Page 108 of Mistaken Magic

"I'mnot going to suck up to a bully!"Ishot back. "Kickme out,Liam.Sendme to the group home.Idon't care.IpromisedBrackenI'dstand up for others, and that's whatI'mdoing!"

"Promised?" he asked.

Inodded. "Hetalked to me in the atrium that evening.Youknow, after the whole keychain thing.Youwere dealing with the girls who'd burnedAspen."

"Shit,"Liambreathed, not even caring that he'd just cursed in front of me.

Thenhe got up and headed right for the door.Yankingit open, he stormed across the hall, knocked onMs.Rhodes', and entered without waiting for a reply.Ileaned back, trying to see what was going on, butIshouldn't have bothered.Theirvoices were loud enough to carry all the way back.

"Shemade a promise toBracken!"Liamsaid, pointing back my way even though his head was looking at someone inside. "Rainhas agreed to stand up to bullies or something.Idon't know the words of their agreement, and she won't remember, but it's binding."

"ThenBrackencan deal with this,"Ms.Rhodessaid. "Explainthings to her,Liam.Makeit very clear what she's done.I'lldeal withMs.Valentina."

Liamstormed back, all but slammed the door, and then threw himself into his chair. "Whatdid you promise?"

"Likefor like,"Iexplained. "Noexcuses that were stupid, like beating someone up for an accidental bump.Why?Liam, what's going on?"

"Politics," he grumbled, reaching for his personal phone.Hetapped and swiped, then lifted it to his ear. "Brack?Hey.Yeah.IhaveRainin my office.Whatdeal did you make with her?"Hepaused for a moment. "Yeah?Well, she just called outHarperin the middle of the halls.Yeah.Oh,Iknow.Shedoesn't, butIdo.Yeah,I'lltell her to make time for it.Thanks.Bye."

"Butwe were talking aboutHarperwhen he said he'd make sureIdidn't get expelled,"Isaid as soon as he was off the phone.

"Fae,"Liamgrumbled. "Heknows, and he explained it.Rain, he just doesn't understand how vulnerable you are right now.I'mnot mad at you, ok?I'mworriedforyou.HarperValentinais a very dangerous girl.She'sone of the strongest part-bloodsthis school has seen in a while.Shehas abilities in at least three categories.Sheis not the kind of person you want to face alone."

"Whichis why she made sureIwas alone before starting something,"Icountered.

"You.Could.Die."Helifted a brow to make sureI'dheard him. "I'mnot talking a bloody nose or social embarrassment here.I'mtalking about death,Rain.So, sinceHarperwill be getting detention for this, so will you - withBracken.Ifhe intends to make you his warrior, then you'd better put in the time."

Inodded. "Ok.Today?"

"Today," he agreed, "and all week long."

"Yeah..."Iswallowed, looking up at him. "I'msorry,Liam.IknowIsaidI'dtry to be good, butIkinda forgot.Imean,Harperhates me and there's nothingIcan do about that.She'sbeen starting stuff sinceIfirst got here.AmIreally supposed to tuck my tail and run from it?"

"Sometimes, yes," he told me. "BrackensaidKeirmentioned getting a charm fromAspen?"

"Iforgot,"Iadmitted.

SoLiampulled open his top drawer and passed me a simple braided bracelet. "Ithas one use.Onesingle spell can be broken by that.Donot wear it in training or it will discharge.Ifthat happens,Brackencan charge it again."

"HowwillIknow?"Iasked asIslipped it onto my wrist.

Immediately, it fizzled, sounding like a bad radio station, and a spark of light flashed off of it.Liamjust sighed and gestured for me to give it back.

"Likethat," he said. "SomaybeIvydidn't stop the spell.Forall we know, you could've had fish for lunch and gone into anaphylactic shock.We'llhave to get you another one to keep on hand."Thenhe grabbed a pad and started writing something. "Stayaway fromHarperunless you're withAspenorTorian.Bothis better.Donot pick a fight with her again today.Takethe long way.Belate to class.Idon't care, andI'llhandle things with your teachers if you get in trouble."Thenhe ripped the note off and passed it to me. "Nowgo to class and give that to the sub.Itwill keep you from any more detentions."

"Thanks,"Isaid asIstood. "IhopeIdidn't get you in trouble."

"Youdidn't," he promised. "Yougotyouin trouble,Rain, and it may not be the kindIcan do much about.Welcometo being a human in the fae's world."

Chapter Forty-Four

Thecourt wasn't impressed to hear aboutHarpercoming at me.Oddly, it wasTorianwho was pissed becauseMs.Rhodeshad punished me too.Icould see her point, though.Bullyingoften made the accuser look like the victim, so unless both parties were held accountable, it would only get worse.I'dfallen into that trap a few times, looking likeIwas starting something whenIwas just standing up for myself.

Aspensaid she was sorry.Hawkewas annoyed.Wildertold me he'd been worried whenIwas late to third period.Itwas kinda nice.Icouldn't remember the last timeI'dbeen someplace long enough to feel likeIactually fit in.Sure, maybe the social circles atSilverOakswere a little more complicated than at a normal school, but this feeling?KnowingIwas included?Itmade it all worthwhile.

Atleast untilImade it to sixth period, my self-defense class.Brackenwas there, waiting for me.Heput me into a group with two sophomores attacking me.Worse, they'd been taking classes with him for a few years now.Ihad to block and hold them off with nothing but my bare hands.Thefact that he stood over me, calling out directions and stopping to teach me new moves, ensuredIcouldn't even take a breather.

Inseventh period, things got out of hand.Iwas back on the training dummy, this time with two sticks, and told to alternate without pause.Thesteady taps of my training weapons on the wood spokes were almost relaxing, and then the sound in the room changed.Ipaused, but the clacking of wood on wood kept going, meaning it wasn't just me.

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