CHAPTER 102: _ INTO THE PORTAL

The fairy doesn’t float in on wings or sparkle like she’s stepped out of a children’s storybook. Suppose someone passed her on a city sidewalk. In that case, they’d assume she was another unnervingly pretty influencer on her way to brunch, not an ancient creature capable of rewriting magic rules.

But then she smiles. And that smile is too flawless, and too... symmetrical. Heidi feels her stomach twist.

Humans don’t smile like that. That’s the kind of smile you see carved into marble statues—the smile that knows something you don’t.

"Moon Blessed," the Headmaster announces, his voice now filled with pomp as if he hadn’t just crushed them under Corvin’s power. "As I said, today, you are fortunate. The Lady Mirenia of the Fair Courts honors you with her presence. She is an acquaintance of this pack, and it is by her people’s magic that you will enter the labyrinth safely."

Heidi’s wolf lets out a long, dramatic yawn in her mind. "Acquaintance, he says. As though we’re meeting his golfing buddy, not a species with a reputation for trickery."

Mirenia tilts her chin and scans the Moon Blessed as if they are both pitiful and fascinating at once. "It is noble work you’re doing. And you deserve to be recognized for your courage. The labyrinth, after all, is the home of my people. A home we were forced to surrender."

Her words bubble through the Moon Blessed like an unexpected draft. Heidi feels the boy who had earlier spoken against the Headmaster stiffen beside her. Even the bravest of them are caught between confusion and fear.

This makes her wonder if Lady Mirenia knows that this isn’t volunteer work. This is a scheme orchestrated by the school, meant to flush as many of the Moon Blessed as they can. That this isn’t about saving the world or the fairy realm.

But then again, she might know, and just like the corrupted school officials, she might not have given a batshit.

Mirenia continues, "Your venture among its walls, your victory there, will be one of many small steps toward reclaiming what was lost. For that, you have my thanks."

Heidi’s wolf snorts. "Oh, excellent. We’re charity volunteers now. Do we get a T-shirt that says "I Survived Exploitation 101"?"

But Mirenia isn’t done. She lifts her hand, revealing her nails that are polished in a shade of iridescent pearl, and the air whirrs silently. "To pass through the portal, each of you must be marked. I will draw a rune on your wrist. This rune is your seal. It will grant you entry and allow your exit. Without it, the portal will reject you. Rest assured, this isn’t to make things harder for you. However, in the past, some demons have targeted the portal for escape. Hence, this is one of the preventive measures we must take."

A low murmur ripples among the Moon Blessed, nerves knitting their voices together.

"One by one," she says with finality, "step forward. Form a line."

Heidi feels her pulse spike.

"Oh, yes. Let’s line up like we’re waiting for coffee. Except instead of a latte, we get permanent magical branding and possibly get trapped forever. Delightful!" Junie hisses under her breath and Heidi pats her shoulder.

She understands the pain and frustration. It curls her insides as well.

The group shuffles reluctantly into a line. The tension among them is almost funny in its clumsiness. Shoulders bump each other, breaths hitch, and shoes scuff nervously against the polished floor.

Someone at the back whispers, "Is it going to hurt?" and someone else hisses at them to shut up.

At the front, Mirenia’s hand glows faintly as she draws the first rune onto a trembling boy’s wrist. The lines shine like molten silver before sinking beneath the skin, leaving behind a faint shimmer. The boy shivers and stumbles, then is guided toward the open portal which is a vast oval of light that now pulses at the far end of the room.

One by one, the Moon Blessed shuffle forward. Each rune is drawn with elegance, and the portal-steps are greeted with sharp inhalations and shaky exhales. The closer Heidi gets, the drier her mouth becomes. Her hands itch to wipe themselves against her jeans, but she forces them to stay still.

Junie goes before her, her small frame stiff with fear. Mirenia catches her wrist with a gentleness that makes it seem like she’s handling fragile glass. The rune sizzles into Junie’s skin. Junie blinks back tears, then nods when she’s nudged toward the portal. She vanishes in a flash of light.

Heidi steps up next.

Mirenia’s hand is cool against her wrist, her skin like silk, but the rune burns like a hot wire being pressed into flesh. Heidi grits her teeth, refusing to flinch, but her heart stutters. She forces her eyes up, scanning the stands one last time.

The Bellamys.

Daphne catches her eye and bursts into laughter, her hand fluttering at her lips like this is all just a performance for her amusement. Heidi knows Daphne now particularly hates her more since she sat with the NAY boys.

It seems the girl must have a crush on Nash or something. Anyway, she’s the least of Heidi’s problems right now.

She sees Isolde next, and unlike her sister, she isn’t laughing. Her expression is soft and pitying like the way one looks at a dog too old to chase rabbits anymore.

Darien... Darien finally looks at her. His jaw tight, his body twitching like he’s seconds away from storming down and ripping her out of line. The fury in his eyes is blaring enough to burn the whole hall down.

"Seriously? Is he giving that look now that it’s too late after ignoring us all this time?" Her wolf scoffs.

Amias, meets her gaze once more. His expression doesn’t change, but his look carries weight as though he’s saying: Remember everything I taught you. You can do this.

And then Morgan and Grayson... the twin shadows she hadn’t yet touched and hadn’t yet known, wave their hands. It’s a subtle gesture that seems to say: Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.