Page 122 of Mistaken Magic

ButIwas feeling better.Justseeing my friends made my anxiety fade a bit.Leaningback intoAspen,Ihugged where her arms wrapped around me.Theywere all so used to this.Tothem, it was no different than me doing a fire drill.Sometimesit was annoying, sometimes it was fun, but in the end, it wasn't even memorable.

Unfortunately,Ididn't get to stay long.Liamtexted me saying to meet him at his apartment.Consideringthat was pretty much whereIwas,Itold himI'dbe there in a moment.Hereplied back to bringJack.Inother words,Iwas about to get a lecture about the bird with a mind of his own.

"C'mon,Jack,"Isaid, holding up my arm. "Wegotta go talk toLiamabout you breaking in."

"Ilet him in,"Toriansaid. "Andif they have a problem with that, they can talk to me about it."Hecaught my eye. "Tellthem that,Rain."

"Let'shopeIdon't have to,"Isaid. "Aspen, you going to be here for a while?"

"Untildinner," she said. "Comingback?"

"IfI'mnot in too much trouble."Igave her one last kiss and then left.

Fromthat room - whichever guy it belonged to -Ipassed one more door in the hall, then stepped into the elevator area.Straightahead of me was one last door: the one for the chaperone's apartment.WithJackbalanced on my arm,Istepped right up to it and knocked.

Twoseconds later, the door opened, but it wasn'tLiamon the other side. "Rain?"Brackenasked.

"Uh...Iwas supposed to meetLiam.Ithought this was his place."Ilooked back, making sureIwas on the fourth floor of the boy's wing.

Brackenjust opened the door wider. "Itis.Comein."

Istepped past him to find a real apartment.Theentryway had tile, and not the crappy stuff they used in the halls.Therewere pictures on the walls, and over there was a set of hunting bows hung decoratively.ButwhenImade it into the main room,Inoticed carbon fiber swords, a set of daggers, and a shield hanging next to the dining room table.

Yep,Iwas confused.Ihad no ideaLiamwas into weapons.ThemoreIlooked, the fewer signsIsaw of the guyI'dthoughtIknew.ButthenInoticed a picture on a shelf.Whensomeone else knocked at the door,Itook the chance to see if that was really whatIthought it was.

Sureenough, it wasLiam, but he was in a graduation cap and gown like from high school.Standingjust behind him, hugginghim closely, was a slightly younger version ofBracken.Thepale hair was a dead giveaway.Mymouth dropped open in shock.

Andthen the front door opened again. "Brack?"Liamdemanded as he rushed in. "Youok?"

Iturned in time to seeLiamthrow his arms around my combat instructor's shoulders.Brackenhugged him back. "I'mfine.Rain'shere too."

"Good.Itold her to meet us here."ThenLiampulled back. "Ivy, any problems?"

"Nonebesides my heart trying to pound out of my chest," she promised as she rounded the corner, clearly having come in withLiam. "Now, where's this bird?"

"Jack!" he announced proudly, making them all turn to see me holding the picture.

Liamjust chuckled. "Donot pick on me for being a kid.Thatwas whenBrackenandIbecame public."

"You..."Ilooked over atBracken. "Andyou?"Wait.Holyshit. "He'sthe boy you met?"

"Thesame,"Brackensaid. "Ithought you knew?"

"Iknew he was datingafae guy, which was how he ended up working here.Ididn't knowwho!"

Liamducked his head and scrubbed at his face. "Yeah.So,Iguess that makesBrackenlike your other uncle.It'swhy he's been training you,Rain.Iasked him to make sure you wouldn't get yourself hurt your first year."

"Preferablyany year,"Ivysaid as she moved to the couch. "Putthe picture down,Rain, and come sit.Iwant to know about this bird."

"Jack!" he declared again.

Iset the picture back whereI'dgotten it, then took the chair directly across from her.Myinsides were twisting up, because the only timeI'dever really talked toMs.Rhodeswas myentrance exam.Oh,I'dlistened to her a million times in class, but this felt different, likeIwas in some very deep trouble.

"Um,"Isaid, movingJackto the arm of the chair because he was starting to get heavy. "Ididn't let him in.Toriandid."

Damnit!Ihadn't meant to fold that fast.I'dintended to take this calmly, butMs.Rhodeshad a way of looking at me that made me feel as ifIwas five years old and about to get a spanking.

"I'dlike to know how you met him," she clarified.

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