Page 113 of Mistaken Magic

"Iknow," he assured me. "Thepart you don't get is that we don't truly understand them either.Weknow there'ssomething.Wecan fucking feel it when they walk into a room.Justlike you feel dark.Notdepressed.Notdangerous.Youfeel dark the sameway you saidHawkelooks like autumn.It'sa feeling in the same place we sense lies.Rain, something is going on, and you have planted yourself right in the middle of it."

"No,Jackdid,"Icorrected. "Iwouldn't even be here if that crow hadn't flown into the house.Hell, it may not have even been him!Itwasacrow, inahouse, and nowI'mhere caught up in this, and allIknow is that bullies suck,Harperis one, andI'mnot backing down!"

"Thendon't back down," he told me. "Imade it clearI'llkeep an eye on you."Helifted his hand and stepped back. "Beforeyou get all defensive about that, know it's just while you're learning how to keepHarperfrom stabbing you in the back.Ican dispel.Hawkehas enough magic to shield you.Torian,Wilder, andAspenhave enough to breakHarper.Allwe're doing is standing up for you, because this is one time you can't stand up for yourself."

Ijiggled my head in a weak nod. "Ok.Ijust don't want to become some damsel in distress, you know?Somelittle bimbo who falls down when the bad guy - or girl - is chasing her."

"No," he assured me, "you're not a damsel.See, that's the thing with friends.Welook out for each other.Itmeans you don't have to do it alone, and you've got a few of us now."

"Ibarely know the guys of the court, though,"Isaid again. "Seriously, the mostI'vetalked toTorianwas afterAspengot hurt.Well, and when he pulled me away from you by the tree."

"Iwas going to steal a kiss, too,"Keirteased. "Assholeruined my moment, and now you're banging his sister."

"Nobanging,"Iassured him as we both began walking again. "It'sdifferent with her.It'snot about getting off, you know?"

"Notat all," he joked. "Ihappen to like getting off.Iknow a lot of girls who like it too."

Ithumped his arm, leaving a shiny pink spot on his sleeve. "Imean that doesn't trump talking or curling up with her."

"Areyou two sharing a bed?" he gasped, making a mock-production of it.

"Once,"Iadmitted. "Andit was to sleep, so quit.Ijust..."Agroan fell out becauseIknewIshouldn't ask a guy this, and yetIhad no one else. "HowdoIknow?"

"Whenshe's ready, or when you are?" he asked. "Rain, you know when you know.It'sok to take it slow.There'snothing wrong with enjoying spending time with her.Maybeshe's interesting, fun, and nice to look at.Maybetalking to her is its own reward.Youdon't have to prove yourself."

"WhatifI'mnot really bi?"Iasked. "WhatifI'mjust desperate or crazy?Whatif it's a fae thing?"

Hegrabbed my arm. "Stop.It'sok to be wrong.It'sok to try it out.It'sok to be unsure.It'sok to not know what you like and to experiment, butIthink you like her.Maybeyou won't like sex with her.Maybeyou will.Doesn'tmatter.Youlike her, and you clearly like her in a way that's more than just a friend."

"Ifeel so stupid whenI'maround her,"Iadmitted. "Ican't think of whatIshould say, and thenItry too hard.It'slike, it all makes sense in my head, and thenIfeel likeI'mcompletely screwing it up, but she still smiles at me so sweetly."

"Welcometo being the one who gets to ask, or start, or go first."Hechuckled. "Weguys go through this in like ninth and tenth grade.Well, some are still trying.Wethink we're supposed to know all the right words and moves, but you girls think it's cute when we're just honest, so try that?"

"Yeah,"Isaid as we reached the door. "Bye,Jack!"

"Jack!" the bird replied, proving he was out there in the darkness somewhere.

Thankfully,Keiropened the door soIdidn't have to.WhenIstepped through, he moved right to the elevator and pushed that button too.Themoment it opened, he followed me in and reached for the fourth-floor button, tapping it as well.

"Whatare you doing?"Iasked.

"I'mwalking you all the way home, because you are not allowed to touch anything in the state you're in.Thefact it's not dripping does not mean you aren't a mess."

"Atleast it's pretty?"Iasked as the elevator stopped on my floor.

Keirwaved for me to go first. "It'ssparkly?Thecolors have become some pink-and-shit-stain combo.Brackendid not do you any favors."Together, we made it to my door, then he looked at my coat. "Keys?"

"Don'treach in that pocket,"Iwarned. "Brackengave me an iron keychain.Um, if you lean it over here..."

"Fuckit," he mumbled before flicking all five of his fingers at my door knob.Iheard it click, then he reached over and pushed my door open. "I'lldo it my way."

"Ithought you only had defensive magic,"Igasped.

"Thatcounts," he assured me. "There'sno attack in unlocking things, putting out lights, and a few other tricks.I'mpure fae,Rain.Myversion of weak is a faeling's dream of power.Ijust got all the inward skills.Thenon-aggressive ones."

"Goodto know,"Isaid, stepping through and pointing to my desk so he'd know where to put my coat. "Andno offense, butIneed a shower."

"Aspen!"Keircalled out.

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