjust but we don’t have the luxury of time anymore. The Council is depending on you and the fate of supernatural’s’ around the world may very well rest in your hands.”
    “What do you mean rests in my hands? What Council?” I look
     back and forth between the two of them.
    “At the request of your parents we were telling you only what we felt you needed to know, but now you need to know everything. The supernatural community is governed by a Council called the ‘Council of Five’
     that has a representative from each of the races: trolls, witches, wolves, fairies and vampires. Your mother held the fairy throne. Each seat carries with it a long history and tradition and ascension to that throne is hereditary and
     can only be taken by someone sharing the same bloodline. In the absence of a blood heir then it passes to the next oldest fairy family but it is extremely rare for this to happen. You are the last in the Hughes line - the fairy princess to be more exact - and it appears that someone is trying to kill you.”
    “Why would someone want to kill me over some group of stuffy, old figureheads?” Lucinda clears her throat and shoots me a look while Professor Winters’ eyes assess me coolly.
    “I assure you that our Council is neither stuffy nor